The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-11
IALKYRIE CAME IN FIRST
An Accident Mars the Second
Race for the Cup.
DEFENDERS RIGGING CRIPPLED.


mast Baotstay, but the Defender Hoisted
aProtsst and Sailed On--Ths COMMITTEES
Nay order the Race Resaiied.
NEW YORK, Sept l1.-Crippled. but still
heeling far over In her strength and swift
ness Defender followed Vaikyrie acro6s
the finish line yesterday. Loss than half a
mile separated the two, and anxious eyes
kept pace, second by SECOND, with tho time
indicators Us they moved around, and
when 1t was seen that the American de
fender had not only lost nothing in the
last twenty miles of the course, but had
actually gained, great shout went up for
the gallant struggle q gallant vessel had
mado.
There were cheers for the victor, too, but
although Yalkyrie III was the first chal-
lcnger since II to lead over the home limo,
the honor of her performance was lost sight
Of for the time In the grand effort OF the
American, for II it wore for nothing else
the American heart loves the hard loser in
the fight, and loves him the more when he
loses through no fault of his own. 1t was
q grievous accident that ruined the Yankee
boats chances, m accident which under
the hair splitting circumstances of jockey
ing ut the starting line looked TO be un-
syoidable.
Enrly In the morning the racers had
ieisurely made their way down to the
Hook from Bay Ridge, white winged and
beautiful. They circled in great rings
about tho lightship until the signals went
up for the course, and then the skippers
took tighter grip of the wheel. Captain
Hank Half had made u record in seaman
ship on Saturday, and the English skipper
prepared to regain the fame which had
preceded him. They maneuvered swiftly
after tho preparatory gun had been fired,
and with Valkyric to the windward Cap
tain Half made every effort to gain that
position.
Just before reaching tho line, when Val
kyrie was still 70 windward and Defender
leeward q length astern, but still over
hauling her, the American boat was blank
eted 80 much that her baby jib topsail and
lib shook. Captain Half seeing this, luffed
up a little, evidently intending to let the
other boat go ahead for the purpose of en-
abling him to pass under her stern and tt
windward. Captain Sycamore, at Val
skyrie's tiller noted this move and luffet
up also.
J II was then that the thousands o.
watchers on the surrounding boats noticet
how dangerously close to each other th'
racers were. And Just at that moment
too, snap and Rrending sound was heard
and IL was seen at Defenders jib topsai
was flying loose in the wind. Valkyrie'
main boom had swung around and foulet
Defenders rigging. To those who bat
Witnessed the accident and sprang forwar,
Mt the ominous sound 1t seemed as thougl
Defender trembled with the shock. The.
saw her topihast bend and her topsai
swing over as though 1t would break awny
4 hkn hrat
boat which had won so noble a victory
few days before was wholly debarred from
even an effort to secure u second
Lightning action was necessary to sav
Che topmast from breaking away com
pletely for it was already sprung from II
tnstenings, and Captain Half with mas
TOR stroke, taking his boat down to lee
ward, soon mancuvorcd her into safe pc
i sltion and gave chase. VAlkyrie, whic
had crossed the line first, had gained a goo
le.ld by Defenders disasters, and had prol
ably little more than half mile advan
tage at the end of the first leg in the trieI
gular course over which they sailed. He
gain was something less than four mir
ntes In that beat to windward
From that on, however, Defender Will
not perceptibly closing the gap betwee
them, lessened the time, and they crosse
apart. Vall1yrie, according to eorreete
time, however, wins from the cup defende
by just forty seven seconds.
Such an ideal summers day in the lowe
bay has seldom been seen. 1t was mt
what American yachtsmen call an idei
racing day, but nature has always bee
kind to Dunravcn, that gallant Englis
Sportsman, and for the second time, In I'll
second race of the series for the America
sup and the honor Of tho sport, the wine
and the seas have favored the man WI
has come 80 often to the line like tru
Briton, with seldom chance Of winnin
= as events have happened.
There was life and motion at the star
although 1t was no such scene as was pr
eentod on the day of the first race I'll
course was down the Jersey coast, an
nautical experts on board some of ii
boats, critically observing Defenders pr
gress, expressed themselves as believin
she was merely following tho Englishma
over the course, without attempting
race. The belief was strengthened by tt
fact that directly after the fouling at ii
line protest flag was run up with Wig,
that denoted determination on the part
She American commander.
But Defender was in for race and du
ing tho progress of the first few miles su
ncicnt repairs were made TO enable her
to set baby jib topsnil after rounding Il
first buoy. Her little jlb topsail look,
like speok, however, compared with Il
bellying balloon jib topsail set
Valkyrie, which was drawing tremen
ously. But the second ten miles was
teritable victory for the Yankee. 81
gained slowly, but she gained steadily ,ar
turned the second mark not far behind h
rival.
Towards the end 1t was evident that Il
gap was closing and Valkyrie had scarce
crossed the limo and got out of the way win
Defender came tearing at it like a the
oughbred under the wire. She must ha