The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-11

favored the man VINO mas come SO oIleh
to the line like a true Briton, with sell
dom a chance of winning es even as
this. Little was promised in the way
of pleasant weather during the early
hours of the day, for the clouds hung
low and the fog spread itself over the
waters and misty rain fell. Old
weather sharps declared that there might
be fair breeze outside, but that rain 1t
would. But soon after the long, keen
racers weighed their anchors Off Bay
ridge, there came burst of sunshine,
yelled in a golden haze and when the old
light ship was reached, there was SKY
fecked only here and there with light
cloud
Out through the narrows and into the
open water the Defender stood up hlge,
far ahead of Valkyrie, and going under
her own canvass almost before the Eng
lishman thought of hosting the main
sail. Passing craft, inward bound, drew
alongside to feast their eyes on the beau
ties and early as it was when the light
ship was reached, quite handsome
| fleet was drawn up to greet them.
There was life and motion at the start,
although it was no such scene as was
presented on the day of the first race.
| Far back the sea was dotted here and
there with sail and the smoke on the
horizon told of an advancing fleet, and
when the first gun was fired, swinging
vanguard, bright with color was there to
speed the racers an the journey. Then,
| while all ewes were on the invisible line
over which stop made too soon would
prove fatal, Defenders mishap came,
| Recovering quickly, however, and fol-
lowed eagerly by those to whom the
breaking away of he jib topsail and the
bending of the topmast meant for the
moment abandonment of hope, she went
in stern pursuit. Valkyries lead and
| her better position was not much in-
proved during the first leg. True, Valky-
rie did excellent work, but Defender going
Just as her mishap left her, clung to her
rival. Within few minutes it was seen
that Defender meant to sail the first leg
without a jib topsail, and to many of
| those on the excursion steamers and
accompanying yachts this gave the first
| inkling that an accident had occurred
and that Defenc er's 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 be
| iieving she was merely following the
| Englishman over the course, without at
tempting to race. This belief was
strengthened by the fact that directly
after the fouling at the line protest
II rus4 xysor hot II.
noted determination on the part
OF the American commander, but
Defender was III for race and dur
ing the progress of the first few miles,
sufficient repairs were made to enable
her to set baby jib topsail after round
ing the buoy In the beat to windward,
Valkyrie was three minutes and fifty
two seconds in advance.
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 jib
topsail looked like speck compared
with the great bellying balloon jb topsail
set by Valkyrie, which was drawing tre
mendously. But the second ten miles
was a veritable victory for the Yankee.
She gained slowly, but she gained stead
lily, and turning the second mark not far
behind her rival, she now had better
chance by long odds to win than few
miles back in the journey. 1t cheered
anxious hearts on the floating city, for
it is no exaggeration to day that ninety
nine hundredths of those afoat we're
Defender men from first to last.
The last leg was run home with the
wind beam and there was rush Of
steamers in the direction of the light
ship, ten knot breeze lifted the top of
a chance wave, and the wash OF the
steamers tumbled the little craft about a
bit, but far back the two single stickers,
Defenders sails only showing, were skim
ming over mill pond, with their lee
sails awash and both rapidly overhaul
| ing the fiotilla speeding in advance.
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.
She must have put on an extra burst of
speed to crafty those who had kept
their eyes on her white canvas from gun
to gun, for she was well on her side and
her sails bulged with the force of the
driving breeze as roar of whistles and
a volley of cheers and cannonading gave
her alteration.
The official time table is as follows:
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