Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-09-13
DUNRAVEN WEAKENED.
Valkyrie Didn't Start In the Third
Race For the Cup.
Defender Sailed Over the
Course Alone.
Boston Editor Makes the Boats an Offer to
Sail at Marblehead.


NEW YORK, Sept. 13.-With clear sea
for half mile around the starting line,
and a racing breeze blowing from the
northwest, Lord Dunraven sent the Eng
lish yacht Vallyrie over the mark, then
1uffsd around the lightship and went back
TO the harbor. The American yacht De-
fender sailed over the course and took the
race by default.
Yesterdays race promised to be more
exciting one than either of the two pre-
ceding, for 1t was to be expected that every
effort would be made by Dunraven, after
Tuesdays disappointment, to score VIC
tory with the boat he had brought so far.
The Valkyrie had been tuned up to the
highest pitch in anticipation of the con-
test. Several alterations had been made
and those upon whom her sailing quail
titles depend most largely were prepared
to expend every ounce of muscle and skill
to bring her over the line victor.
Lord Dunraven had expressed himself as
apparently satisfied with the decision
rendered by the cup committe on the foul
ing Of the Defender by his boat, and the
matter had seemingly been settled so
amicably that 1t was question in the
minds of the general public If Tuesdays
race would not be resailed.
Disappointment All Around.
But there was disappointment even in
the winds. When the Hook was reached
there was scarcely breath stirring, and
there was no improvement at the light
ship. The course marked up was Is miles
to leeward and return, starting off the
lightship.
There was some little delay, and while
the racers were circling sluggishly around,
1t was noticed that the Valkyrie was lack
ing q topsail, and was simply sailing
under mainsail and jib. At first this
caused no wonderment. but as the start
ing hour drew near the strange action Of
the Britisher came In for considerable dis
cussion, and not few believed that the
race would not be sailed after all.
A great circle Of steamboats, and yachts
had drawn up to witness the start, and, in
the desire to meet Dunraven's wishes as
nearly as possible, score Of patrol boats
Were sent out to drive back the lines.
The preparatory gun was not fired until
about 20 minutes after the fixed time. In
the meantime q gun was fired from the
committee boat and signal sent up de-
noting that delay would take place.
Then the announcement was made from
the patrol boat that Lord Dunraven had
refused to race unless clear course was
guaranteed by the committee. So far as
the committee was concerned IL seemed
impossible to do more to secure open water
than IL had already done, for when the
preparatory gun was fired the nearest boat
to the racers was fully half mile away,
and the great majority of the excursion
ota nd 9TH ftrr-
ther off in the distance.
valkyrie Simply Crossed the Line.
The starting gun went at the appointed
time, and almost at the same instant the
Defender crossed the line. The Valkyrie's
commander had SO mapeuvered her that
she was still long way off, and just a
moment before the handicap gun was
fired she, too, crossed the line. 1t was
evident to those who had been watching
the English boat that she had no intention
of racing, and so it proved, for no sooner
was the line crossed than she hauled to ON
the starboard tack, instead Of following
her rival out, and passed under the stern
of the lightship.
The action on the part of the English
boat was not an actual surprise, for events
had led up to it, and had indicated either
and wonderful freak on the part of the
British seamen. A score or more of steam
ers started at once for the Valkyrie, while
half hundred steamed in the direction
the Defender had taken.
The American boat was making good
headway with her spinnaker set, and after
starting at 11:20:24, rounded the first
mark at :26: So and finished at 4:04:36. In
the extremely light breeze this was par
ticularly good performance, and the beat
to windward was much faster than had
been anticipated, for during one part Of
that journey the light breeze seemed to
die out almost entirely.
But even in that the Defender made
good headway, and when she crossed the
lne-the winner Of the race, the winner
of the series. Defender. In fact, as we'll as
name-she was greeted with roar OF
whistles, thrice repeated, and the belch-
ing Of cannon, and the cheers of thousands
for the gallant victories she had won.
Defender q Winner.
As she was approaching the finish Mr.
Iselin yelled through megaphone to the
committee boat: "Do you wish me to
cross the liner" He received no answer,
and he repeated the inquiry. Again no
answer, so the Defender went over at
4:04:38. She was greeted with another
most enthusiastic yell and howl and gun
report as she did so.
The time as taken by the committee
represented that she went over the course
In 4:44:12. With the % seconds time al
lowance, her corrected time was 4:43:48.
Later in the afternoon an attempt was
made to see Lord Dunraven. He was in
visible. His friend and adviser, Rear
Commodore Glennie, was seen on the City
Of Bridgeport, the Valkyrie's tender. Mr..
Glennie said that his lordship had gone
away up into the country somewhere, he
did not know where.
Dunraven's Henchman Uncommunicative.
In answer to question whether or not
Dunraven would sail In q race or series of
races at Newport, r. L, or Marblehead,
Mass away from the maddenfnR crowd