The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-10
VALKYRIE IN FRONT.
The British Yacht Wins the
Second of the Races.
Started Ahead and Kept the
Lead All the Way.
A CLOSE FAST RACE.
Defender Made a Hard Fight to
Lessen the Gap.
American Yacht Made a Protest
Against the Start.

HIGHLANDS OF NAvEsINK, N. J., Sept,
10.-A cloudy sky and a smooth sea over
which light southwest airs were sweep
ing gently, was the outlook for today's
yacht race this morning.
The Britishers, not much discouraged
by the defeat which their yacht met with
on Saturday last in light to stronger
breezes and a heavy sea, have shifted
some of her ballast from aft forward at
the suggestion of Mr. George l. Watson,
her designer, have had her remeasured,
and have given her a good trial spin
since the last heat of the battle for the
cup, therefore they confidently expected
her to show up in better form today.
Real so-called Valkyrie weather pre-
vailed off the hook this morning, a
smooth sea and light airs, but no patri-
otic American doubted Defenders
ability to make "two straight,
previous to making it "three straight"
The only Objectionable features OF the last
race were the crowding of the excursion
steamers and the fact that good view Of
the race could not be obtained owing to
the fog and haze.
At s o'clock the sun began breaking
through the mantle of clouds in earnest,
and the wind came breezing. up from the
southwest until it was stirring at the rate
of SIX miles an hour But off shore it
was still very thick, it being impossible
to see much further north than the end
of the Hook, and the Scotland light ship
could only be dimly seen.
Shortly before o'clock Defender
passed outside the Hook and her main
sail and jib set and il tow of a tug. The
Lucken bach, with her attendant tug, was
following astern of Defender, and Val
kyrie was half way down the Swash
channel
At 1920 both boats arrived at the light
ahip. They had a fair breeze from tho
south blowing about i've or six miles
hour, and were only about half a mile
apart standing in shore. Defender was
a little TO wiDdward.
When the boats came down 20 the i'm
aginary line, those aboard the Defender
were Capt. Hank Haff at the wheel, and
First III ate Terry at the sheets. Aft were
w D. Duncan, Nat Heres hof, the de-
signer: Newberry D. Thorne, Woodbury.
Kane, Mrs. c. Oliver Iselin, W. K. Van
derbilt. Mr. c. Oliver IseIin and David c.
Henderson, representing Lord Dunraven
and the royal yacht squadron.
On board Valkyrie were Lord Dun
raven. Latham A. Fish, representing the
| New York Yacht club, G. L Watson the
designer, Vice Commodore Arthur Gelnie,
sail maker Ratsey, II. Maitland kersey,
Lady Rachel Wyndham- Quinn and Lady
Alice Wyndman- Quinn. Captain Crau-
field was at the stick and Captain Syca-
more WAS busily engaged directing the
crew.
The committee boat displayed the
course signals showing that the first leg
of the triangle would be direct S, the
| second n. Z. by E and the third N. w.
| by w. half west
Tho vaohfa frOt aUav at I I o'clock with
/ Valkyrie in the lead. The committee
boat had at 1925 displayed the signal
! 3D." meaning that the course to be
sailed was the triangular course; namely
from the starting line ten miles to and
around mark; thence ten miles to and
around second mark, and thence ten
miles to the finish line, turning the
marks on the outside of the triangle TO
port or to starboard, according as the
yachts are sent around There were not
one-third as many boats out today as
were out on Saturday
When the start was made the Ameri-
can raised a protest flag. The Defender
claimed that Valkyrle violated the rae
ing rules by bearing down on her and
carrying away her starboard shroud
/ The protest was acce pied.
Defender, before crossing, sprung her
top mast At 1922 the Defender was
d
an eighth of mile in ten minutes.
At 1919 the Valkyrie seemed to have
| a lead of nearly half q mile on De-
fender. When Valkyrie came about on
starboard tack, Defender Immediately
| followed in her wake. She walking by
| Valkyrie just before the two boats
| tackled. Defender was then only a quar-
ter of a mile behind. She was directly
in line with Valkyrie and was closing
up the gap and going through the water
at a great rate. Twelve minutes later
the Defender was only a short distance
behind Valkyrie and certainly outfoot-
ing her. The wind freshened aud the
American yacht sailed a wonderfully
The stake boat took up a position of
Long Branch at half past twelve and
Valkyrie was leading Defender, but the
| latter seemed to creep up considerably
and little later to head the English
yacht Defender at least was constantly
decreasing the gap between herself and
Valkyrie.
Valkyrie went around the stake boat
at 12:57:20 and Defender 1:00:30. Shortly
afterwards the wind began to freshen
and Defender commenced going through
the water at great rate. The wind
was about south by west aud both yachts
made a lively reach for the second
mark, Valkyrie still seeming to be in the
lead.
The turn, apparently was made in
dense fog, and the times given are only
| approximate, the wind at the time oi
turning was increasing in strength anG
blew at the rate of from 12 to 10 miles ar
hour, kicking up litSle white caps be-
tween here and the first mark sothat the
boats seemed likely to have a gooC