The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-11
THE DEFENDER WAS fOULED
Valkyrie's Crew Accused of .IOckeyinq
the Race.
ENGLISH BOAT IS THE WINNER
0nd Forty Nine Seconds = Though
Crippled. tho Yankee Yacht
Sailed Over the Course.

New York. Sept. 10--4ClOse jockeying
bet ween the British and American COM
batamts for the Americas cup race of
sand Hook today resulted in an acci-
dent to the American boat which
spoiled the race, and $4,000 persons ON
steamboats,. tugs. steam yachts and
ocean steamers sent up a groan of dis
appointment when that beautiful
aluminium and bronze creation was
crippled before their eyes. Not all were
near enough to see what had happened.
but all the yachting sharps said at
once-an accident to the topmast rig
ging. Some remarks were made which
would have made ears tingle had they
reached the Nalkyrie, but Lord Dun
ravens boat, after fouling the Defend
er, was away cup-hunting.
From the first every attempt to Sc
cure fair play for the visitors has been
made and methods that prevail in
English races when an American boat
completes are not tried here. The boats
In jockeying for the line, had shown
some of the prettiest work that has
been seen here, and as the two boats
headed for the line there We're mur-
murs of disappointment In the crowd.
Both finally approached the starting
line with Valkyre leading and to the
windward Of the Defender, and had
both held their courses there would
have been no trouble, but 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 predica-
ment the Valkyrie bore away a trifle
and eased out her sheets.
defender Disabled.
The main boom of the Britisher
swept over the deck Of the Defender,
carrying away the topmast shrOuds on
the starboard side and tearing out the
jaws of the spreader. The tOpmast
cracked and was badly sprung. Just
as the crash came the starting signal
was given, and Valkyrie sped away
like a rocket Defender was luffed In
the wind, the jib topsail lowered, the
wreckage removed and Mr.. Iselin de-
cided to continue the race. Probably
a couple of minutes We're wasted maxi
ing repairs before the boat continued
on her course. A protest flag was dis
played, and the committee boat showed
an answering pennant. Then the gal
liant Defender and her plucky crew
went in pursuit of the British cutter.
But for the accident, the race today
would probably have been one of the
UntSt Ill tut HlStoTy VI tue
cup contests. Nothing was lacking to
make 1t memorable affair. The
crowds OF spectators and the fleet of
excursion craft and private yachts
were present to lend animation to the
scene. There was good sailing breeze,
the sky was clear after the mist Of the
morning had been dispelled. and the
ocean was comparatively smooth
The weakened tOpmast of Defender
prevented her from carrying the sail
that Valkyrie carried and she could not
keep the pace set by the Dunraven
boat In the beat of ten miles to wind
ward to the first turn, Valkyrie gained
an advantage of two minutes and fifty
two seconds. At one time she led by
fully mile, but as tine wind fresh
ened from the six knots at the start to
fifteen at the first turn, eighteen short
ly afterward. the Defender, crippled
though she was. began to gain. The
second leg of the race was a broad
reach. and Valkyrie used a balloon jib
topsail. while the people on the De-
fender had to be content with n baby
jib tOpsail In spite Of her handicap
the Defender gained seventeen sec
onds on the second leg.
on the run home, the Defender con-
tinued her good work. gaining one min
ute and seventeen seconds. The time
allowance of Valkyrie to Defender is
twenty seconds, and allowing for
this. the difference between her time
over the course and the Defenders time
was fOrty-seven seconds only.
va,kvrie's Passengers.
The Valkyries mainsail was fitted
far better than that of the Ameri-
can boat. On the Valkyrie with Lord
Dunraven were Arthur Glennie, II.
No; n,,I L v,I 4 ..fS
Americas cup committee Lord Dun
ravens daughters did not sail on the
yacht today They saw the race from
the deck of a steam yacht. On the
Defender were Mr.. and Mrs. Iselin;
NAT" HerreshOff. Woodbury. Kane,
Newbury Thorne. Herbert c. Leeds and
David ,Hendersons, the representative
of Lord Dunraven.
The fleet of excursion steamers and
yachts which followed the racers was
smaller than on Saturday. The yachts
were not seriously hindered about the
start, although at times 1t looked as
though they might be.
After the race was under way more
boats continued to arrive. At the turns
and during the race. the attendant
fleet gave the yachts plenty OF room.
The warning whistles Of the patrol yes
sells were needed and no serious inter-
ference with the yachts occurred at any
time.
AT the finish there was the usual
scene OF excitement with patriotic
Americans for once saluting a British
yacht. The Defender received the
greater ovation of the two. Her plucky
fight elected much praise from
yachtsmen. Both yachts were towed to
Bay Ridge. where they are anchored to-
night Tomorrow a new topmast will
be put into Defender.
Protest from Mr.. .1scIin.
The regatta committee stopped their
boat at Bay Ridge on the way to the
city and Mr.. Iselin made a verbal pro-
test In regard to the fouling.
Mr. Bush. the club representative on
the British boat. was asked by the
committee to present his version Of the
anair. At 1890 .. m. the following no.
tice was posted on the bulletin board
az the club.
Tuesday. Sept. 1O-The Defender pro-
tests the Valkyrie on the ground that she
bore down on her just before reaching the
which resulted In the carrying away OF
her spreader. and the spr;ngins Of her
topmast.
(S'gneb The REGATTA Committee.
The regatta committee will not de-
| eide the protest before tomorrow II
Is generally believed that the decision
will be In favor Of Defender.
Commodore Smith, Of the Americas
cup committee, speaking Of the De-
fender this evening. said that his faith
in the Herreshoff boat Ia tremendously
strengthened and that the cup Is safe
The Officinl Time.
The official time of starting, turning
and finish today was as follows:
Valkyrie, start, 11.0O.13: first turn,
1R.57.43; second turn, 2O1.45; finish,
2..S5.22.
Defender, start, Hollis: first turn,
1.01.35: second turn, 1.6S.10: finish,
257.40 The elapsed and corrected time
Of the race was as follows: