The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-15

4
| that something might turn up TO save
the honor OF the old land, was lingering
4 round many O heart, and now ana then
| the cheerful assurance would burst forth
! that even IL the America carried on the
cup this time there would be half score
| of British schooners this time twelve~
| month ready and able 10 beat her. Then
she was 'only a trick of build She
| would only win once aud then be found
| out. Besides, she was so ugly ana had
so little room in her, with hundred
| other crumbs OF comfort, the very enjoy
| ment OF which only served TO mark how
| deep seated was the feeling OF utter
| despair OF her being matched, at least for
the present.
Among the crowds came ma ajesty itself.
The royal family and the court felt the
influence of the universal curiosity
which was excited to see how the stranger,
OF whom such great things were reported,
would acquit herself when put to the test
OF actual conflict. The royal yacht, the
Victoria and Albert, bore its distin--
guished namesake down TO the Isle OF
Wight to crafty this curiosity.
THE RACE.
Shortly after nine o'clock on Friday
morning the yachts were at their stations
off the clubhouse, the America lying con-
siderably astern-a strange looking crait
enough, with her long, low black hull,
her breadth of beam and her thick, stiff
looking, rakish masts. Pitted against
her were fourteen yachts, OF which six
were schooners and eight cutters. Among
these were the flower OF the English
sporting navy, the choicest products OF
transatlantic shipbuilding skin. At 10
o'clock the signal gun was fired from the
clubhouse. Before the smoke had well
cleared away the fleet was under way,
moving steadily to the east with the tide
and gentle breeze. The only laggard
was the America, which did not move
for a second or so after the others.
Steamers, shore boats and yachts OF all
sizes buzzed along on each side OF the
course and spread away for miles over
the ripping sea.
II the British heart leaped with
momentary exultation over the slowness
OF the America in getting under way, 1t
was only momentary. She soon began
TO creep up on her opponents, passing
some OF the cutters to windward. In a
quarter of an hour she left them all be-
hind, save only the Constance, Beatrice
and Fairy Queen, which were well to-
gether, and went along smartly with the
light breeze. In another quarter OF an
hour she was clear of them all. OF San
down Bay, the wind freshening. she
carried away her jibboom, but as she was
well handled, the mishap produced no
i'll effect, her competitors gaining
trifle, but not approaching her. From
the moment she rounded st. GATHERINGS
Point the race was practically over.
"Pshaw, sirl catch herr" said an old
seadog TO The Herald correspondent.
"You might as well set bulldog to
catch a hare.
When finally she reached the starting
vessel, at twenty-five minutes OF nine
p. m, there was no competitor in sight.
The news reached Her Majesty the Queen
on board of her yacht.
"Who is second?n asked the Queen.
"Your Majesty, there 10 no second,
said the messenger.
This was true at the moment, but
twenty minutes later the Aurora arrived
at the stakeboat and was awarded second
honors.
The victory was received by the British
public with good natured regret. Some
thing of the popular sentiment is shown
in verses that appeared at the time in
Punch.
On the following Saturday the America
made visit to Osborne in response TO
an invitation from the Queen, who had
expressed desire 10 inspet her. The
Victoria and Albert also dropped down to
Osborne.
The royal pair, with their suite, en-
barked at six in the evening in the State
barge. On nearing the America the
national colors OF that vessel We're dipped
and raised again when Her Majesty had
proceeded ON board. She remained half
an hour, and was grac iously moved to
express admiration for everything she
saw.
The Titania, crack British yacht,
owned by Mr.. r. Stephenson, NJ. p, had
not taken part IN the regatta. She wa, was
the America, which had been arranged
for the succeeding Thursday. Once more
the America was triumphantly successful,
winning in 81 minutes.
HER FIRT DEFEAT.
But next year her pride had fall. No
people on earth were ever more aston
ished than the English, when, on July
22, In the Royal Victoria Yacht Club
regatta, the America, after having led
lasted, was passed by two of them in
what was practically drifting match at
the close, and the race was finally won
by the Arrow. She was an old boat, but
she had profited by her owners study
of the America. He had improved her
on the lines suggested by the Yankee
boat
But II is comforting to know that on
this occasion the America carried the
British and not the American colors.
She had been purchased by Lord de
Blaguiere; she was owned and manned
by Englishmen.
BECOMES A BLOCKADE RUNNER.
In future contests she redeemed herself
and proved that she had lost none OF her
old prowess by her change of ownership.
Then came the period of the Civil War In
the United States. The sailing qualities
OF the America tempted a syndicate to
purchase her for use as a blockade runner
and she was yacht no more. She con-
tinued In her career as a blockade runner.
Lurking about the Florida Keys, lodging
men-of-war and now and then slipping
swiftly over TO Nassau or Bermuda, the |
America lived the life Of pirate schooner. |
Finally she was caught in the st. Johns |
River, Fla. A gunboat was sent TO cap
ture her. To prevent this her captain |
scuttled and sank her.
Preparations were made TO raise her,