The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-08
VICTORIOUS DEFENDER
THE AMERICAN BOAT RUNS
AWAY FROM VALKYRTE III IN
A WIND TO SUIT THE
RRITTSHEB.
NEARLY NINE MINUTES AHEAD.
THE CHALLENGER SLIPPED
THROUGH TIE WATER AT
A RAPi y RATE,

White Wings and on the Home Tack
Flew Like Bird..yalkyEie III Fair
Iy Outsailed-.T Yankees Were
Scared for Time. but Their Spirits
Went up Like the Mercury When De-
fender Made her PacbesThe Story of
the Numerous Contests for the Amer
ica's Cpp.-That Precious Trophy
VIII Remain on Our Side fthe Seas.
New YORK, Sept. defender won
fern in truly American fashion to-
day, finishing far ahead of the English
challerg9r, Valkyrie III, and giving
every evidence Of outclassing the Dun
raven boat in almost any kind of weather.
There were strange features connected
with the race for the Americas Cup, not
the least being the general doubt expressed
during the first fourteen miles of the
course as to which boat was in the
lead. It was nip and tuck from the
first gun signal until within short
distance of the mark and then Defender
caught the breeze, and to the delight OF
thousands simply sailed away from her
rival. From that moment she went out,
increasing her lead to the end and win
ming by the surprising margin of eight
minutes and forty nine seconds. Such
work as this in what was denominated
Valkyrie weather is calculated to satisfy
the Yacht sharps on this side of the water
to their hearts content and lend fear to
the minds of those who had hoped for
reversal of the American form and the
winning Of the cup by the Englishman.
No event IN the history of sport eX
cited the interest shown ID the race to-
day. Since Vigilant defeated Valkyrie II
in 1898 the international contest has
been kept well in mind, and the enthu
siasm displayed today was merely the
outcome of the pent up feeling Of the
> past year or two.
The Associated Press ting, which left
her dock at very early hour,
passed many strange craft out
: ward bound to the Hook. Off Bay Ridge
there were gathered most of tie crack
yachts Of the port and some visitors,
and all along the line boats lay in readi
ness to join the feet around the old Scot
land lightshiD. Dull weather was prom
ised, but that matteTed little, for the
hotilia could scarcely have been larger.
1t was just as grand, just as imposing
and bearing just as interested thousands
as could be if the day had been verita
BILE yachtsman day and the sky had been
uDclouded overhead. A great swinging
roll was encountered long before the
Hook came in view, and the verdict was
that il wiBd was lacking swell at least
would not be. And so 1t proved.
OF the thousands gathered together on
the decks of the steamers there were at
least hundreds who cared very little
that thsre was a great International
yacht race on, and the probable winner
was Of still less Importance to them.
Many Others were borne mp by their en-
thusiasm, and the rest to whom sick
ness cana not, had every reason To
aronse themselves to the beauty Of the
struggle. E1r grander fight for posi-
tion was never seen, and almost to the
end Of the outward course it seemed at
times as though the two boats were one,
viewed directly across their bows.
In the quiet hours of the morning,
when many sailing craft were on the
outward voyage, several of the big steam
yachts of the New York Yacht Club came
steamipg in. Others not so imposing
darted hither and thither, and as the day
grew silently followed the cup conten
ders out beyond the lightship where it
had been decided the course should be
laid. At a. NJ both Defender and Val
kyrie lay peacefully within the Horse
Shoe at Sandy Hook. They had spent
the night there, close to each other, and
guarded as carefully as children by their
mother. at $50 a. N. there were little
signs of life on board, but a few minutes
later all was stir and hustle.
The big mains ails were hoisted and the
visitor was first under way, in charge
of her tender, followed soon by the
American. They broke out their jibs at
the same time, and even at that early
hour the cheers of the watcher we're
aroused by the good omen of the Defend
er assuming the lead The start was off
Seabright, N ] some miles from the light
ship. When the single stickers drewup to
the stake bow great fleet was in wait
ing, and, strung for miles behind came
the rear guard, apparently countless in
number, and endless in variety. The
smoke of great city seemed to rise from
their midst. and when all had gathered
in that never to be forgotten circle,
about the starting line, it was
a floating city indeed, rolling and sway
ing urder the invisible strength of the
ocean. a forest of spars, and deep
wall OF smoke was the back ground, and
the center of the picture were two mar
row seemingly fragile boats standing
high above the others, clad in white,
decked only with swiftly moving figures,
and even in that light breeze skimming
over the waves like beings endowed with
life and beauty.
The preparatory gun found both boats
long waiting for il was considerably after
the set time when it as fred Far off
in the distance the spectators on the
beaches saw the puff of smoke and
strained their eyes for the start. The
two white winged creatures tackled
about for the word and they seemed tx
close with each other like wrestlers trying
for hold. Several times they came
about exactly togel her as one boat, but
it was finally observed that the English
man would undoubtedly cross the line
first. To the applaudits of those wht
watched the steamship, Captain Hanl
Half brought the Defender quickly abou