The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-09


The Nalkyrie ............... .5SA
The Defender won by minutes and ~
seconds.
The weather predictions We're correct
and the sky was overcast all day, ex-
cept at the moment when the Defender
crossed the finishing line about eight
minutes ahead of the Valkyrie when
the sun broke forth from beneath the
lowering clouds and seemed to add its
smile To the hurrahs and cheers with
which the victorious yacht was saluted
In the long history Of the Americas
cup races the one of yesterday attract.
ed the most attention and drew the
largest crowd There were good rea-
sons for it. and among these not the
least important was that new model
had been adopted, and that against the
wishes of many who believed that only
centerboard yacht could successfully
defend the yacht trophy against the
British. Another reason for especial
interest was the fact that in the last
international race the margin was
painfully small. and the English had
made their boast that thev had discov-
cred and remedied the defects i'm the
challenger of 1898. AS a matter of his
tory. it is interesting to note the fol-
lowing points in connection with the
last International races.
Cup Contest OF 1893.
The first of the races was sailed on
October I. 1898, fifteen miles to leeward
and return. The Vigilant, the Amer
lean cup defender, made the run in
four hours. five minutes and forty-sev-
en- seconds; the Valkyrie ii took four
hours. eleven minutes and thirty-tive
seconds The Vigilant beat the Val
kyrie five minutes and forty-eight sec
onds.
In the second race, which took place
on Oct. 9. over a triangular course, ten
miles to each leg. the Vigilant's time
was three hours. twenty-five minutes
and one second; that of Valkyrie was
three hours. thirty-five minutes and
thirty-six seconds. The Vigilant beat
the Valkyrie II in this race ten min
utes and thirty-five seconds.
The third race was sailed on OCT. IL
and was fifteen miles to windward and
return. In this race the ViGilant beat
the Valkyrie III by only forty seconds,
the time being: Vigilant. three hours,
twenty-four minutes and thirty nine
seconds; Valkyrie III, three hours.
twenty-five minutes and nineteen sec
onds.
With a view to wiping out this small
margin the new English yacht was
built.
The excitement over the coming races
was not of the demonstrative kind;
people We're slow to predict success for
the Defender even after she had beat
on the Vigilant, which had been i'm
proved: and while there were some who
advertised themselves as ready to
wager large sums OF money on the new
boat, these were few in comparison
with the conservative people who
simply hoped that the races of 80
would be another triumph Of the Amer
lean over the English yacht.
This spirit showed itself up to yes
terday, when all roads In and about
New York seemed to lead to the Bay.
The Excursion Boats.
Roats large and small were char
tered to take parties down the bay, and
long before the starting time crowds
were rushing to the various piers, and
i'm many instances twice and three
times as many passengers could have
beer taken by the boats II the com
mandc-s had not determined to run no
risk by overcrowding. Most Of these
boats left their berths between and
$50 a. M, and then the procession
down the harbor began. There was
nothing cheerful In the weather. The
warm, the water lumpy and the wind
nothing to speak Of. Down the bay.
though, the white-winged champions
were waiting for the word to be off.
and toward the place where they float
ed lazly about all prows were turned.
Excursion boats. black with passengers
and swaying under their load Of hu-
man!ty, steam and sailing yachts with
parties on board. little craft which
went beyond their usual course and
then bobbed about reluctant to leave
the scene-everything that could get
away moved toward the racers, and
scattered thickly along the line were
the boats of the patrol which guarded
the safety of the craft and prevented
interference with the racers.
II soon became known by signa1 that
the course would be the one known as
No. 1. which. according to the pro-
gramme, was from the starting line to
and around a mark fifteen miles to
windward, or to leeward. and return.
leaving the mark on the starboard
hand.
As the boats crossed the line and the
Valkyrle appeared to take the lead a
chill seemed to strike the spectators
The English boat was ahead to all
intents and purposes but at about 2
p. NJ. when she tried to cross the bows
Of the Yankee slOop and failed, and
when for the first time In the race the
Defender showed ahead. there was
shout from every boat and a concert
Of steam whistles which bore evidence
of the fact that the interest was not
dead. not even sleeping
Al tho Finish.
Another din was caused all along the
line when the Defender rounded the
first mark ahead of her English rival,
and faces frightened and men who had
looked respondent braced UP and went
below--to examine the compass or
some other nautical contrivance which
the yachtsman resorts TO In such emer-
gencles. From then until the end
when the Defender crossed the line
about two miles ahead of the valkyrie.
there was hardly a doubt as to which
boat would win. At the finishing point
the hundreds of vessels had assembled
to witness the end. whistles In every
key, bells. guns. drums, anything and
everything that would make . noise
was made use Of. and many q cheer
died on the lips Of stout men because
they were too much overcome to give
vent to their feelings.
The next race Of the series will be
sailed on Tuesday.