The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-14
| DEFENDER
THE WINNER.
II TIE SECOND CONTEST VAL
KYRIE CRIPPLES DEFENDER
And Wins by Only ~ Seconds. Pro-
test Was Entered and Decided III
the Americans Favor.
THE SECOND RACE.

THE SECOND RACE.
In Manoeuvering for Position The Val.
kyrie Cripples Defender and Wins
by few Seconds Under Protest.
Close jockeying between the British and
American comba ants for the Americas cup
in the second race of Sandy Hook on Tues
day resulted in an accident to the American
boat which spoiled the race. Fifteen thou
sand persons on steamboats,, tugs, steam
yachts and ocean steamers, sent up groan
Of disappointment when that beautiful alum
mum and brouze creation was crippled
before their eyes. While no one suspects
the owner Of the visiting yacht Of such un-
sportsmanlike conduct as Intentionally foul
ing the Yankee yacht, yet the way he raked
his great steel boom over the deck and tore
down the other fellows rigging, and then
sailed away at his best pace over the course,
was not pleasant to patriotic Americans to
contemplate. The boats in jockeying for the
line had shown the prettiest work that has
yet been seen and when the jockeying result
ed in the Talkyrie obtaining tine windward
position. as the two boats headed for the
line. there were murmurs Of disappointment
in the crowd. when it was discovered that
the Valkyrie had the Mindward position.
Both finally approached the starting line
with Falkyrie leading and to the windward
Of the Defender. Had both held their courses
there would have been 10 trouble, but the
anxiety Of the British skipper to get his boat
over the line first and to windward Of the
enemy made it question if he would not
cross before the starting gun sounded. To
prevent such a predicament the Valkyrie
bore away trife, and eased out her sheets.
The main boom the Britishers swept over
the deck Of the Defender carrying away the
top-mast shroud IN the starboard side and
tearing out the jaws of the spreader. The
top-mast cracked and was badly sprung.
Just as the crash came the starting signal
was given and Talkyrie sped away like
rocket.
Defender was lufed in the wind, the top
sail lowed, the wreckage removed and Mr..
1slelln decided to continue the race. Pro-
badly couple Of minutes were wasted max
ing repairs before the boat continued on her
course. A protest flag was displayed and
the committee boat showed an answering
pennant. Then the gallant Defender and
her plucky crew went in pursuit of the
British cutter.
The nanoeuvres by which the Defender
endeavored to make the Valkyrie lose her
grip were especially interesting in view of
the subsequent foul which they led to. Alter
the Englishman had secured the much
ward the estWar.l-ettl -tacf-.-.osa
beyond the cSmmlttee UC1I: Captain Han
then i;bbed su2denly. hoping to get around
and iaG .un- to3 3windward On Talkyrie before
she could eetf around. But Captain Gran
field iibbed sp quickly that the relative
positions OF the two boats remained un-
changed. Valkyrie still kept in the weather.
This at 10:26:00.
The two boats came back on the starboard
tack toward the starting line They passed
around one Of the big excursion steamers,
and then, as time was short, bega to ap-
proach the line from its westward end,
breaking out their jib top-sails as they did
so. On came the boats until only few
seconds elapsed before the starting gun.
Then it was seen that Valkyrie was too near
the line and was in danger of crossing a
second or two before the gun. She immed-
lately began to break away to avoid crossing.
All Valkyrie's sheets were Stacked eff at once
to spill her sails and stop her headwav.
Hence came the foul and its resulting
trouble. There is Of course no doubt that
the responsibility for the accident rests en-
tirely with the Valkyrie.
THE DEFENDERS SPLENDID TACTICS.
The Defender, with her makeshift shroud,
went after the Valkyrie. which was three
quarters Of mile ahead, when the wind
freshened to "A miles an hour. Then De-
fender began to creep up on her rival She
was defeated only 3 minutes and 50 seconds
on the first leg. On the second leg of 10
miles she gained II seconds. although she
had only baby-jib top-sail against the VAL
kyrie's balloon iib
The leg was reach close-hauled with
booms to starboard. This brought the strain
Of the Defenders sails on her port shrouds
which were uninjurcd. and for the first time
during the race. it was possible to sail her to
the best Of her ability. She was half mile
behind the Falkyrie when she rounded the
stake boat. and. and in less than half an hour
she had cut this distance down to three
elghths OF mile. She was but minutes
and 50 seconds behind az the second marx.
and during the last ten miles she gained i
minute and II seconds which. deducting the
difference Of times at the start, and her al
lowance. made her By only II seconds.
Valkyrie finished first at 2:55:22. Defender
was minutes. IS seconds behind at 257:40.
The elapsed times were: Valkyrie $500;
Defender 3:56:25. Valkyrie allows Defender
29 Ito seconds and Valkyrie started minute
seconds ahead. The corrected times are:
Falkyrie 3:55:09; Defender 3:55:57. Yalkyrie
won by A seconds. corrected time Defender
made most remarkable showing under the
circumstances and her superiority was clear |
ly marked on every point Of sailing even in |
her crippled condition. 1t is greatly to her |
credit that she was defeated by such small |
margin. and had the race been five miles |
longer she would have been the winner. at
the rate at which she was overhaulinG the |
Valkyrie
The regatta committee will decide the pro-
test. 1t is generally believed the decision |
will be in favor of the Defender.