Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-13
IS HE AFRAID?
Dunraven Withdraws
VaIkyrie from Race.
He Allows the John Bull
Spirit to Show Itself.
Course Kept Clear, With Plenty
Room for Maneuvring.
No Possible Excuse. That Steamers
and Yachts Distracted Course.
Defender Has Room to Spare and
Covers the Entire Distance.
Dunraven's Action Characterized as Insult to
Whole American Nation.
No Possible Excuse. That Steamers
and Yachts Distracted Course.
Defender Has Room to Spare and
Covers the Entire Distance.
Dunraven's Action Characterized as Insult to
Whole American Nation.

united Press tug, via sandy Hook, Sept.
II. -Yachtsmen found bright skies over
head and a piping breeze coming in from
the southwest when they took their first
weather observation, today. Flags snapped
on their STATS and the smoke of factory
chimneys went scurrying away as il does
only when old Boreas is on duty.
The weather bureau seemed to have de-
cded against the Valkyrie, for it was
certainly Defender weather that was
furnished for the third of the interna-
tional races. 1t was as though Uncle
Sans weather officials had concluded to
help the Defender wind up the contest by
three straight winnings and thus end the
fight for the Americas cup
The decision of the regatta committee,
last night sustaining Mr.. Isclin's protest
and awarding Tuesdays race to the De
fender, left her only one more race two in
to make the Americas cup safe for an
other year.
That the gallant Yankee boat could do
it, barring fouls. in any kind of breeze,
no one of the many thousands who saw
Tuesdays race doubted. With cracked
topmast and broken spreader, compel
ing her to carry less sail than the British
boat, she was beaten by only AZ seconds.
What she would have done under full
sail and with spars intact, Is only con ice
tured, but there were many yachting
sbarps who said she would have wen with
over eight minutes to spare
The controversy over the accident at the
start and the manner In which Lord Dun
raven and Mr.. 1selin insisted upon judg-
ment on the protest and repealed all efforts
Of ? Io e., -
tual agreement to resail the race, led many
to think that bad blood had been aroused,
and that Lord Dunravcp, after bearing
the decision, would refuse to start in any
more races and take his boat back to Eng
land.
He proved to be too good sportsman
for that, and aside from a vigorous pro
test against the interference OF steam
boats, yachts and tugs, he made no Oh
lection to the verdict. He Informed the
committee that he would refuse to start in
another race, if the feet of excursion
steamers occupied the space needed by the
yachts for manoeuvring before crossing
the line and that he would withdraw his
boat at any time during a race when the
steamboats, intcrfcred with the Valkyric's
wind or gave her their wash.
The regatta committee assured Lord
Dunraven that 1t would do everything in
its power to obtain a clear course, and
special orders were given to the captains
of patrol vessels. The difficulty on Tues
day was mainly at the start and the inter
ference with the American boat was
greater than with the ValkyTic
Mr.. Isclin has made no serious protests
although bis boat suffered more than the
Valkyric, and the unfortunate accident at
the start would not have occurred had he
not been compelled to go out Of his course
to get around the big steamer Yorktown.
Both yachts lay ut anchor off Bay Ridge
all night. The Defender had replaced the
broken topmast by smaller and thinner
one belonging to the Colonia, 1t looked
very light ana some yachting sharps who
sized it up, this morning, hoped the wind
would not get too lively during the race,
as it seemed hardly strong enough for the
work
The sprcader was repaired and the top
mast shroud which was carried away by
the Valkyric's boom, was replaced by a !
new one. The Defender had been given
IA new coat of light blue paint and her
bronze bottom rubbed until 1t looked like |
FURNISHED gold, Everything about the
decks was ship-shapc, and the Herreshoff |
boat appeared to be in fine trim for the |
days race.
She left Bay Ridge IN tow of the tug at
Z As. On her decks were MIR. Iselin, |
Woodbury. Kane, Newbury Thorn. Nat |
Herreshof, David Henderson and Herbert |
c. Leeds. Mrs. Iselin was also aboard, |
but did not appear on deck until the yacht |
reached the lower bay.
The Valkyrie did not show signs of |
starting for the course until o'clock, |
when Lord Dunraven, Mr.. Glcnnie, Mr.
Ratsey, Mr.. Kersey and Mr.. Buck were
put aboard by nsphtha launch from the
City of Bridgeport
AS soon as the Dunraven party were
aboard, the Valkyrie took line from the
tug and was lowed down through the
Narrows on her way to the starting line
The British boat sat lighter In the water
than in her last race. Two tons of lead
had been removed from her hold, and her
Water line was somewhat shortened
Lord Dunraven endeavored to have a re-
made, last evening, when
The was hoated out Of the dry dock, but
he darkness made it impossible for it to
De done with accuracy and Mr.. Hyslop