Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-07
THE BATTLE ROYAL.
First Of The international Yacht Races
TO Take Place To-Day.
EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST.
Many Thousands visit Two Bonts-
Time Allowance for Defender
Netting the Same Way.

NEW YORK, September e.-All IS ready
for the battle-royal between Valkyrie III.
and the Defender. The final preparations
for the race have been made Both yachts
are anchored In the Horseshoe ready for
action tomorrow. The veil OF mystery
which has kept the public in ignorance
OF the actual dimensions Of the competing
yachts was raised to-day. John Hyslop'
official measurer OF the New York Yacht
Club. passed his steel tape from bow 10
stern. from deck 10 masthead, and along
boom and b0wsprit Of both craft ana
the result is that the Valkyrie allows the
Defender % 1-l0 seconds. The Nalkyrle
IS 2-iO OF a foot longer than the De-
fender. Her sails are not as great nut
the Defenders boom is l06 feet long,
while that Of the British boat Is only 100
feet
The prospect Of seeing the valkyrie and
the Defender together before the great
race was an attraction which drew crowds
10 the Erie basin. They began TO arrive
at break Of day. many taking in the sight
before going 10 business. Their numbers
increased til at II o'clock fully 800 peO-
pie swarmod about the dock, and during
the day fully 5000 people were present at
one time. In the course OF the day nearly
20C0O persons must have viewed the boats
The New York Yacht Clubhouse was
the scene of much activity this evening
The clubhouse was crowded with mem
hers. and the merits of the two big racers
were discussed with considerable ANNA
ton by the yachting sharps OF the club.
At 2:35 =. NJ Mr.. Hyslop arrived az the
clubhouse The assemblage present eX-
pressed considerable surprise at the
figures. II was generally believed in
yachting circles that the difference In time
allowed I'm favor OF the Defender would
be anywhere from one and a half 20 two
minutes. and consequently there was some
disappointment when the announcement
was made.
1T will take a pretty stlr breeze 70
save us at that rate said one member
jokngly, when he heard the result Of the
measurements.
"Oh. We don't need the twenty-nine Sc
conds." said another yachtsman. Let
us make her a present of it,
The committee expressed themselves as
perfectly satisfied, and several members
declared they would be better pleased
II the yachts went 10 the line tomorrow
on equal terms.
THE BETTING.
On the eve of the battle betting has
become quite brisk. English and Ca
madam money has been held back for
better odds than have been offered. Small
bets were made at varying dds from
10 on the Defender, but In large amounts
the odds were to 5. and II 10 10. The
Ia. N.rrfWa an
ri the New York Yacht Club and the
hotels.
on the Stock Exchange to-day It Is
said on good authority that $500 was
placed. r. T. Adams placed $1,000 on thu
Valkyrie at odds Of 10 10. The wager
was laid for an English client. The bet
ting opened and closed at I 20 10.
The weather outlook for tomorrow
favors the American rather than the
Eng!lshman. LOcal-Forecaster Dunn said:
Taken all in ALL the conditions most
likely 10 prevail tomorrow VIII be favor
able for the contest There will be
brisk wind Of from - TO IS miles an
hour. II will come at first FROM the
northeast. shifting 10 southeasterlE
quarter. II Is bound 10 be an on-shore
wind. The Indications are that the SKY
will bo overcast nearly all day. There
may possibly be light showers, but II IS
not likely that there will be any heayy
rain"
yachtsmen and mariners who have re
cords as prophets agreed substantially
with the government weather sharp. They
said that al signs Indicate a good
wind coming in from the ocean, and az
such n wind generally brings a swell
with n. the yachts viii have bit Of sea
IN contend with IN the thrash 20 wind
ward. which is mapped out for them. As
the DEFENDERS weather qualities have
boan fully demonstrated, while the Brit
isb boat Is supposed 10 be az her best
I'm a smooth sea and light wind. IT may
be said that tomorrow promises 70 be a
Defender-day
TWILL BE no WALKOVER.
II Is only the most rabid roOter for
the Yankee boat. however, who claims
that defending the cup Is easy this year
y.cbfsmen who have seen the Dunrayen
boat both IN dry-dock and under sail,
declare that the British have a better
chance for capturing the cup than they
have ever had before. The boat IS
nearer the American model. and express
Iv built for the wind and water condi-
tions which prevail of Sandy Hook.
That the contest this year is 20 be race
OF well-matched boats and no walkoyer
is so generally conceded that greater In
terest in the result and a greater desire
10 see the race prevail than in any form
or case. II is estimated that fully 5000
persons will witness to-morrow's race.
Hesldes the multitude Of private craft
that will flock towards the Sandy Hook
uehtship before IL o'clock. there are eX-
cursion boats by the score 10 give those
NOT fortunate enough TO own yachts OF
tbelr own. or to have friends who DO. an
opportunity TO witness the contest at a
moderate sum.
Sixty-hve excursion steamers are ad-
vertiscd 10 leave this city. and others will
start from Brooklyn, Newark, Jersey
city. and other points.