The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-08
LOCAL INTEREST RAN HIGH.
sAvANNAHIANs KEPT A CLOSE
WATCH ON THE BIG YACHT
RACE.


They Were Almost As Happy As II
liz Were a savannah VictOry-The
Crowds at the Morning News BuIIe-
tin Embellishments and Warm
Disputes Observation-Disclosures Came
Even From ThOmasviIIe and Jesup.
Many Savannahians in New York
HarbOr Watching the Contest.
The interest here in the international
yacht race could hardly have been greater
had the contest taken place in the Sa-
vannah river and under the blur, on
which the city rests. From start to nm
ish yesterday everybody was eager to
hear the latest report from the scene OF
the contest, and inquiries as to its progress
came thick and fast.
There are some Savannahians, peculiar
ly enough, who were not altogether look
ing for victory on the part of the yam
kee boat, and though they were few, they
were in evidence enough to get up a
healthy argument whenever it was wanted.
When the race first began and the boats.
wer busy lacking one way and another,
it was hard matter to tell whether the
Defender was ahead of the Valkyrie, or
rather just how far she was ahead. 1t
was amusing to hear some of the inter
pretations that were given to the bulle-
tins from the scene Of the race. Ad-
mirers of Lord Dunravens boat insisted
that she had the advantage Of the De-
fender on the tack, while others stuck to
It that the yAnkee boat was a good half
mile ahead. Some of the disputes in
dulged in became so warm that hot tenn
pers were aroused, and it appeared at
times as If blows would not be long In
coming.
The local interest in the race was at
once apparent to those who CHANGED to
pass the Morning News bulletin board.
The Morning News had both the bulle-
tins of the Southern Associated Press
and those of the Western Union Tele-
graph Company, which were kindly fur
nished by Manager Maxwell, and the two
services together gave a most complete
and detailed account OF the race while
1t was in progress. The bulletins came
every four or five minutes, and some
times they were not more than two min
utes apart The Western Union also
posted the bulletins near it's office at
Bull street and Bay street lane. There
were crowds around both bulletin boards
from the time the first bulletin was
posted until the conclusion of the race.
The interest and excitement grew as the
race progressed, and the sidewalk in
front Of the Morning News office was
kept blockaded almost the entire after
noon.
All sorts Of comments were passed upon
the reports from the race, and when the
victory for the Defender by minutes
and 40 seconds was finally announced
someone shouted, THE Savannah boats
won"
There were quite a number of bets
placed on the result here, though the
stakes in most instances were small. Val
kyrie III. s hackers did not seem TO
care to stake her too heavily, as they
could scarcely get anything here but even
money, for the reason that the hackers
of the yankee boat. while pretty conf
dent of victory, felt that the Britishers
had without doubt played their best card
and were going in to win if such a thing
were possible. Quite little money was
placed at dollar for dollar, however, most
of it being in small amounts.
The interest in the race did not stop
with Savannah, but extended all along the
line. Townsville, and even Jesup, wired
here to know something about the prog
ress and result of the race. The wire
grass spirit is truly American, and they
no doubt gave hearty shout when the
news of the victory reached them.
Savannah was well represented at the
race, and will be no doubt at those
which are to follow. The Kansas City.
on her last trip north, carried about twen-
~ Savannahians, who went north with
the avowed intention of Witnessing the
contest which has excited such universal
interest, and there are a good many Of
them in New York city who have remained
there for the purpose of wit
Messing the sight. Every one
of the ocean steamers is GO
ing north with full passenger list now
and everybody who can get the opportu.
nifty is going to make the trip. The Kan
sas City came out from New York yes
terday afternoon in the midst of the race