Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-07

under whose management she afterward
! raced the eighty-four-ton cutter Arrow
TWICE, losing once and then winning.
A blockade Runner.
The yacht remained In England until
1851. changing ownership several times,
and was then sold to a southerner, who
converted her into blockade runner.
While In this business she ran UP the ST.
Johns river. in Florida, to escape the
United States frigate Wabash, and was
Scuttled there.
After the war the government raised her
and made school ship of her for the
cadets of Annapolis.
The old boat finally passed into the hands
of Gen b. F. Butler of Massachusetts,, and
Is still owned by the late generals son.
I'm In 1857 Messrs. Stevens. Schuyler and
Wilkes, who alone survived of the syndi-
cate that built the America, presented the
cup won In 1851 to the New York Yacht
Club, in whose hands it has since remained
challenge.
The Cnmbrla's Attempt.
1t was not until 1870. however, that a
challenge was received. Then 1t came from
Mr.. James Ashbury of the Royal Thames
Yacht Club. the owner of the schooner
Cambria Preliminaries having been ar
ranged. after much correspondence the
race came off in New York harbor, on
August g.
Yachting was always a favorite sport in
New York, and the international feature of
the event, the first of the kind that had
been seen on this side of the water, made
great excitement, and a grand feet of
vesselss entered for the race. There were
also great number of excursion boats on
the battle field, and the spectators were
treated to a scene that had never met their
vision before, but which was to be many
times enhanced in magnitude In years to
come.
The start was made from anchorage.
with all sails down, the Cambria having
received the weather position, out of
manned by naval officers and tars the boat
having been fitted up by the Navy Depart
ment The America was the last of the
fleet to get under way. The other starters
were the keel schooners Fleetwing Daunt-
less, Restless, Rambler Alarm and the
Tarolinta, and the centerboarders Tidal
Wave Silrie. Madgie Phantom, Madeline,
Idler, Magic, Jessie, Halcyon, Widgeon
Calypso. Josephine, Era, Fleur de Lis.
Alice and Palmer.
The Magic was first away on the journey
and she led over the entire course. The
Idler was second. the Silvie third. the
America fourth and the Cambria tenth, in
corrected time. The Magic beat the Cam
bria by 80 min. IL Sec, and the America
was Is MIN. A sec. better than the En-
glish yacht.
Mr. Ashbury was not daunted by his de-
feat however, and challenged the next
year with a new boat, the Livonia, which
The Englishmar claimed to represent
twelve different clubs. and called for twelve
races If he won any one of them he was
to get the cup.
The New Workers could hardly yield this
point, but agreed to sail twelve races the
winner of seven to be the victor in the
match. Ashbury finally consented to
match of seven races.
Only One Defender.
One important thing was conceded to
him. however. This was that the club
should present but one yacht to meet the
Livonia, instead of whole fleet, as there
tofore.
Mr.. Ashbury also objected to racing
against a centerboarder, but his objection
was not entertained.
The races began on October 16 and were
alternately over the regular N. Y. Y. C.
wirdward or leeward and return. from the
Sandy Hook lishtshp. The triangular
course had not been tried in those days.
On the first day the wind was light, and
mittee having reserved the right to name
any one yacht on each day of a race The
Britisher was never in it," and the Co.
lrmbia won by 25 minutes Is seconds.
On the second day the Columbia was
again picked, and she won by 10 minutes
80 seconds. Mr.. Ashbury protested this
rounded the mark on the wrong hand, but
the committee decided that the rules per-
mitted the boats to round either way.
A British victory.
The Dauntless was to have sailed on the
third day. but, while preparing for the
start, some of her headgear carried away,
and the Columbia was hurriedly got ready
to take her place. Before the day was over
the Columbia lost tie use Of her flying 5ib
and her steering gear gave way.
The Livonia won by Is minutes 10 sec
onds.
Two more races were carried out, the
Sappho being the American representative
in and winner of both the first Tor fourth
of the series) by so minutes 81 seconds. and
the second by IS minutes "a seconds.
The last, or nth of the match, made four
victories. a majority of seven, for the New
York boats, but Mr.. Ashbury demanded
that the other two should be sailed.
His letter to the committee met with no
reply.
Then the challenger claimed the cup. He
argued that he was entitled to four of the
seven races, thus: Ore. when the Columbia
turned the outer mark on the wrong hand;
two. when he did beat the Columbia; three
and four, when he was ready to sail !he
sixth and seventh races, and the N. Y. Y.
c. put forward no competitor. But he
never got the cup.
The Canadians Try.
A lapse of four years took place before
the cup was next raced for. In 1876. CEN
tenniaI year. Major Charles Clifford. vice
commodore of the Royal Canadian Yacht
Club, headed syndicate, which built the
schooner Countess of Dufferin, at Belle
vile, Ont, and sent her here. in charge of
Captain Alexander Cuthbert. who designed
her and owned large part of her, after
having obtained a promise from the N. Y.
Y. C. that they would offer but one de-
fender in match of best two out Of three
races.
Commodore Voorhis' schooner Madeline
was the defender. Only two races were
necessary.
The Madeline won IT, = first on August II
over the inside course, by 10 minutes 80
seconds. and the second over Il windward
and leeward course Of forty miles, from
buoy No. 5. off the point of Sandy Hook
bv q minutes IA seconds.
In this second race the America went
over the course with the racers and beat