Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-07-07

first the Columbia seemed to outfoot
her rival, and there seemed to be no
perceptible difference in their ability
to hug the wind. Nautical experts
we're jubilant. Then both yachts went
over on the starboard tack for a long
leg. They heeled until yards OF their
bronze bodies were exposed. The CO.
lumbia seemed more tender than the
Defender-more tender blu perhaps
more stately as she lay down TO ner
work. She heeled enough to let the
seas swirl and bubble along her lee
rail, and sometimes when she smashed
a big wave into tatters she shipped
somewhat forward. Miniature catar-
acts poured from her glistening decks
when the water spurted twenty 1ees
high from her bows, but as she lifted
beautifully. she looked like a huge gull
rising from the water. Then the tai
ent began to get Gradually
but surely the Defender was drawing
ahead. and it was also apparent tnat
she was pointing higher than the Co
lumbia. 1t did not take the yachtsmen
long to discover the cause. The De-
tenders sails fit to perfection n every
inch of canvass drew. The club top
sail of the Columbia, on the other hand,
was loose and cracked in the wind. Inc
forestry sail did not draw, ana might
as well have been slowed in the locker
below. At this time the breeze was
blowing about ten knots an hour, ana
while it continued at that clip, the De-
fender continued to gain very slowly,
but also very surely. Half an hour
later the wind, sank to about nve. knots
and Immediately the sails OF the Co
lumbia began to draw and she began
to gain upon her adversary. BQth
shippers were now straining for the
mastery. Both pinched until their
head sails trembled az they stroye Tor
the weather gauge. The Columbia con-
tinued to gain on every tack and a rev
minutes before the first mark was
reached she crossed the Defenders
bow ON the starboard tack. Then the
nautical sharps breathed easier. She
rounded the stake exactly n minute
ahead of the Defender. AS she eaSed
her sheets and turned the mark all the
steam craft screamed their conglatula-
lions. =,
But here also the trouble with her
head sails was conspicuous. Botn
Yachts had slowed their baby Jlbs ana
had sent up their big jib top sail IN
stops as they approached the stake, put
the Defender, although the last around,
broke out her big jib fully a minute
before the Columbia loosed hers. And
then the latter's had to be taken down
and reset. On the long reach for the
second mark, with the wind abeam, the
Columbia gained So seconds. About hall
way down a black sQuall, which had
been threatening to the southwark
broke sharply and completely swallow
ed up the big yachts and their trains.
1t was a question of how much the o
umbia could beat the Defender and
many of the steamers and tugs headed
back for the finish.
When the rainfall ceased, the wind
hauled to the west and instead of run
ming home before the wind with spin
makers set, the yachts made the last
leg with the wind on the port bow. TINS
was a grave disappointment to the spec
tators. The wind gradually died down,
and when the yachts were within about
a fourth of a mile Of the finish, the
fleet gathered about the lightship and
Commodore Morgan's flagship. Grace
fully and noiselessly the Columbia
swept over the invisible line between
them, and as crossed she received a
royal salute. Whistles shrieked and
sirens walled. For several minutes the
din continued. The Columbia made no
response to this thunderOus demonstra-
ton. AS the Defender crossed the line
she also was greeted with a demonstra-
ton quite as enthusiastic and pro-
longed. The yachts were Immediately
taken in tow by their tugs and brought
up the bay.
Herbert Leeds, on behalf of Mr.. 1se-
lin, said after the race that the friends
OF the Columbia were very we'll salts
fed and hoped to do better when their
sails were made more trim. He said
there was no accident of any kind and
that the yacht would leave for New
Rochelle tomorrow. Butler Duncan
said he had nothing to say for the De-
fender. Everything had been satisfac-
tory.
The race to-day was an informal trial
for a cup offered by the New York
Yacht Club. The official trials will oc-
cur in September.
SOUTHAMPTON, July 6.-The Sham
rock will be ready Saturday and Brit
ANNA Wednesday when the trials will
commence.