Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10
YACHTING OFF COWEs
Americans Were Not in Numbers al
Before,
IMPROVEMENT IN TEE NIAGARA
Specializing on the Prospects of
valkyrie.
COMING ATHLETIC CONTESTS

NOm1No h1nLE l1C CON1ES1S
Copyrighted 1895, by the Associated PressD
LONDON, August 1O.-The gathering of .
the yachts and yachtsmen at Cowes this
week, the famed "Cowes' week." has not
been as large or brilliant as customary.
There are two reasons put forward in ex-
PLANTATION of this. In the first place, there
Is 70 doubt that the Indictment weather has
a great deal to do with marring the yacht
ing meet and dampening the briIliancy of
the various fetes at and about Cowes
But 1t Is probable that the real reason
Tor the lack of bright ,oIor at Cowes this
week was the fact that the assemblage of
aquatic enthusiasts there last year was
so great on account Of the presence Of Mr..
George Gould's sloop Vigilant as a COM
petitor against the Prince Of Wales cutter
Britannia, that the gathering Just ended
lost in effect by comparison
Then. again, there were not many Ameri-
cans present at the races of Cowes this
week. and there il no denying that visiting
Americans are fast becoming one of the
features Of every important public function
in England.
This is having a good effect In many
ways. 1t is teaching Englishmen to APP
preciate Americans, and showing these
islanders that war paint and feathers are
not necessarily a part of the costume of
a citizen of the United States, and 1t is
customs and character which they could
not otherwise obtain. Summed up briefly, it
may be said that those who complain of
the admiration" which some Americans
are said to manifest toward a lord can con-
sole themselves with the thought that the
fairly distinguished American visiting Erg-
land is now looked up to with far more
respect and is received with much more
ha 1n~.l
ceives here. u.,.. ..-
Hoping to See a Yankee Boat.
Thus it IL that the absence of Americans
from Cowes has thrown a wet blanket over
the proceedings. and everybody is hoping
to see a crack American single sticker
over here next year hunting for the Amer
ica's cup. which Valkyrie III is still ex-
pected to capture. in spite of the repeated
victories Of Defender over Vigilant the
conqueror of Valkyrie IL.
Incidentally, 1t may be added, there Is a
rumor in circulation here that, If Defender
is not successful in retaining the Americas
cup, a Yankee schooner will be sent over
here to recapture it. This has caused quite
commotion in yachting circles. for the
performance of Mr.. r. S. Palmer's Yampa
in these waters this year. and the accom-
plishments Of Mr.. John E Brooks Lasca
over her last year have clearly demon
strated that Englishmen have a very great
rigging and sailing schooners. Therefore,
the yacht designers here have already put
on their thinking caps and are figuring on
American schooners ana their ways.
Improvement I'm the Niagara.
The yachtsmen at Coxes and elsewhere
in England are surprised at the greatly
improved form shown by Mr.. Howard
Gould's twenty-rater, Niagara, in her re-
cent races. The Yachtsman. which at first
regarded Niagara as being no match for
her English rivals is now forced to admit
itself to have been mistaken, and said yes
terday; Niagara has proved to be very
distinct success. She required to be tuned
when she first came over and cow this is
done, blow high or blow low, We shall be
much surprised to see Niagara far astern
of any twenty-rater in British waters"
1t IL were necessary to furnish stronger
proof of Niagara's greatly improved form
than that afforded in the recent races in
the Solent it exists in the fact that Britain
mia barely saved her time from her at the
Royal Munster regatta, where only few
seconds saved the Prince of Wales cutter
from a humiliating defeat
The poor showing made by the other for
eign tweuty-rater now racing IN BRUSH
waters, Prince Leopold of Prussia's Isolde,
compared with Niagara, is mainly due to
the fact that Mr.. Gould's yacht is much
better handled.
Referring TO the Americas cup prospects,
the Yachtsman says: 1T seems that De-
fender is not likely to prove mere fine
weather boat, as thought by us Britishers.
for it seems that in a breeze she can stand
on her legs as we'll as Vigilant: Compar-
ing what Defender did against Nigilant on
Monday, and Nalkyre's show against Bri-
tannia en- July 8, We should say that VAL
kyrie will meet quite match in Defender,
ii the wind blows strong. In light winds,
however, We have great confidence in VAL
kyrie."
The foregoing comments can safely be
said TO reflect the opinions held by the
| majority of British yacktsmen.
Coming International Contests.
| In spite of all statements to the contrary.
| the final composition of the London Ath-
letic Club team, which Will visit the United
| States in order to meet a team from the
New York Athletic Club, is not yet decided
upon. But the British athletes are looking
forward with the greatest interest to the
coming International events, the races be-
tween Defender and Valkyrie III. the con-
| test between Cambridge and Yale. and the
trial of skill between the L. A. w. and the
n. Y. A. c.
| Many of the experts claim to fear that
| the climate of New York, especially il
| warm weather prevails, will seriously in
| terfere with the chances Of the British ath-
leteS.
! A well-known sporting authority, COM
| menting on this subject yesterday, said:
| L
have some effect upon the English athletes,
but that is one Of those things which can
| not IN any way be avoided. When the Yale
| team and the Cornell crew came over here
| they lahored under climatic disadvantages,
| and it is but natural to suppose that this
| lad something to do with their defeat, ard
| we should not begin complaining of the
| climate of New York before the contests
| In fact, even il our men are defeated
| can see no just reason for blaming the
| climate. All such things must be taken
| into consideration when team from either
| side crosses the Atlantic. Then, again,
| have never yet had actual proof that the
| climate Of New York has seriously fnjure j
| any Of our athletes, while, on the other
| hand, nobody will deny that the china te of
| England is certainly trying to all visitors
| Even supposing 1t is hot when our men
| meet the Americans the latter will feel
| the heat as much as the Englishmcn, and,
| after ALL have seen remarkably fast time
| made on remarkably hot days, and should
| not be astonished IL this was to occur
! again. As to the chances of the English
1 fean 4 fv