New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-03
REATEN BY BAD FORTUNE.
BROKEN GAFF CAUSES THE DEFENDER
TO LOSE A RACE.

sur o1TFoOTED HER COMPETITORS TILL. THE
uoMEsTRETCH WAS REACHED. WHEN AN AC-
C1pENr CAUSED HER TO RETIRE-THE
yIGILANT THEN WON THE GOBLET
CUP THE EMERALD BEATS
ALL THE sCHooNERs.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l
Newport. Aug. 2.-An accident 10 the Defender
roarred the races for the GOelet Cups to-day.
sne had Jed her rivals. the V!gilant, the Jubilee
md the Volunteer. tc the last leg of the course.
and would undoubtedly have Won by several
minutes when her gaff snapped in two. She
tried 70 90 on. but It impossible for her to do
No. and the Vigant therefore the winner.
Anxious eyes scanned and Sky this morn
INC 70 ascertain the chances of good weather for
the Goelet Cup races. The water was so placid
N the harbor. so little breeze was stirring and
the sunlight was so bright that 1t was generally
,houeht the .ace ii there should be any. would
be drifting match Unt1 half-past o'clock
the squadron lay quietly AZ anchor. their bare
poles giying little Indication Of the power and
speed some OF them were soon II show. The
Defender the Vigilant and General Paine's
boat the Jubilee. the first to show signs
Of life These crack sloOps were early 10 get up
sail and put cut Of the harbor for a few wing
stretching flights outside before the starting
signal should be given. At about 945 o'clock a
general futter was observable TO the throng OF
spectators on the docks. and soon hundred
mainsails sIrung aloft as II by magic. a chorus
of exclama1ions ran through the crowd at the
sudden transformation Of the motionless vessels
few minutes later the topsails came out Then
mornings were slipped and the squadron was
soon in motion.
finC 1ic- cd q
house. announced that the contestants for the
Goelet Cups would be- Sloops-The Defender,
the Vigilent the Jubilee the Volunteer and the
oueen Nab Schooners-The Amorts, the Mar
t ruerjta the Merlin the Mayfiower the Emerald,
the Lasca the Constellation. the Loyal and the
Neaera.
GOOD WIND OUTSIDE.
It was evident soon after the fleet started for
the nghtshp that the Regatta Committee had
the best information of the state OF the weather
for in the harbor il looked as II there could be
no race while outside there was plenty OF wind
The press boat Instead Of going through the
feet Of yachts stood up by the Navy Yard
where the torpedo boat Cushing lay noored to
the dock to pass TO Brenton's Reef by the light
at the northern end Of Goat Island. Going by
the breakwater the press boat took r line from
the Lasca TO tow her 10 the starting line. Ihe
Lasca is the ninety-footer which failed to get
match in England wh,n she went there for
race two years ago. To-day's race was looked
upon as a gI eat chance to test her qualities with
her particular rival the Emerald. Around the
turn. at the end Of Goat Island. was John Jacob
Astors boat the Ncurmahal. Then there was
the Wild Duck. belonging to j. NJ Forbes, OF
Boston. having his two sons boats, W. H.
Forbes's Merlin and j. Malcolm Forbes's Nolun-
teer The Herreshof steam yacht, the tu-
een,a was sighted e little further IN. going
down to what may be called the Narro"s OF
Newport, past the Dumplngs. whole fotilla
OF steam and sailing vessels could be seen on
both sides.
ALL EYES on THE DEFENDER.
What drew all eyes was the first view for the
day Of the Defender she cruised about She
had her clubtopsan. tibtopsail. baby jbtopsail
and mainsail all dra wing well. Not far from the
Defender a little to the southwest. was the
Jubilee her sails shaking she was pulled up
into the wind 70 como about. The Niglant
cruised about 70 leeward Of the Defender. with
only her mainsail and jib hoisted. For some
reason the Vieilant's clubtopsail was NOT run up
It'll the preparatory run was fired Ee'uns
nearer to the Vgant II could be seen that she
gas carrying the Herreshon mainsail. with the
Goth running from luff to leech
There was no longer any question as TO the
course. As the wind was from the southwest the
first leg would be to Block Island. That was GER
tain, even before II was signalled from the Syl-
via going out to the starting line, which was an
imaginary line from the Sylvia to the Brenton's
Reef Lightshp.
The Vigilant lay down to the pressure. and for
a moment looked as If she would carry away her
topmast as she rounded the lightship. The De-
f1nder uas in no distance heeling well
and sailing like a shot ds the Vigilant came
round by the bow Of the ightship. moment
later the Volunteer executed the Vigilants ma
noeuvre and it could be seen that she. too. was
in fine form When the preparatory gun was
about 10 boom, the Defender came about by the
lghtship and made ready to get over the line
before anybody else The Vigilant. the Noiun-
teer. the Jubilee and the Defender cruised about
above the line before ;he second gun, which
would start them their race.
THE DEFENDER IN THE LEAD.
When the signal was given the Defender. on
the starboard tack was first over the line. COM
Ing up close under the lightships stern. She
went across the line in admirable style her crew
seeming 10 work one man. every sail craving
perfectly and Captain Han at the wheel guiding
her movements as coolly as If the stn breeze
had been only a zephy'
The Volunteer was the second boat across go
Ing over in fine style little 10 leeward ana soon
after the Defender. Both the Volunteer ana the
Defender seemed to be over the line within thir'y
seconds after the starting gun was hred- Inc
Jubilee on the starboard tack. luned up sharp'y
under the stern Of the lghtship. The Ni2ilah'
seemed 10 be taking her time about getting over
and came about first If to make good
straight swing across. Before the Vigilant was
over. and about AMI a half minutes aiter
crossing. the Defender came about and went on