The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-07

NEW YORK. Sept 6.-The tale Of
the Americas cup has been many
times told but it never loses interest.
1t was during the year 1851 that the
schooner-yacht America went to Eu-
rope and won the cup which has ever
since borne the name of that vessel.
The idea of building the boat was con-
ceived by Commodore John C. Stevens,
of the New York club, and syndicate
was formed to build the boat, and in it
with the commodore were Messrs.
Hamilton Wilkes, George L. Schuyler,
James Hamilton and J. B. Finley.
While the vessel was in course of con-
struction-that was in March, 1S51-the
Royal Yacht squadron, whose members
had heard what was being done, sent
a communication to Commodore Stew
ems, offering the Inequalities to the
New Workers and indicated that the
Yankees could find all the racing they
wanted if they had the nerve to bring
their boat across the water.
Nerve Not Lacking.
The nerve was not lacking and the
yacht, which had been named America.
left New York in the early part of
July, 1851, for COwes, England. COM
manded by Dick Brown, famous
Sandy Hook pilot. When the America
first appeared before the gaze of the
Englishmen she created a great sur
prise Nothing like her had ever been
seen before, and it quickly became
known that the new arrival was a rae
er This was the year of the Crystal
Palace Worlds fair and an internal
tional regatta was arranged as a part
of the exhibition.
The regatta took place on Aug. -,
and the prize was the Royal Squadron
cup, worth 100 guineas. The course
was from Cowes around the Isle Of
Wight without time allowance for
tonnage. The America had fourteen
competitors. several of them being of
greater tonnage than herself. These
We're the Duke of Marlborough's
schooner Wyvern 25O tons; Marquis of
Conyngham' schooner Constance. 21S
tons; Mr.. J. Wills cutter Alarm. 128
tons. and Mr.. w H. Ecker's three
masted schooner Brilliant. 1872 tons. The
America measured 10 tons.
Great Enthusiasm.
The regatta created the l;veliest en-
thusiasm. Queen Victoria and the
prince consOrt shared in the excite
ment and went to Cowes to witness the
event. When the America beat the
whole feet of English racers, the COM
petitOrS were completely creStfallen
and utterly surprised.
The America afteTward sailed in
match with the 100-tOn schooner tt
tania, in a strong breeze. and beat her
by more than an hour. Commodore
Stevens could not induce anybody else
to meet him and he finally sold the
yacht to Lord de Blonquiere for $1,000.
under whose management she after
ward raced the S4-tOn cutter Arrow
twice, losing one race and then win
ming.
The yacht was finally converted into
a blockade runner While in this bust
ness she was scuttled. After the war,
the government raised her and made
school ship of her for the cadets at
Annapolis When the Cambria chaI-
lenged for the cup in 1870 the navy de-
partment fitted the yacht out for COM
petition but she finished no better
than fourth. The old boat finally
passed into the hands of General b. F.
Butler, of Massa chusetts, and is still
owned by the late generals son.
Presentation of the Cup.
In 1857. Messrs. Stevens, Schuyler
and Wilkes, who alone survived of the
syndicate that built the America, pre-
sented the cup won in 1851 to the New
York Yacht club, in whose hands it
has since remained as a trophy for
which any country may challenge.
1t was not until 1870. however, that
challenge was received. Then it
came from Mr.. James Ashbury, of the
Royal Thames Yacht club, the owner
of the schooner Cambria. The race
came off in the New York harbor an
August s. A grand fleet of vessels
entered for the race and great aen-
thusiasm prevailed. The Magic was
first away on the journey and she led
over the entire course. Mr.. Ashbury
was undaunted by his defeat, however,
and challenged the next year with a
new boat, the LivOnfa. sAshbury finally
consented to a match of seven races.
On the first day the Columbia was
chosen to sail and the Britisher was
never in it, On the second day, the
Columbia was again picked. but on
the third day the Livonia won by Is
minutes and. 10 seconds. Two more
races were carried out, the Sappho be-
ing the American representative and
winner of both.
The last or fifth race made a victory
of four, or majority of seven for the
New York boats.
Four Years EInpSe.
A lapse of four years took place be-
fore the cup was next raced for In
1876, Centennial year. Major Charles
Clifford, vice commodore of the Royal
Canadian Yacht club, headed syndi-
cate which built the schooner Coun-
tess of Dufferin at BellevilIe, Ont. and
sent her, after having obtained
he
club that they would offer but one
defender in America, the best two out
of three races. Commodore Voorhis'
schooner, Madeline, was made defend
er. Only two races were necessary.
The Madeline won both with ease.
The Canadians made another at
tempt to capture the cup in 1881, when
the Bay of Quinte Yacht club of Belle
vile, challenged with a center-board