Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07
RACE is VERY CLOSE
Yachts Beating Homs in Neck and
Neck Order.
HAMMOCK HELD LEAD ON WAY OUT
Only a Few Seconds Apart at the
Stake Boat.
COURSE DOWN JERSEY COAST

NEW YORK. October AT sunrise this
morning a strong northerly breeze was
stirring up the white caps on the upper
bay, the sky was abso utely clear. a light
autumnal haze hung over the Long Island
and Staten Island shores, and the air was
crisp and invigoratins. Briefly, it would
have been impossible to imagine a morning
more full of promise of fine race between
the Columbia and the Shamrock
At the anchorages and places Of en-
barkaton, however, it seen that the
disappointments of Tuesday and Thursday
had affected the spirits of the yachtsmen
and yachtswomen, for the number Of peo-
pie hurrying to the excursion fleet did not
appear to be nearly as large as on the
previous days set for racing off the Bat
terry only five tugs were waiting for their
passengers. These boats included the tug
Volunteer. flying the Shamrock flag, which
was taking on board the guests of Sir
Thomas Upton. Among the guests were
Rear Admiral Schley, the Ear, Of Mimic,
governor general of Canada: the Hon. Cecil
Barring, r. II. Little, q. c.; Barclay War
burton, w. II. Kendall and Mrs. Kendall,
c. G. Cary, Prince Leopold de Croy. Prince
Reginald de Croy, Prince RanjitsinhJi,
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford and
Lady Beresford Frank Tilford. Captain
and Mrs Chadwick, the Hon. Arnold Nor
ley, the Hon. Charles Russell, Mr.. and
Mrs. Potter Palmer VIM. Gibson and his
party, Michael Cudahy and Bourke Cock
ran, subsequently transferred to Sir
Thomas steam yacht Erin in the Horse
shoe.
Winter overcoats and wraps were in or
a 81 ha rSin niSts
Capt. r. d. Evans, who was in charge
Of the course, left the Governors Island
ferry on the revenue cutter Hudson shortly
before S o'clock
The Weather Mt Galflee, n. j.
The first weather bulletin Of the day
came from Galilee, N. j.. from which point
the Associated Press correspondent, at 1902
am, reported that the north wind there
was whistling down the coast at the rate of
twenty miles an hour. He added however.
that the breeze showed signs of moderating
by noon A very high was running at
that time. and the observation limit was
twelve miles.
At the Highlands at about s a. m. the con-
ditions for the were almost exactly
similar to those prevailing at the same
time on Tuesday. The wind was from the
north-northeast, blowing almost directly
down the Jersey SNOTc at velocity OF al
most fifteen knots an hour. The sea was
covered with white caps and the waves
the relics of yesterdays Storm had their
tops and crests taken OFF by the breeze as
they broke on the Jersey shore off the
Highlands.
A number of coasters came out around
the Hook during the early morning and
ran away before the wind down the coast,
making excellent time.
From the Highland light the range of
vision south and east extended to a dis
tance of over fifteen miles. haze hung
over New York harbor and very little N
that direction could be seen beyond the
point of the Hook, distance of about five
miles.
The Shamrock was inside the horseshoe.
as usual and had her two head sails in
stops by Z o'clock and by $50 her tender,
the tug James A. Lawrence, was making
preparations to tow her outside. The CO.
lumbia was being towed down from Bay
Ridge.
Shamrock Dispensed With Tow.
The breeze was so fine and true off the
Hook that the Shamrock dispensed with
the aid of the tug and started out Tor the
Iightship under sail. She had up her main
sail and jib and headed up for the channel
on the starboard tack. Just as she got un-
der way the SOluHlplh Stdi lcu No"A
channel and rounded the southwest spi. III
tow of her tug.
The Columbia stopped before reaching the
Hook about a mile to the west of the point,
and began hoisting her mainsail.
The Shamrock ran out past the Hook at
lively gait
The wind then still held from the north
east, blowing about fifteen knots an hour
The wind off shore from the highlands
was very clear, and ships over twenty miles
away could be plainly seen.
Shamrock Makes Good Time.
The Shamrock made the run out from
her anchorage to Sandy Hook iightship, a
distance of over eleven nautical miles, IN
81 minutes with only mainsail and jb
The Columbia made fully as good time,
passing Scotland lghtship before 10 o'clock.
The wind at that time was still from the
mormon east about fifteen knots, and hold
ing true and strong, with every indication
that 1t would continue throughout the day
and enable the boats to have a good race.
After reaching the lightship the Sham
rock eased off her sheets and stood to the
south and the crew began to make ready
the club topsan for hoistng.
The old cup defender Vigilant had lit
tie brush with the latest challenger on the
run out The Shamrock went by her as II
she was anchored.
Behind the Columbia were a half dozen
revenue cutters and number of steam
yachts, and as the two yachts reached the
lightship the first of the excursion fleet
appeared, heading down the Swash channel.
At 10 o'clock the steam yacht Erin with
a large party on board steamed out by the
Hook with big shamrock flag on her fore
mast.
Columbia Keeps Pace.
The Columbia arrived at the iightship
at 1O:09 q In. having made the run out un-
der similar canvas to that on the Sham
rock and in practically the same time. When
she arrived at the lghtship she also eased
off her sheets and stood a little to the
southwark, but soon came about and ran
over toward the challenger, which was
then sailing along on the port tack about
a mile southeast of the hghtship. Both
boats were evidently trying the breeze to
decide as to their light sails. The wind
at this time still came out Of the north