Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1895-09-11
TENDERS PROTEST.
The Cup Committee Investigat-
ing the Accident Today.
OUR BOAT ALMOST WON As IT WAS.
Captain Han Claims that valISyrie FouIed
His Boat when lie Had tho Right Of
way-He Sailed Plucly Race and Lost
by Only Forty-seven Seconds.

by Only Forty-seven Seconds.
NEW YORK, sept. lit was not con-
sidered likely at the New York Yacht
club this morning that a decision in re-
gard to the protest made by Defenders
representatives in regard to yesterdays
race would be made before late today.
The committee having the matter Of
protest in hand is the regatta committee,
composed Of Chester Griswold, S. Nichol-
son Kane and Irving GrinnelL IL was an
nounced late last night at the New York
Yacht club that the committee would not
even consider the matter last night, but
that today the committee would have a
meeting and take testimony regarding tho
alleged foul, and that decision would
probably be given late today.
The Accident to Defender.
To those who had witnessed the acct
dent and sprung forward at the ominous
sound it seemed as though Defender trom-
blcd with the shock.
They saw her topmast bend and her
topsail swing over as though it would
break away, and a groan went up as
though the brave boat which had won so
noble a victory a day or two previous
was wholly dobarrod from even an effort
TO secure a second.
Lightning action was necessary TO save
the topmast from breaking away com
pletoly, for it was already sprung from its
fastonings and Captain Half, with a mas
ter stroke taking his boat down to lee
ward, soon maneuvered her into a safe
position and gave chase. Nalkyrie, which
had crossed the line first, had gained a
good lead by Defenders disaster and had
probably little more than half q mile
advantage at tho end Of the first leg in
the triangular course over which they
sailed
Her gain was something less than four
minutes in that beat TO windward. From
that on, however, Defender, while not
perceptibly closing the gap between them,
lossened tho time, and they crossed the
line not much more than two minutes
apart. Valkyrie, according to corrected
time, however won from the cup defender
by just AZ seconds.
When the first gun was fired, a swing
ing vanguard bright with color and action
was there to speed the racers on their
journey. Then, while all eyes were on
that invisible line over which a step made
too soon would prove fatal, Defenders
mishap came. Recovering quickly how
ever, and followed eagerly by those to
whom the breaking away of the jibtopsail
and the bending Of the topmast meant for
the moment abandonment of all hopes,
she went in stern pursuit.
VallSyrio's lead and her better position
were not much improved during the first
leg. True, Nalkyrie did excellent work,
but Defender going just as her mishap
left her, chung to her rival Within few
minutes it was seen that Defender meant
TO sail the first leg without q jibtopsail,
and TO many Of those on the excursion
steamers and accompanying yachts this
gave the first inlzling that an accident had
occurred, and that Defenders tOpmast
was the weak spot.
The course was down the Jersey coast,
and nautical experts on board some Of the
boats, critically observing Defenders
progress expressed themselves as believ-
ing she was merely following the English
man over the course without attempting
to race. This belief was strengthened by
the fact that directly after the fouling at
the limo protest flag was run up with a
vigor that denoted determination on the
part of the American commander. But
Defender was in for a race, and during
the progress of the first few miles sufii-
oient repairs were made TO enable her to
set baby jibtopsail after rounding the
first buoy. In the beat TO windward the
watches marked Valkyrie 3 minutes 80
seconds in advance of Defender.
Defender Gained on the Second Leg.
The second leg was expected to try the
nerves Of those who had set their hearts
ON victory for the cup defender, for her
little jibtopsail looked like a speck COM
pared with the great, bellying balloon iib-
topsail set by Valzyrie which was draw
ing tremendously. But the second ton
miles was a workable victory for tho Yam
kee. She gained slowly but she gained
steadily, and, turning the second mark
not far behind her rival, she now had a
better chance by long odds TO win than a
few miles back in the journey. 1t cheered
the anxious hearts on the floating city,
for it is no exaggeration Co say that nine
ty-nine one-hundredths of those ailoat
were Defender men and women from first
to last.
The last leg was a run home, with the
wind abeam, and there was a rush Of
steamers in the direction Of the lightship.
A ten knot breeze lifted the top of a
chance wave, and the wash of the steam
ers tumbled the little craft about a bit,
but far back the two single stickers, De-
tenders sails only showing were skim
ming ONtf illlA louul Mllu luclE lcHe
rails awash and both rapidly overhauling
the hotilla speeding in advance.
Little Queen Nab, herself q racer, came
about and joined the steamers far ahead
of the contestants, and finally, being out
footed, was ovorhauled, first by the one
and then by the other of her sister boats
She seemed to catch all the breeze and
heeled over in an effort to run along with
them, and she did give each for tho time
a lively brush, but at last faded back into
the distance.
Then Navahoe with a mainsail setting
like Valkyrie's, hove in sight near the
lightship, and the final mile or two was
to be run. Toward the end it was evident
that the gap was closing and Valkyrie
had scarcely crossed the line and got out
Of the way when Defender came tearing
at it like a thoroughbred under the wire
Defenders Gallant Finish.
She must have put on an extra burst Of
speed to crafty those who had kept their
eyes on her white canvas from gun 60
gun, for she was well on her side, and her
sails bulgod with the force of the driving
breeze as a roar Of whistles and a volley
of cheers and cannonading gave her adora-
tion for the struggle.