The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-06
AGAIN CRYING BABY.
British Yachtsmen Cannot Under
stand Why Niagara Wins.



tlonal difficulty has arisen. and although
Il may not be quite. SO serious as the
Venezuelan boundary dispute. OF tho
Cuban question, II has already thrown
another wet blanket over England, and
is believed to have been the cause OF
Howard Gould's .20-rater Niagara not
starting In the race for the smaller craft
on the program OF the Royal Yacht
Clubs regatta Thursday when the Me-
ftcor. Emperor Williams yacht, won her
maiden race. .
In brief, there Is no doubt that Eng
lish yachtsmen felt sore over the re-
peated victories OF the Niagara last year.
and, although she has had very bad luck
this season, the bad humor has rankled
until IL has assumed the proportions OF
a dangerous sore, which had to be cut
out or cured. All the trouble was really
caused by the clever manner in which
the Niagara has given her British COM
petitor her stern to look at in most races
In which she has contested.
One man had il that she had some
mysterious hidden power within her
vitals. and another opined that she had
wheels, somewhere. 10 which Captain
Barr, her skipper. significantly pointed
to the British yachtsman's head, and in
timated that he knew where these
wheels were located.
Still another aquatic expert had II that
Niagara was using shifting, water bal
last, and this was finally settled upon as
being the real reason for her success IL
the races she won, no mention being
made OF the cause OF her losing the
fe eh hQ pua N M sHpNn2Gfiil
Eventually. complaint was made to
the yacht racing association. and the fol-
lowing letter was sent by that organiza-
ton, dated May 81, TO Howard Gould:
"a report has been made to the coun-
ell of the Yacht Racing association that
your yacht. the Niagara, is fitted
with watertank under the seat on
each side OF the cabin, and that these
tanks arc connected by a pipe, SO as to
make II possible, by merely turning
cock, to run water from one tank into
the other, and thus use them as shift
ing, water ballast, which might be ad-
yantageous in certain cases. Three
members of the council were, conse-
quently, requested to inspect the tanks,
which they did Immediately after the
race of the Royal Thames Yacht club,
on May 23 and In your absence were af-
forded every facility by Captain Barr.
The members of the council do not wish
TO convey any idea on their part that
the tanks were used for tae purpose in
dicated.' On the contrary, their impress
sion is the other way. But am request
ed TO suggest, in order to place the mat
ter beyond suspicion, that IT is desirable
TO make impracticable the run of water
from one tank to the other, which could
readily be done by a small alteration Of
the pipes. i should be glad to hear, for
the information of the council that this
has been done at once. Dixon Kemp,
secretary"
The Yachtsman, referring to this
latest little unpleasantness. says: I'VE
| have seen the watertanks, and there Is
| absolutely no room under the floor for
any tanks. The builder, with his usual
astuteness. hit upon this arrangement
| Just as he has taught us many things.
| II is true there Is connecting pipe be-
| tween the tanks, but we fail to see that
| II could be used for shifting ballast, as
| IL takes 10 minutes for one tank to emty
| into the other, and this can only be done
| when the yacht is heeled over"
| The writer IN The Yachtsman con-
| cludes with remarking: I'VE regard the
| incident as peculiarly unfortunate, be-
| cause the suspicion, which many treat
| as a gross insult, attaches to a foreign
! gentleman, who has done much for Brit
ish yachting, and who is known as O
thorough sportsman. The fact that Mr..
| Gould is an American makes Ii all the
worse, for, in spite of disclaimers,
yachtsmen in America will regard 1t as
a national insult. The Yacht Racing as
sociation council acted properly enough,
In view OF the report, but everyone Is
entitled to know who made the report"
Under the circumstances, sobody
would be astonished If Howard Gould
refused to take part in any more races
In these waters, and there is little doubt
that when the name of the maker Of the
report to the Yacht Racing association
becomes known. and all the circum-
stances in the case are investigated,
there will be a storm of indignation
strong enough TO make the party re-
ferred To feel very uncomfortable.
Howard Gould writes 10 The Field, In
regard to -tAe-d4sPute- the water
tanks on the Niagara, as follows: The
tanks were never used for ballast or for
any purpose, except for water for the
crew. The yacht was measured ard
races with the tanks empty, and even II
they were filled, the idea that they could
be of advantage is absurd. because 1t
would take eight or 10 minutes for the
water 10 run from one TO the other. Had
the committee advised me OF their in
tended visit, should have been pleased
TO aid them In their Investigations"
An editors footnote says: I'VE un-
derstand that Mr.. Gould has offered 20
comply with the committees suggcs-
tions."