New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08

the sides Of a square. and so headed TOWARD eacn
other that II one the other were not suhcenty
in the lead to avoid 1t there would be COLLISION
In few minutes.
AN EXCITING MOMENT !
The Valkyrie had made mistake In trying to
cross the Defenders bows. Would the Defender
repeat the blunder? II there were excitement ana
anxiety when the Valkyrie bore down on the De-
fender there were the same emotions. only re-
doubled now that the Defender was, as IL was De-
lieved. bearing down on the Englishman 70 Try
the same game The interest was deeper. IL was
like watching what are called 'heart disease h"-
ishes' on the running turf.
on came the two yachts-the prdes OF Eng
land and of America. They looked as they oo.e
down on each other ten times as likely 10 come
into collision they had when the .a,kyIe
rad attempted to cut across the Defenders oows
Then another mighty cheer and '9S So
the bows OF the Valkyrie. Inc Deienue' was
quickly about at O'clock the Va'sy,'e AN ny
about too Then the two boats headed rCr the the
turning buoy on the starboaro 'aon' anu ''
race In reality was over.
PREPARING FOR THE BATTLE.
There was A slight northeast breeze blowing
down the Bay Yesterday morning as the fleet
Of excursion steamers ard pleasure boats went
Gown 70 Sandy Hook There 1t was hazy and
there was so little wind that the start had to
no sct further out. The yachts could not start
promptly on time. as the committee was ev1-
IDENTIFY in some doubt TO what to do IN the
matter Finally the signals were set 10 30 iur-
Their out TO the west and south OF the HOOK
Ughtship, so as to get a clear course 10 wiho-
ward. The course finally decided on was from
a point Off Seabrght. east by south
They were queer looking boats-the two yachts
when first seen. 1t was difficult at the time to
tell them apart. The Defender vas apparently
ly,lly x,riA NAL
ing in toward the New-Jersey shore. Then ii was
seen that that rakish looking clubtopsail was
not on the Defender. and that the larger looking
mainsail was on the yacht with pale blue
body. and It was the Defender that was stand
ing In toward the Jersey coast. fact that
saved her long tow, for the committee be-
came impatient and ordered both boats to throw
a line The Defender towed away In the
lead toward Seabright, the Vakyrie following
with her tug. the City of bridgeport. The val
kyrie had up her ramie cloth mansaii' with not
so darky colored a clubtopsail and small Jio
of the purcst white. The Defenders Boston
rnais,saH shone dark ard clear. 1t was plain
enough and was made Of the much-talked OF
ramie cloth.
On the way down. as soon as she had cast OH
her tug and begun her warming-up cruises the
Defender mt ND her staysail. Close up the big
SeSt dlnercnce tnQl Couiu DC SccA D's"N~" N''>
two yachts. outside Of their color. was in beam
and the fact that the Defenders mainsail mas
the cloths running from luff to leech instead OF
from boom to gaT The Valkyrie did not cast
off her tow as quickly as did the Defender ana
when she did she only ran up her staysail In
stops What was thought TO be the nrst or
the preparatory gun rung out at HOO, as the
two yachts were going over the line 10 the east
ward 1t was signal gun fired fifteen minutes
before the preparatory. The Defender was al
mired for her usual quickness In stays, as
she went about and stood back over the line as
II TO get ready for the start
When the Valkyrie came about she was seen
~ he q quick boat In stays and both boats stood
back over the line just as II they were reaiy
figuring for the start, instead of only taking
few wing-stretchers 1t looked as II the foreigner
was trying to feel the Defenders steersman, and
see what chance he would have In real start
of bIanketing him or of getting OF we'll In the
lead The boats came by the flagship twice ana
once in getting across the line in the direction
the race was to be- just as gun went OIL 'he
Valkyrie went outside which made the spectators
think that she to be called back
OVER THE STARTING LINE.
At last came the real preparatory starting gum
and the two yachts came over TO get reaoy 10
start 1t was desperate undertaking TO peat
into and through that fleet of boats clustered JUST
where they had no business 10 be. but in moment
things Strengthened themselves out and the racers
had a much better chance than 1t had seemed
possible they could expect moment BEFORE. Inc
Defender was first to come about and make Tor
the line after the starting gun The VAkyrie
shook out her baby jib-topsail now and swung
about the committee boat in earnest fashion The
Defender put out her jb-topsail as she came
round moment after. Then the Valkyre faced
up for the gun. 1t was little early put the De
fender kept with her The Valkyrie got well IN
front to come over, and 1t looked as II she would
heat the gun She was to The leeward Of her OPP
ponent II could be seen that the Naikyrle was
prepared to creep along the line TO Ihe northwsru
il she was too soon for the gun She kept of
few points but so well had her calculations been
made that she over few SECONDS after the
signal and well in advance OF the Defender Inc
difference in the starts or the two yachts. now
ever was only a question Of seconds. The time or
the Valkyrie's start (offciaD was l2:2O:4o OF the
Defenders 12:20:50 The racing yachts were well
on their way when the handicap gun was hred.
The Valkyrie closely foil owed by the Defender,
headed into maze of boats of all kinds. and II is
wonderful that there was no accident or inter
ference There were cries of indignation from
many Of the steamers, as 1t was feared that the
English yacht might not get fair chance TO DO
her best Then there was astonishment expressed
con every side for the Valkyrie appeared TO be
walking right away from the American boat The
Defender appeared to be little the suHer' now
ever and she certainly pointing up well.
Then the betting began to go over to the English
man In a few moments some hundreds OF dol
lars were placed at evens on the Velkyrie.
The wind seemed to De freshening a little and
the hopes of the Defender people rose. Fifteen
minutes after the start the Nalkyrie was to lee
ward, and reaching out more. instead OF being
held so closely to the wind as was the Defender
This gave her more and more the appearance OF
walking away from the aluminium yacht. At
l240 both came about. and the superior work on
board the Defender was shown. AS the two went
away on the port tack II was noticed that the
Defender was plunging little and that the Val
kyrie was not leaving that wake In the sea OF
which there has been 80 much talk Still the
Valkyrie "spatted" down on the water In way
that made her progress astonishing The water
had roughened at 1885, and the Valkyrie kept
on pitching. but still seemed to be outfooting the
Defender.