The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-27
SPRUCE Nv WON AGAIN
WIND WAS STRONG AND THE SEA
TOO CHOPPY FOR ETHELwYNN.
Her Yankee Owner Became Fright
ened and Wfthdrew-vaIkyrie to
Race Here Next Year.

OYSTER BAY, L. l., Sept. 26.-The race
between the half-rater yachts Spruce ".
owned by j. Arthur Brand, of the Minima
Yacht Club. Of England. the challenger for
the international trophy hung up by the
Seawanhaka-C orinthian Yacht Club, for
small boats. and the Ethelwynn. Captain
c. j. Field, of the Indian Harbor Yacht
Club. which was sailed to-day on the sound
of this place. ended in very unsatisfac-
tory manner. After sailing one round OF
six miles Mr.. Field decided that he could
not continue the journey. because the wind
was strong the sea so choppy that
the conditions were not those in which
half-rater should SAIL Nevertheless, Spruce
continued and covered the entire distance
despite wind and sea. When Ethelwynn
quit she was minutes IS seconds behind.
The action of Mr.. Field in giving up the
race occasioned many uncomplmentary re-
marks.
To-day's race. which was over a course
OF three miles to leeward and return and
repeat. or twelve miles in ALL was the third
of the series, each boat having won ono
before. The cup will be given to the yacht
which wins three out of five. There was
blowing all day a hard wind for such small
craft, it's velocity ranging from ten TO fif-
teen knots an hour. Just before crossing
the line at the start. the signal gun being
fired at 1880 p. m, slight collision oe,
had come about to the starboard tack while
jockeying for position, and expected that
Spruce, which was very close to her, would
do the same Spruce held on the port tack,
however, and Ethewynn ran into her
stern with blow that was not more than
a Craze. Spruce at once displayed protest
flag. but the committee could do no more
than respond that it would consider IT,
and ordered the yachts to proceed. MT
Field and helmsman f. H. Bell, OF the
Ethelwynn, did not know at that time
that they had been protested, and wnen
they learned the fact in coming ashore they
were much surprised. Both asserted that
they we're in the right, having been on the
starb6ard tack. and, therefore. having the
right of way when the collision happened.
At all events, Spruce got over the line hrst,
one minute after the gun for starting was
fired. and Ethelwynn was about twenty
The racers went away before the fresh
wind for the outer mark with reefs and
spinnakers. and when they had both made
the turn Spruce, which rounded at 1:02: 0S.
was eight seconds ahead, after having been
passed once the run out by Ethelwynn,
which scooted by her to leeward when near
ly half way on the leg. Spruce had lost
time through miscalculation
as TO the position of the mark, but when
she got it located she outfooted Ethel
wynn Inc END or the second leg Ethel
wynn sailed a good race. Notwithstanding
that she was interfered with to small ex-
tent by big tow coming up the sound.
The tow also interfered with Spruce. On
the beat home Ethewynn gained on her
opponent somewhat, and when she dropped
out of the race at the end of the first round
1T looked like a clear case of quit. The
times of the boats at the turn that marked
half. the course were: Spruce, 2:0S:00; Ethel
wynn. 2:11:5S.
Mr. Ball, who was the Yankee skipper.
did not want to give it up, but the owner
insisted. Spruce, nevertheless. showed some
very pretty sailing. She finished after the
second heat at 3:2727. The outcome of Mr..
Fields action in withdrawing his boat was
that skipper Ball refused to sail again with
owner Field. Field made another with
drawal at this stage and got out of the
game altogether. Ball sent word to Eliza
beth. N. j., for his brother Fred to come
to Oyster Bay by the first train in the
morning. and tomorrow the Ball brothers
will sail the Ethelwynn.
The committee has taken no action on
| Spruce's protest, which Mr.. Brand, the
| clever skipper of the English yacht, said
| tonight should not have been made. mas
| much as Ethelwynn did him harm. But
| whatever the committee does in the matter,
| the race belongs to Spruce ". If the Briton
| gets one more tomorrow she will take
| home the cup.