The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-06
DID NOT REACH TURN.
Columbia Shade the Better in Running
and Reaching Shamrock Superior in
Beating Excursion Boats Keep
Their Proper Place-Sails
Fit Better.

drawing on the gentle breeze. The
whole crew Of each yacht was aft to act
as ballast and keep the head of the
yacht up. Then the wind began to
die, and the great balloons Of canvas
forward collapsed. AT the same time
the wind canted little and Columbia
took In her spinnaker and tried reach
ing, leaving the balloon lib set up.
1t was a challenge to the Shamrock
on her best point of sailing, and Capt.
Hogarth accepted the gauge. They
went, heading over toward the Long
Island Shore and the Columbia in-
creased her lead. The Shamrock set
her staysail, but 1t only kept the wind
from her balloon, and the sail itself
hung limp from the stay In a few
minutes she took it down.
LINERS sALUTED.
The steamship Augusta Victoria. out
ward bound to Southampton, slowed
down to let the passengers catch a
glimpse of the contest. Then she dipped
her flag and sped on. A few minutes
later the Cunard liner Servia came
foaming into port. In vain the patrol
boats whistled their warning, but she
swung slightly outward as she came on
straight through the course, dipped her
nag when abeam of the racers and dis
appeared to leeward The emigrants
aboard climbed upon her forecastle deck
to see the sight.
The Columbia got most of the wash
from the big liner, both being in the
huge swell md splitting much wind out
OF her sails. The excursion boats
pushed towards the outer mark When
they got there they waited for an hour,
but the champions did not come. Then,
when the wind hauled around to the
south-southeast and the racers had
taken in their spinnakers to beat into it
close hauled. the excursion boats
pulled back to see which was in The
lead. But for the rest of the race the
yachts were half the time in doldrums,
with their sails Tapping listlessly.
When the streaks OF wind would strike
them they would luff and tack and split
lacks, each vainly endeavoring to get
into the place where the zephyrs were
crinkling the ocean.
For two hours this was kept up, dur
ing which no Tne seemed able to tell ex-
actly how The Shamrock drew UP with
her adversary. AT SAC. when it was
apparent to all that the yachts could
not make the outer mark, much less the
finish, and when both were practically
or even terms, the committee decided
to call the rece off.
CLOSE AT THE END.
just DeIore the regatta committee
boat hung out the ball on the triatic
staff, which declared the race off. the
spectators were watching the yachts
with intense interest. They had split
tacks, and now theColumbia was sail
ing toward the Shamrock on the port f.
tack, with the evident intention of
crossing her bow. The water between
them grew narrower and narrower, I'M
til she was close enough to pass a line
aboard. Everybody aboard the excur-
sion fleet expected her to cross the
Shamrock's bow, but Capt Barr found
It too risky, and he put his helm down
and came over on the starboard tack
under the Shamrock's lee
Although the Columbia had her nose
in front, the challenger Tapped her and
held the weather gauge. Just at this
instant, the signal went up, declaring
race off, and both yachts turned about
and headed for home.
The sea was a picture. All about
the horizon was tangle of masts and
stacks and sails. Away off to the east
ward, the steamship Germanic was
coming in from the Atlantic with q bone
in her teeth. A full rugged ship, with
all royals set was sailing out to sea,
while off to the westward. in the track
of the excursion boats as they headed
for home. the North Atlantic SQUAD
ron, bound for Hampton Roads, was
majestically bearing down. in squadron
formation.