Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-16
COLUMBIA IN LEAD
About a Mile and a Half Ahead
of the Shamrock.
EIGHT MINUTES APART At STAKE
Running Home in Stiff Breeze
With Wind Free.
L II E RACE IN DETAID

| L IL E 4 \ G E l n ID E I y l.
| The Associated Press dispatch boat. AL
bert II. Ellis. off Long Beach, L. l.. Octo-
| ber Is, p.m.-The Columbia turned the
Windward mark, off Snort Beach. at 1:4s:io.
The Shamrock turned at 159.35. These
| times are unofficial
The Coiumbia's lead over the Shamrock
is about one and one-half miles. The mark
was fifteen miles from the starting line.
| The two yachts now running home be-
| fore the wind. at 2:4S.
| WESTERN UNION CABLE BOAT 3:40
| p.m.-The Columbia Is in sight about Ave
and half miles from the finishing line.
| The Shamrock Is not yet in sight.
| NEW YORK. October ia heavy, damp
fog hung over the upper bay at am.
| today, and there was only a light, south
erly breeze stirring. a discouraging out
look for the beginning of the third week
| of the attempts TO sail the first OF the
series Of races in the contest for Americas
cup between the Columbia and the Sham
| rock.
| The observers of the Associated Press
along the Jersey shore had no encourage
| ment TO furnish the public in their carly
| morning bulletins. Highland Beach at
! am, said the weather was thick, with a.
| light southeast wind blowing, ana Galilee.
at the same hour, reported that dense
| fog prevailed there. with light southeast
| wind blowing. Both these points. however,
| added that the breeze seemed to be fresh
| ening. Long Branch made about the same
| report.
| Far Rockaway, at about 7:j0 am, said a
| seven-mile breeze was blowing there from
| east northeast, and steadily increasing in
strength, and that he log was lifting.
| Long Branch, at 40. the wind east north
| east, with a heavy fog. Ali points reported
| the sea smooth.
| EasterIy Wind at the Hook.
AT 1853 am. Sandy Hook reported the
| wind easterly, about two miles an hour,
with a heavy mist along the coast.
The Highlands of Navesink. at 7:50 said
an easterly wind, with tendency south
ward, was blowing at the rate OF about
| five knots and appeared to be increasing.
The fog, that point added, was so heavy
| there that it was almost like rain.
| Sandy Hook, at 9:l5 am. reported that
there was then some prospect of race
| today. The wind was south southwest,
| about seven miles, and freshentng stead
| lily. There was heavy mist. Observation
| two miles. Both yachts left their moorings
| with jibs up in stops.
| AT $40 the Columbia and the Shamrock,
| both in tow, were passing out.
Better Conditions This Morning.
| The conditions about the starting line of
| the international yacht races were not
| nearly so bad this morning they were
| in the upper bay and at the city. At o
| o'clock, while heavy fog limited the OBJ
| servation materially II was still clear
enough to see three miles. and there was
| a breeze blowing that promised to clear
70 der Nf.apn rTvr. v0gNf TTrNsp
| of sunshine, however, and the sky was OF a
| dull, leadel hue.
| At 9:2O o'clock there was a seven-mile
| breeze from the southeast, that while blow
| ing the mist into the bay and city, cleared
| the atmosphere about the course, and be-
| fore long the observation line had extended
| to five miles, with a probability Of a gem
| eral clearing in time for start If 'he wind
| held good.
| The breeze, while not stiff, was much bet
| ter than for several days, and yach:smen
| and the few spectators began to nave hope
| that the day might bring forth race.
| AT 9:+5 the wind had again ploughed Its
way through the fog, the grayness lifting
| aga!n. and blowing at the rate OF seven
| miles an hour from the southeast made the
| conditions better than any day for week
| past
| Glimpse Of the Columbia.
A little later the Observers near the start
caught a glimpse of the Columbia coming
| down under her mainsail in tow. Following
| her closely came the Shamrock. At 10
| O'clock the breeze was blowing nine miles
| an hour from the southeast. At 1920 the
| committee boats were in place. and at 1890,
| with the wind veering east and blowing
| quite briskly, the committee signaled that
| the course would be east. Both yachts at
| this time had their club topsail and main
| sails set. When the signal was made there
| was but one excursion boat at the start no
| private yachts and but few other boats.
| The wind at 1910 was blowing at the rate
| of eight knots.
| The two yachts were jockeying about the
| start with their jibs, mainsails and top
| sails set, when at 10:55 the warning gun
| was fired Both boats timed themselves
| well, and gybing, came to the line. The
| starting gun was fired. and so well had
| they gauged their positions that both
| crossed within a minute and almost to-
gether, the Shamrock with slight advan-
| tage.
The preparatory gun had been fired from
| the committee tug at 10:43. The blue peter
| and a red ball were hoisted simultaneous
| ly. Both the racers We're then heading for
| the line, having cast off from their tow
| boats a quarter of mile north of the light
| ship. Under matnsail. club topsails and
| jbs they came slowly down with the wind
| on their quarter. The Columbia broke out
| her forestaysail just as the smoke had
| drifted away from the signal gun. The
| Shamrock followed close after the cup de-
| fender with her forestaysail still in stops.
| The Columbia did not cross the line from
| the windward side, but instead trimmed
| her sheets and went around the committee
| tug, which was anchored due south from
| the lightship, so that the line was a per-
| feet right angle to the course.
| Shamrock Kept Straight Course.
| The Shamrock kept straight on her
| course, leaving the tug to port. and after
| the Columbia had swung off again the two
boats came into close quarters. There be-
| gun a game at jockeying for the windward
| position Both trimmed sheets fat aft and
| slowly the challenger forged out into the
| lead and the Columbia had to pass under
her stern.
| For a moment it looked as though the
| challenger was to get the better OF the
| start, but Barr equal to the occasion
| and allowed the Shamrock TO wear of TO
port Both boats were heading toward the
| committee tug and were about hall mile
| away when the warning gun was fired at
| 1855 The contestants worked slowly
1 toward the line. Captain Barr purposeiy
allowed the Shamrock to get couple of
| lengths ahead and short distance to wind
ward Neither boat was in a hurry to get
| to the line and the crews were kept busy
| getting the lib topsails hoiSted up IN places