The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-09-11
VAlKYRIE III WAS THE VICTOR,
But Her Victory Was Doubtful
One.
She Crippled Defender on the Start, But
That Gallant American Yacht Made q
Glorious Fight, and, With Her Jib Top
sail Flying Loose, Crosses the Line a.
Seconds Late.

New YORK, Sept. 1o.-Crippled, but
still heeliDg far over in her strength and
swiftness, Defender followed valkyrie
across the fniSh line to-day. Less than
half a mile separated the two, and snx-
ious cries kept pace, doomed by the
time indicators as they moved around,
and whom 1t was seen that the hmeri-
can Defender had lost nothing in the
last twenty miles CT the course, but
had actually gained, great shout went
up tor the gallant struggle gallant
vessel had made.
There were cheers for the victor, but
although Vslkyrie was the hrs, chal-
longer since 1871 to lead over the 8homo
line, tho honor OF her performance was
lest sight OF. 1t was q Rrievous accir
dent that ruined the Yankee boats
chancee, an accident which under the
hair splitting circumstances of jockey
ing st the starting line, looked to be
unavoidable.
EARLY in the morning the raoors had
slowly made their way down to the
Hook from Bay Ridge white winged and
beautiful. They circled in great rings
about the lightship until the signals
went up for the course and then the
shippers took tighter grip on the
wheel. Capt. Hank Half had made
record in seam anship on Saturday, and
the English skipper prepared to regain
the fame which had preceded him.
They msnuevered swiftly stter the
preparatory gun had been fred and with
Valkyrie to windward, Captain Half
made every effort to gain that position.
Just before reaching the line when VAL
kyrie was still to windward and the De-
fender to leewsrd, length nssern, but
still overhauling her, the American
boat was blanketsd SO much that her
bhbv jib top sail and jib shook. Captain
Hsff, seeing this luffed up little, evil
IDENTIFY intending 10 let the other boat
go ahead for the purpose of enabling
him to pAes undor her stern and to
windWard.
Captain Sycamore, ct Vslkyrie's
tiller, noted this move and luffed up
also. 1t was there tnat the thousands
of watchers on the surrounding boats
noticed how dangerously close 10 each
other the races were. And just OF that
moment, too, snap and rendIng
sound WAS heard and it was seen that
Defenders jib top sail was flying loose
in the wind. Valkyrie's main boom
had swung around and fouled Defe nder's
rigging
To those who had witnessed the acct
dent and eprang forward at the cminous
sound 1t seemed as though Defender
trembled with the shock. They saw
her top mast bend and her top sail
swing over as though Ii would break
away, and groRn went up as though
the brave boat which had won 90 noble
victory few days before was wholly
debarred from even an effort to secure
q second. Lightning action WAS neces-
sary 10 save the top mast from breaking
away completely, for 1t WAS already
sprung from it's fastenings, and Captain
Half, with q masterstroke taking his
boat down to leeward, soon Unanswered
her into safe position and gave chase.
Valkyrie, which had crossed the line
first, had gained good lead by De-
tenders disaster and had probably q
little more than half 6 mile advantage
at the end of the first leg in the trian-
gulsr course over which they sailed.
Her gain was something less than four
minutes In the beat to wind ward. From
that on, however, Defender, while not
perceptibly closing the gap between
them, lessened the time and they
crossed the line not more than two
minutes apart. Vslkyrie, according to
corrected time, however, wins from the
cup Defender by just ~ seconds.
There was life and motion ct tho start
although 1t was no such scene az was
presented on the day Of the first race.
Far back, in tho quiet hours, the sea
was dotted here and there with a sail on
the horizon that told of an advancing
fleet, and when the first gun was fred q
swinging vanguard, bright with color
was there to speed the racers on the
journey. Then, while all eyes we're on
that invisible line over which step
made too coon would prove fatal. De-
fender's mishap came. Recovering
quickly, however, and followed eagerly
by those to whom the breaking AWAY of
the jib top sail and the bending of the
top maat meant for the moment aban-
donment Of all hope, she went in stern
pursuit.
Vslkyrie's lead and her better posi-
tion was not much improved during the
first leg. True, Valkyrie did excellent
work. but Defender. going just ss her
miahap left her, chung to her rival.
Within a few minutes It WAS seen that
Defender meant to sail the FIRST leg
without jib topsatl, and 70 many of
those on the excureion steamers and &C.
companying yachts, this gave the first
linking that an accident had occurred
and that Defenders topmast was her
weak spot.
The course was down the jersey
coast, and nautical experts on board
aome OF the boats, critically observing
Defenders progress, expressed them
selves as believing she was merely fol-
lowing tho Englishman over tho course,
without attempting to race. This be-
lief was strengthened by tho fact that.