The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-09-20

New York, Sept. 12.-Crippled but
still hechng far over in her strength
and swiftness, Defender followed
valkyrie across the finish line in the
second race for Americas cup. Less
than half mile separated the two,
and anxious eyes kept pace, second by
second, with the timo Indicators us
they moved around, and when 1t was
seen that the American defender had
not only lost nothing in the last twen-.
ty miles of the course, but had actual
ly gained, a great shout went up for
the gallant struggle the vessel had
made.
There were cheers for the victor, too,
but although Valkyrie III. was the
the home line, the honor Of her per-
fOrmance was lost sight of for the
time in the grand effort of the. Amerl-
can, for If 1t were for nothing else,
the American heart loves the hard
loser in the fight, and loves lin the
more when he loses through no fault
of his own. 1t was a grievous acci-
dent that ruined the Yankee boats
chances, an accident which under the
hair-splitting circumstances of jockey
ing at the starting line, looked to lie
unavoidable. Early in the morning
the racers had leisurely made. their
way down to the Hook at Bay Ridge.
white winged and beautiful. They
circled In great rings about the light
ship until the signals went up for the
course, and then the shippers took
tighter grip on the wheel. Capt. Hank
Half had made q record In seaman
ship on Saturday, and the English
skipper prepared to regain the fame
which had preceded him. They ma
neuvered swiftly after tie preparatory
gun had been fred, and with Valkyric
to the windward, Capt. Half made cv-
cry effort to gain that position.
Defender Injured.
Just before reaching the line when
Valkyrie was still to wlndwarl and
Defender to lceward. length astern,
but still ovcrllaulins her, the Amcri-
can lDOat was blanketcd SO much that
her baby jib topsail and jib shook.
Capt. Half seeing this luffed UP
little, evidently intending to let the
other boat go ahead for the purpose Of
enabling him to pass under her stern
and to windward. Capt. Sycamore ut
Valkyrie's tillcr noted this move and
luffed up also. 1t was then that the
thousands of watchers Oh the sur
rounding boats noticed how danger
ously close to each other the racers
were. And just at that moment too.
n snap and rcntlirg sound was
heard. and 1t was seen that Defend
crs jib topsail was flying loose in the
wind. Valkyrie's main boom had
swung around and f0uled Defenders
rigging. 10 those. who had witnessed
the accident and sprang forward Mt
the Ominous sound. 1t seemed as
though Defender trembled with the
shock. They saw her topmast bend
and her topsail swung over as though
1t would break away. and a groan
went up as though the brave boat
which had won 80 noble victory a
few days before was wholly debarred
from even OIL effort to secure q second
Lightning action was necessary to
save the topmnst from breaking away
completely, for it was already sprung
from it's fastcnings, and Capt. Half.
with a master stroke. taking his beat
down to leeward, soon maneuvercd
her into Il safe position and gave
chase. Valkyric, which had crossed
the line first, had gained a good lead
by
Defender. Disaster
and had probably n little more than
half mile advantage at the end of
the first leg in the triangular course
over which they sailed. Her gain was
something less than four inmates I'm
the beat TO windMartl. From that OH.
however, Defender, while not pcrcept:
IDLY CLOSING. the gap ,letween tlelrt
lesscned the time. and 'tfcy-crosse,l the
line not much more than two minutes
apart. Valkyrie, however, according
to corrected time. wins from Defender
by Just AZ seconds. Taken altogether,