Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-11
THE RACE BY BULLET IS.
The Story Of the Accident and Progress Of
Yachts in Short Paragraphs.

Navesink Highlands, Sept. 10.-The
Weather conditions, early this morning,
were very unfayorable indeed for yacht
racing. The sky was overcast and a thick
fog had settled down, making it difficult
to see objects a short distance away, while
the wind, which was from the southwest,
was blowing at not quite five miles an
hour.
About $50, however, the wind freshened
a little until 8. 80, when it was blowing
somewhere near eight miles per hour and
bid fair to increase in velocity and blow
the fog seaward. The sun began to shine
through riffs in the clouds here and there.
The corwd was not as numerous as on
Saturday, but it numbered well up into
the thousands. Most of the steamboat
captains named an earlier hour for depart
ure than on Saturday, as they found it no
easy matter to push their deep.laden craft
through the 80 miles Of water that inter
vened between the Battery and the Sandy
Hook lightship.
The Defender was the first of the two
racers to leave Bay Ridge. She lay in the
midst of a fleet Of the finest steamers and
sailing yachts in America. At TAO she
took a line from the tug and started for
the. scene OF action. The Valkytie left
her moorings 10 minutes later in tow
Just below the Narrows the crew of the
Defender began to send up their main
sail.
It was about TO- 80 when thu division
gathered at Sandy Hook lightship, where
they made their rendezvous until the
racers were sent over the line. Soon after
the arrival of the patrol the attending fleet
began, one by one, to put in an appearance.
1t was but a short time when the waters
were dotted with almost every description
of craft. Bands played and happy excur-
sionists sang patriotic songs and chanted
praises of the much-admired Defender.
Before the preparatory signal was fired
quite u formidable and imposing flotilla
had assembled.
The patrols again found it impossible
to make the fleet maintain u haifmile
line from the starting point. First one
boat would steam in to give her passen-
gers q close observance of the racers, then
another and another, until the fleet seemed
in hopeless confusion, crowding and jost-
ling each other Ia the mad endeavor to
get near the contesting yachts.
The jockeying for position at the start
was as fine u piece of work as has ever
been seen, but unfortunately it ended in
a foul Just as the boats were crossing the
line. The Defender stood over toward tho
Long Island shore and the Valyrie pursued
her.
Capt. Cranfleld was apparently ont for
blood when the Defender iibed and stood
for the line at 1854. Crantleld swung his
boat around as though it had q pivot in
the center inc he was then between the
Defender and the wind. Both shot out
baby jib t~opsails. The Defender tried a
bluffing game, but Cranfield was too
quick. He held the windward berth as
both boats made for the line.
They were almost side by side and the
Defender was trying to walk through the
Britisher's lee. Five seconds before the
gun was fired, the boats came together,
the Valkyrie's steel boom raking across
the Defenders deck and carrying away
the topmast backstay Of the American
boat.
There was a loud crash and the top
mast sagged as though it were broken.
Captain Half luffed up in the wind and
the baby jib topsail was taken in.
The Valkyrle rushed across the line ard
went on her way. The Defender lost
several minutes while things were being
Strengthened out. A protest flag was
shown on the Defender and answered from
the judges boat and the Defender
pluckily went in pursuit of the enemy.
Both yachts were on the %starboard tack
at the time of the accident. The Valkyrie
was running freer than the Defender and
the latter had the right of way
The fault was plainly that of the Valky-
ria who's eat,taiD aasp6 tho shaatc IN pro
vent being forced over the line before the
gun was fret. The official time of the start
was, Valkyrie, 11.00. 10; Defender,
IL OF 10.
Without her jibtopsail and handicapped
by the delay at the line. the Defender was
several lengths sstern five minutes after
the start. The Valkyrie pointed higher and
seemed to eat up to w%indward better thar
the Defender. Two minutes after the
start both vent on the port tack and stood
over toward the Jersey shore.
At 11.2 the Defender went on the star.
board tack and the Valkyrie followed suit.
The British boat had gained and was a
good quarter mile to windward. At II. go.
both went on the port tack and the Val
kyrie still increased her lead. At II. 55
the Valkyrie tackled to starboard. The
Defender followed.
AZ IL the British boat had a lead Of
half a mile.
II the written protest Of Mr.. Iselin i.
acted upon by the regatta committee.
there Is little doubt that the race will h
ordered resailed. The Defender was bad :
handicapped by the accident and as it wa.
plainly the fault of the other boat. I'll.
oecision is bound to be in favor of tn,
American boat.
The Defender was to leeward of th,
Valkyrie, nearest to the judges, boat. ~,