The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-11


whom the breaking away OF the jib top
sail and the bending of the topmast meant
for the moment abandonment of all hope.
she went in stern pursuit. yalkyries lead
and her better position was not much inn
proved during the first leg. Valkyrie did
excellent work, but Defender going just as
her mishap left her, chung TO her rival
Within a few minutes it was seen that
Defender meant to sail the first leg with
out jib topsail. and to many of those
on the excursion steamers and accompany
ing yachts this gave the first inkling that
an accident had occurred and that Defend
er's topmast was the weak spot.
WAS IN FOR A RACE.
The course was down the Jersey coast
and nautical experts aboard some of the
boats, who critically observed Defenders
progress. expressed themselves as believ-
ing she was merely following the English
man over the course without attempting
to race. This belief was strengthened by
the fact that directly after the fouling at
the line a protest flag was run up with a
vigor that denoted determination on the
part of the American commander. But
Defender was in for race and during the
progress of the first few miles sufficient
repairs were made TO enable her to set a
baby jib topsail after rounding the first
buoy In the beat to windward the watches
marked Valkyrie three minutes and fifty
two seconds in advance of Defender. The
second leg was expected TO try the nerves
of those who had set their hearts on
victory for the cup defender for her little
jib topsail looked like speck compared
with the great bellying balloon jib topsail
set by yalkyrie which was drawing tre-
mendously. But the second ten miles was
a veritable victory for the Yankee She
gained slowly, but she gained steadily,
and turning the second mark not far be-
hind her rival, she now had better chance
by long odds to win than few miles back
in the journey. 1t cheered anxious hearts
ION the floating city, for it is no exaggera-
tion to-day that ninty-nine hundredths Of
those afioat were Defender men from first
to last.
The last leg was run home with wind
abeam and there was rush of steamers in
the direction of the lightship. A ten-knot
breeze lifted the top of a chance wave and
the wash of the steamers tumbled the lit
tie craft about bit, but far back the two
single-stickers, Defenders sails only show
ing, were skimming over mill pond with
their lee rails awash and both rapidly over
hauling the fiotilia speeding in advance
Little Queen Nab, herself a racer, came
about and joined the steamer far ahead of
the contestants, and finally she was over
hauled by one and the other OF her sister
boats. She seemed to catch all the breeze
and heeled over in an effort to run along
with them and she did give each
for a time a lively brush, but at
last faded back into the distance. Then
Nayahoe; with mainsail setting Ike val, "a,
and the final mile or two was TO be run.
Towards the end it was evident that the
gap was closing and Valkyrie had scarcely
crossed the line and got out of the way
when Defender came tearing at it like
a Thoroughbred under the wire. She
must have put on an extra burst OF speed
to crafty those who had kept their eyes
the force of the driving breeze, a roar
of whistles and a volley of cheers and
cannonading gave her alteration for the
struggle.
FIRST IN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
Such is brief outline of the events Of
the race The real story is known only
to those who watched the fight Satur-
days race, the first of the series. was de-
cisive. but none could tell what Valkyrie
might do under other conditions. To-day
she was favored to the end, and 1t was a
victory that will be told best in the de-
tailed story that follows this. 1t was
feared that after her mishap the contest
would prove SO unequal as 10 lose It's in
terest. But it this very accident that
gave the Englishman hghting chance
against Defender to-day. With a strong
breeze and high sea for the third series
Valkyrie may do better, but at all events
she has the distinction of crossing the
home line in advance of the Yankee boat
1. fret in nlla ri
one other boat finished closer to the win
ner than did Defender to-day, and that
was Valkyrie III in her race with Vigilant
in 1893, when forty seconds only separated
the racers.
1t had been the generally expressed wish
that Dunraven would win one race OF the
even extended their good wishes to tbs
hope that he might get two, so that, as
they explained. he would be influenced In
coming again for another try for the cup
cup committee entertain Defenders pro-
test and declare against the Englishman
and SO good citizens on the their way to tsei'
congratulated themselves that Dunraver
and his gallant boat had gained what they
had hoped he would GAIN winning brack
victory. -
Pointing their noses inward the fee
moved quickly along, forming protecting
line around the two as they were towed T.
their berths at Bay Ridge. On Defender
Mrs. Iselin and the yellow dog, both mas
cots that had never before been at fault
consoled with each other under the mair
boom, while Capt Hank Haff, when asked
as to the accident, looked aloft grimly an.
said: ''Valkyrie's main boom tore away
our rigging" and would say no more. Tha
was the extent of the information to bt
had on the Defender. Later it was giver
out at the New York Yacht Club that the
cup committee would not render decisio:
in regard to the protest before tomorrow
Tonight, Mr.. c. o Iselin, of the Defender
said that Valkyrie's boom struck the toI
iih fonsail Stay