The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-09-11
SUMTER S. c., WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER II, 1895
Valkyrie and Defender.

III and Defender. The final prepara-
tious for the first of the international
races have been made. Both ships are
anchored 10 the Horseshoe ready for &C.
tioD tomorrow.
The veil Of mystery which has kept
the public iu ignorance Of the actual
dimension of the competing yachts was
raised to-day. John Hyslop, the
measurer of the New York Yacht Club,
passed his steel tape from bow to
stern, FROM de,k to masthead and
along the boom and bowsprith of both
crafts, and the result was that Val
kyrie III allows the Defender 29 lilo
seconds.
Both boats are less than SO feet on
the load water line, instead Of being
close to 80 feet, and Valkyrie is 2-10
of foot longer than Defender. Her
sail area is greater. but Defender has
boom 106 feet long, while that of the
British boat is only los feet.
The prospect sight of Valkyrie and
Defender together for the great race
was an attraction which drew crowds
to the Erie basin. They began to ar
rive at break Of day, many taking in
the sight before going to business. The
numbers increased till at II O'Clock
fully 5000 people swarmed about the
dock, aud during the afternoon it was
estimated that 5000 people we're pres
eut at one time In the course Of the
day nearly 10000 people viewed the
boats.
The New York Yacht Clab house was
the scene of much activity this eve
uiug. The club house vas crowded
with members, aud the merits Of the
two racers we're discussed with con-
siderable animation by the yachting
sharpers of the club. At :35 p. m.
Mr. Hyslop arrived at the club house.
The assemblage present expressed con-
siderable surprise at the figures. 1t was
generally thought in yachting circles
that the difference in time allowance in
favor of Defender would be anywhere
from | 70 to 2 minutes. and conse-
queutly there was some disappointment eut
made. ''Is will take pretty stiff
breeze to save US at that rate" said one
member jokingly when he heard the re
suit of the measurements
"Oh. We don't oeed the twenty-nine
seconds" said another. Let US make
her present of it,
The regatta committee expressed
themselves as being perfectly salts
6ed with the result Of the measure
ment. and several of the meG, bers de
clared they would be better pleased il
both yachts went to the line Tomorrow
Cd equal terms
Mr.. Hyslop's official report is as iol-
lows:
Length 90 load water line Vaikyrie
SS,S5: Defender IS IS Length from
other end of main boom to forward
point Of measurement Ealkyrie lS6
OF; Defender 1919 Length from
foresidc TO foremost 20 forward point O
measurement Valkyrie 1894; Defen
der 1886 Length extreme of spin
maker boom, Valkyrie 1884; Defender
1885. Length of main gaff Valkyrie
50 50 Defender 64 95. Length O
mainmast Valkyrie SO 9S; Defender
81 42. Length of topmast Falkyrie
Al IS; Defender 1884 Height up.
per side of main boom to top sail hal
yard block Valkyrie 129 80; Defen
der 125 4s Square root of sail area
as per ruls Valkyrie IA ID; Defender
112 26. Sailing length as per rule
Valkyrle l01 40; Defender 100 36.
Time allowance, 20 1-10 seconds
On the eve OF the battle betting la:
become quite brisk English and Cana
dian mouey has been held back for bet
ter odds than have been offered
Small bets made at varying odds of 8
to 2 on Defender, but in large amounts
toe odds were six to FIVE and 10 to I
The latter was the latest figure tonight
at the New York Yacht Club and The
hotels. On the Stock Exchange to-day
it is said on good authority that S36,
600 was placed F. 7. Adams placed
81 900 on Valkyrie at odds Of ] to 10
The wager was laid for IAN English
client. The betting opened and closed
at I to 10 with wagers 10 the interim
at s to 10 The Valkyrie eua of the
betting has been taken principally by
Can adams.
The first race between the Defend
or and Vaikvrie was sailed of Sandy