The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-08
1t lhs Start Yalky'ls Led, But She Was
Soon Viewing Defenders Heels.
WON BY 8 MINUTES AND 49 SECONDS.
The Day Began with a valkyrie Breeze, but
Soon Freshened syp for the. Hercschos
Yacht-Excursionisis Witness the
Contest from all Manner
of Craft.

races for the Americas Cup to-day.
Twenty thousand people. on the great
est iOtilla that ever assembled or Sandy
Hook, witnessed the race. and there was
scene OF hilarious JOY when Defender
! crossed the line fully two miles ahead
of Lord Dunraven. The joy OF the null
titude was undoubtedly increased by the
fact that the Nalkyrie led for the first
| hour. She walked away from tho De-
| fender in a way that led EnglLshmen to
fondly hope that their day had come
/ at last. Bright visions OF the America $
Cup floated before their eyes, while the
| patriotic Americans who were packed
| tier above tier on the many-decked ex-
cursion steamers. were very glum.
DIsTaEssISG START.
a hush fell over the marine ampithca-
J tre when the boats started. and all the
! joys OF yaching seemed gone when the
! Valkyrie easily moved to the front. aud
showed her heels to Defender. Cheers
! and enthusiasm We're missing for a full
hour, when the British boat was lead
ing. There was only hve-knot breeze
at the start and as predicted in these
dispatches. Valkyrie was going through
! the water faster than the Defender in
| the light air. There was a lumpy sea
| on, and quite a swell came in from the
ocean, but the buffeting of the waves
against the Britsher's bow did not keep
her back. she out-pointed and out-foot
ed the Herreshoff boat. TO the amaze
ment Of the great crowd OF spectators.
/ But after establishing "A lead OF a good
! quarter OF a mile. the wind having fresh
ened, the cup-challenger failed to hold
/ her own. and the Yankee yacht began 10
gain. When the crowd saw ii, there
was a general Frightening Up. and as
it became plain that the product of Amer-
lean brains was picking Up her rival,
cheer went UP. and tug-boat whistles
screeched.
As both yachts were beating 10 wind
ward IT Is impossible 10 say when the De
fender overhauled the Britisher, but IL was
about p =. NJ. when the boats had cover
ed nearly half OF the fifteen miles Of wind
ward work. once the Defender got her
Gait there was no catching her, and as
the wind continued to freshen, she opened
up a very large gap between her stern
and the bow Of Lord Dunraven's boat.
When Defender reached the outer mark
she had an advantage OF three minutes
and twenty-seyen seconds. There was a
big demonstration as the Yankee boat
made the turn. The wind having shifted
the run home became a broad reach. and
Il was OF constant gain FOR the gallant
American boat Going home. the gain
was four minutes, iifty-thlee seconds.
Won BY NEARLY NINE MISUIFs.
With the time allowance of twenty
nine seconds the Defenders victory was
eight minutes forty-nine seconds.
The wind was ten knots at the finish.
The days race showed Nalkyrie III. NOV
ed like a ghost in a wind of less than six
knots and that she seemed speedier than
Defender In that wind.
1t also showed that with a wind OF
!, lid
reaching the English boat could not keep
the pace set by Defender Both yachts
were somewhat interfered with by the at
tendant fleet, but the patrol yachts kept
a fairly clear course. except at the start
and finish
The outlook early this morning for ideal
racing weather was not at all encOurag
ing 10 the many thousands OF persons
who had made up their minds to wit
ness the first OF the great international
races.
Despite an ominOus-loOking sky and an
easterly breeze the dread OF the land
Iubber the many hundreds OF crafts left
New York crowded 10 their utmost capac-
ity. There was no blue sky to gladden.
the excurslonists' hearts, but an occasion
al bright streak iat least gave them
hope.
As early as 7:30 in the morning the
harbor began to show signs of festiviiy.
GaiIy bedecked steamers were anchored
at nearly every pier taking on their load |
of human freight. The starting line OF |
the race was over thirty miles from /
the city. and. therefore. those wishing to |!
DE or hand when the racers were sent !
off on their struggle for the cup were TO |
get under way by $3.50 a. NJ.
AN ORNAMENTAL PATROL.
The patrol division. the steam yacht |
Alicia. CAPTAIN II. NJ. flagler. flagship. |
was quite a formidable fleet. IL con-
sisted Of twelve handsome steam yachts.
and might have been said To have been |
more ornamental than useful IL blow
ing OF whistles constituted the duty Of
the patrols. then they did their duty
nobly.
The patrols were the first 70 come down
the BAY They made their rendezvous |
at first near the Sandy Hook light-ship.
where they attempted 10 keep the boats
half mile from the starting line but
finally gave IL up. The boats formed a
cluster so close to the line that for a
moment 1t seemed impossible for the
racers TO reach the start without run
ming a-foul OF a dozen or more craft
When the announcement was made OF a |
change of course, the great feet OF at
tending craft, took up anchor and sailed
for the new course. The patrol got
lost IN the maze OF boats. and but little
was seen OF them for the rest of the
day. The Defender was the first OF
the two racers 10 make sail. Both an
chored inside OF Sandy Hook In the
Horseshoe overnight and were near
at hand this morning.
DEFPNDFR'S APPEARANCE.
The Defender sent up her sail at $40
and took a line from the tug Wallace. on
the way out TO the lightship her club
tcp-sail was sent aloft and her jib broken
out. She used a suit OF ramicloth sails
OF a yellowish tinge, excepting the club |
top-sail. which was snow white, Defen-
der's sides are pale blue since her last
and her appearance was less
beautiful than in the trial races, when
her sail and hull were pure white. Her |
sails set better to-day than In any of her
races with Vigilant. and that they did
good work is shown by the result OF the
race. On her were the happy family,
which has practically lived on board for
the last two months. There were Mr..
Oliver Iselin, Herbert c. Leeds, and New
berry Thorne.
Mr.. David Henderson. OF the Anchor
Line, was on board as the representa-
tive OF Lord Dunraven. Designer Nat
was also there. Captain
Hank Haff was at the wheel and the
yellow dog Sandy played mascot. The
vakyrie left her anchorage at 9:l0 In
low OF the White Star tug Pulver. She
had her main sail up. and her jib and I
staysail in stops When or the point of '
The Hook her jib-top-sail was sent aloft. {
IL was a trihe larger than the similar
A