The Portland daily press., 1895-02-05
INTERNATIONAL REGATTA.
English and American Syndicates Which
will Build the Rival Boats.
fNaw York Hsrald.l

the matter of the international races are
put aside, one thing stands out in the
most pronounced manner to the credit of
the British yachtsmen-that is. their
courage and presidency in the face of
continued defeat. 1t is doubtless IA
national characteristic to be brave and
determined under reverses, but repeated
assaults after repeated failures stamp
them as foremen worthy the steel of
their YankeT victors. 1t is long list OF
disasters when the record Is gone over.
1t begins in the year 1870, wnen 'ne
Cambria, owned by Mr.. James ASH pury'
was beaten. 1t finishes in 1898, when
the Valkyrie, the property of Lord Dun
raven, lowered her colors to the Vlgllant.
And in the years intervening there Is
seen that the Livonia. also owned oy ME.
James Ash bury; the Countess OF DuHer-
in, represented by Major 9. Clifford the
ATLANTA, in ch arge OF Mr.. Alex. Cuth-
herf: the Gepesta, owned by Sir Richard
Sutton; the Galatea, belonging to Lieut..
Hem, and the Thistle, owned by Mr..
James Bell, crossed the ocean to be re-
pulsed by the vessels defending the cup.
The races which those challengers sailed
number eighteen, aud the period covered
is almost quarter of century. Still,
the leaders of the sport in England do
not seem to be discouraged. They are
just as anxious now as in the past TO
win back the trophey which the Amerl-
can captured more than forty-four years
ago. So, courage and presidency must,
in truth, be marked against their names
and their efforts.
When Lord Dunraven left America
after the failure of the Valkyr1e's mis-
sion. he iutimated to few frlenos tnd1
ne had not given up trying to win the
Gun, but, on the contrary, was more oe-
termined than ever, and within year OF
two he should again be heard from ry
the New York Yacht CLUB. ne mas kePa
his word in the most positive way;
Throughout the Vigilant's races abroad
last summer he and his yachting frIenas
and private designer were engaged IN the
pleassn duty of studying the perform
auces OF the bronze boat. and the more
they studied the more they were con
WINGED that British skill and enterprise
could at no distant day reach the end IN
|yiew4-the building of a craft that would
defeat Americas best in their own wat
ers. For this they are working. The
craft is being built on the Clyde, and
Lord Dunraven in her represen tative
owner and the leading spirit in the
challenge which has been accepted for
the ninth of these international matches
WHAT LORD DUNRAvEN HAS
Tin Lord Dunraven is presented pro-
gressive yachtsman, with sodnuch d1plo-
macy and experience that heis by far
the most dangerous opponent the Gus
todians of the Americas Cup ever had to
meet and deal with. He has obtained
concessions from the clubs committee
under the mutual agreement clause OF
the deed of gift that afew years ago
would seem to have been not only impos-
slble, but the height of folly to ask Tor,
until now many yachsmen on the chai-
longing side are wondering how such
liberal terms were obtained, while some
on this side OF the ocean are still crying
that they should never have been grant
ed. But Lord Dunraven's requests were
considered and passed upon by clear
headed sportsmen, who are not bound up
| in the legends and traditions OF the past,
and while preserving the Integrity OF the
deed of gift so often talked about ana
80 much abused by foreign yachtsmen,
have been governed by the wish OF the
great yachting community of America,
who desire to witness another 1nterna-
| tional match, and by that spirit OF fair
ness aud liberality always conspicuous in
the New York Yacht Club, and SO ar
ranged the contest which is now already
attracting the attention OF the clvl.lzed
world Lord Dunraven's first essay IN
this direction was in 1889, when, with
his original Vnlkyrie. he challenged
| through the Royal Yacht Squadron for
the cup. This challenge was finally
withdrawn after much correspondence
by the r. IS, because the committee
appointed by the latter could not then
see their way to accept or recognize the
provisions of the deed. With much re-
greet the N. Wy. C. advised til r. Y. S..
that they had learned of the fatal STUN b.
ling block, and the last letter of that
year of Commodore James D.Smlth, who
was the chairman of the Cup Com mittee
then as now. contained this paragraph:
"The action of the Special Committee
(R,Y.S.) appears to be based upon OBJ
iections to the terms of the new deed OF
gift. and as the only one of the objec-
lions mentioned by them is founded up
on Misrepresentation, cannot refrain
from expressing to you the belief OF my
committee, that if an opportunity had
beeu offered the difficulties in the way
of completing the arrangements Tor the
match might have been removed"
| All of which proves that Lord Dun
raven in 1889 failed to do what be has
done this year, to convince the r. Y. S.
that the deed OF gift when fully ex-
planned is not such terrible document
after all.
I'hree years later Lord Dunraven tried
again, and was successful. His interest
| in Yachting meanwhile had not de-
creased, but on the contrary he had con-
tinued to take a most active part in the
sport, and his desire to capture the old
CUP which he wrote about and talked
about WAS greater than ever. The race,
as the world knows, took place in the
month of October, 1898, and the cup was
not disturbed from it's resisting place.
| The Valkyrie of that year, and good
boat she was, too, and most admirably
handled, was sunk oy the Satanic in
home waters, raised and broken up One
more year of thought and experience, and
Lord Dunraven again appears promi-
uently before the American public, and
for that matter before the world. He
is more hopeful than ever. He believes
that in the days OF September his dreams
of success may be realized. A I'd since
l u II sGr,