The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-09-12
WON UNDER PROTEST.
Valkyrie Defeats Defender in
the Second Race for the
Americas Cup.
Accident to the Latter Yacht
Ruined Her Chances at
the Very Start.
Sails a PluCky Race, However,
and Finishes Not a Min
- ute DehinG.

NEW YORK, Sept. l2.-Crlppled, but
still heeling far over in her strength
and swiftness, Defender followed Val
kyrie across the finish line. Less than
half a mile separated the two, and
anxious eyes kept pace, second by sec
ond, with the time indicators as they
moved around, and when it was seen
that the American defender had not
only lost nothing i'll the last 20 miles of
the course, but had actually gained, a
great shout went up for the gallant
struggle the vessel had made.
There were cheers for the victor, too,
but although Valkyrie III was the first
challenger since II TO lead over the
home line, the honor Of the perform
ance was lost sight Of for the time i'll
the grand effort of the American, for if
it were for nothing else, the Ameri-
can heart loves the hard loser i'll the
fight, and loves him the more when he
loses
Through No Fault of His Own.
II was a grievOus accident that ruined
the Yankee boats chances, an accident
which, under the r-splitting Circum
stances of jockeying at the starting line,
looked to be unavoidable. Early in the
morning the racers had leisurely made
their way down to the Hook from Bay
Ridge white winged and beautiful.
Just before reaching the starting line,
when Valkyrie was still to windward
and Ilafa,tln,. tn 1anxx-aY,l lanSrf In
astern but still overhauling her, the
American beat was blanketed so much
that her baby jib topsail and jib shook.
Captain Half seeing this, lutfed up a
little, evidently intending to let the
other boat go ahead for the purpose of
enabling him to pass under her stern
and to windward. Captain Sycamore;
at Valkyrie's tiller, noted this move and
luffed up also. 1t was then that the
thousands Of watchers on the surround
ing boats noticed
How Dangerously Close
to each other the racers were. And
Just at that moment, too, snap and
rending sound was heard, and it was
seen that Defenders jib topsail was fly
ing loose i'll the wind. Valkyrie's s
main boom had swung around and
fouled Defenders rigging. Nalkyrle,
which had crossed the line first, had
gained good lead by Defenders dis
aster and had probably a little more
than half a mile advantage at the end OF
the first leg in the triangular course
over which they sailed. Her gain was
something less than four minutes in the
bent to windward. From that on, how
ever, Defender, while not perceptibly
closing the gap between them, lessened
the time and they crossed the line not
much more than minutes apart. Val
kyre, according TO corrected time, how
ever, wins from the cup defender by
Just AZ seconds.
Spectators Limited.
There was life and motion at the
start, although it was no such sign as
was presented on the Cay Cf the FIRST
race. Far back in the quiet hours the
sea was dotted here and there with
sail, and the smoke on the horizon told
OF an advancing fleet and when the first
gun was fired swinging vanguard,
bright with color, was there to speed
the racers on their journey. Then,
While all eyes were on that invisible
llne over which a step made too SOON
would prove fatal, Defenders mishap
came. Recovering quickly, however,
and followed eagerly by those to whom
the breaking away of the jib topsail
and the bending Of the topmast meant
Tor the moment abandonment of all
nope. she went in stern pursuit. With
IN a few minutes it was seen that De-
lender meant to sail the first leg
without Jib TopsaiI
and to many Of those on the excursion
steamers and accompanying yachts, this
gave the first inkling that an accident
mad occurred and that Defenders top
mast was the weak spot. The course
was down the Jersey coast, and nauti-
c'i experts on board some of the boats,
critically observing Defenders progress,
expressed themselves as believing she
was merely following the Englishman
over the course without attempting TO
race. This belief was strengthened by
lne TACT that directly after the fouling
at the line protest flag was run up
M;lh ylgor that denoted dotermina-
uoh on the part Of the American COM
ihander. But Defender was in for
"a ts"se and during the progress of the
IIa, lew miles, sufficient repairs were
made TO enable her TO set q baby lib top.
IA H#fFH4 -