The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-21

built by the now famous Edward
Burgess, successfully defended the
cup against the British yacht Galatea,
a third race being unnecessary that
time also as the Mayfower won the
first two. The following year a
Scotchman, Mr.. James Ball, of Glas-
gov, sent over the Thistle to bring
back the American cup; but again
the genius of Edward Burgess tri-
umphed, the yacht he built, the Vol
unteer, also winning in two races,
thus keeping up the record.
Two years ago, in 1898, Lord Dun
raven, the present contestant for the
cup, sent the Valkyrie to New York
and this time the sloop Vigilant was
selected by the regatta club as the
defender and proved herself compe
tent for the task, showing the swift
English yacht her heels in three
straight races, the last one being the
grandest ever sailed for the trophy,
this last race and the Puritan Genesta
event being in reality the only excit-
ing races in the history of the con-
tests for the cup up to that date.
But the defeat in 1898 did not dis
courage Lord Dunraven, and at great
expense, he built and brought across
Valkyrie III (Valkyrie II having been
sunk in British waters during race),
the swiftest yacht yet entered to con-
test for the American cup.
Last Weeks Contests.
The first of what was entered to be
series of fine races for the American
cup was started Saturday, September
Z on course fifteen miles to wind
ward and return. The unprecedented
interest in the race had drawn to-
gether the largest crowd ever assem-
bled to witness yachting event. This
interest was increased by the close
racing in the first half of the course,
the Valkyrie leading the Defender,
but the latter again passed its rival
about 2 P. M, and crossed the finishing
line nearly eight minutes ahead of
the Valkyrie. In previous yacht races
the margin had been painfully small
and the din that greeted the white
winged Defender as she reached
swiftly and gracefully for the goal,
was such as was never before heard
on New York waters.
Lord Dunraven protested to the
committee against the crowding of
the excursion steamers and boats, and
as matter of fact both yachts were
considerably inconvenienced by the
excursion fotilla, the greatest ever
assembled for an event of the kind.
The committee were as desirous as
the English Earl to secure free
course for the yachts, but could not
guarantee it and hence the second
race, sailed Tuesday, of last week was
made under the same disadvantageous
circumstances as the first race. In the
race the Valkyrie at the start fouled
the Defender, carrying off some can
vas and spar. The latter promptly
hoisted protest signal but gallantly
kept on her course, partly disabled as
she was, the Valkyrie, however, win
ming the race by AZ seconds. The
Yacht Committee, however, acting on
the protest of the Defender, declared
the latter the winner. This action,
together with the crowding of the ex-
cursion boats to which Lord Dunra-
ven attributed the fouling of the De-
fender, was probably the reason for
the withdrawal of the Valkyrie on the
third race, last Thursday, just after
crossing the line in order to make it
a race. The Defender continued on
her course and crossed the line within
the time limit, thereby nominally, at
least, winning the race and retaining
the cup. That the great race of 1895
thus terminated in a fiasco alike un-
satisfactory to both contestants and
to the great nations they represent, is
unfortunate for the interests of
yachting and the circumstances un-
fortunately are such as will probably
embitter the yachtsmen of the two
countries, probably making this the
last international cup race for some
time. The fact seems to be that the
bronze and aluminium Defender is
not only faster than the Valkyrie but
also faster than any other boat ever
built, and for this reason Americans
have reasons to regret that the fullest
and most satisfactory trial of speed
was not made between the two ocean
reyhounds.
New York, however, is about the
most unsatisfactory place that could
be chosen for great Yachting event,
for reasons already stated. If there
are to be any more cup races it is evil
dent that they must be held at some
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