The Anaconda standard., 1899-10-13
1t IS THE FIFTH F|zzlE
Fog Again Prevents the New
York Yacht Races.
UTTER ABSENCE OF WIND
Iselin's Appeal Touched Patriotic
Chord - Rousing Cheers for the
White Beauty Urged to
Change the Course.

New York, Oct. IA blanket of fog
over the course and the utter absence
of wind caused the fifth successive fiz-
zle when another attempt was made
to-day to sail the first of the Colu1n-
bia-Shamrock races for the internation-
al trophy. The yachts will try again
to-morrow.
The repeated failures have had a
most discoura ging effect upon the gen.
eral public. and there was great fall
ing off in the number of excursion
boats as well as the number of their
passengers when the fleet gathered
around Sand Hook lightship to-day at
the time set for the start.
The heavy fog made navigation not
only exceedingly difficult but very
dangerous. The ships of the fleet that
did brave the perils OF the fog could
only crawl out to their destination,
keeping double lookouts forward and
their fog whistles incessantly going to
avoid collision. AT times it was i'm
possible to see so feet ahead, and it was
an uncanny spectacle to have a big
ghostlike hull loom up close aboard.
The mist lay thickest upon the surface
of the water and on the way down
fhe bay the top-royal yards of several
big clippers could be made out when
the hulls were invisible. The yards
seemed to be suspended in mid-air
without support. Down in the lower
bay the fog was not quite so thick,
and about 10 o'clock light land breeze
from the west gave a faint hope that
1T would send the fog out to sea and
furnish racing conditions later on. So
the racing sloops let so of their moor
,ings and were towed out to the start
ling line. There they got their sails up
land drifted about, rocking in the gen
tile ground swell. But the haze did
mot lift, and the breeze instead of in
'creasing died away altogether. When
the time came to signal the course the
weather vane at the masthead of the
committee boat, which would respond
TO the breath of a sleeping infant. lay
limp and lifeless against the staff:
Shortly after 10 o'clock, by mutual
consent, the committee boat hoisted
the letter "R' on the triatic stay,
meaning race is off.
The sails were lowered and the tend
ers of the two yachts took them in
tow back to the horseshoe. while the
excursionists again sailed homeward
Mr.. Iselin's interview in this morn
ing's papers protesting against the saw
age criticism of the Columbia which
has been literally indulged in by some
support for the Yankee and her crew
until the series is completed evidently
touched patriotic chord, for on the
way back every excursion steamer
In the feet sailed alongside and saluted,
while the passengers gave the white
beauty three rousing cheers and
tiger.
The repeated tiukes off Sandy Hook
have led to some agitation for a change
of thescourse to Newport, where there
is usually breeze, or to Marblehead.
off the Massachusetts, coast, where no
difficulty would be experienced in get
ting plenty Of wind, but it is hardly
likely that any change will be made.
The regatta committee argues that this
sort of weather cannot last at this
time of the year.
I The early morning hours at Sandy
Hook bay gave little promise of
race. The weather was fairly clear for
a few miles seaWard at o'clock, and
there was a light breeze from a little
south of west, but up to the northward,
toward the narrows, the fog still hung
thickly.
Mainsails were hoisted early on both
yachts, and soon after O'Clock they
cast off from their moorngs and were
towed out to Sandy Hook lightship.
Club topsails We're mastheaded on the
way out, the Columbia setting a small
er one than was shown on Wednes-
day afternoon. The Shamrock's was
apparently larger than any yet seen
aloft 1t was bent to two light alumni
nun spars and its narrow cloth radi-
ated from a center band like u jib.'
The yachts arrived off the lightship
at 1910 a. m. Casting off their tow
lines and breaking out their head-sails,
they circled about the lightship for an
hour or so in the light southwest
breeze. waiting for the committee boat
to arrive The fog showed a DISPOSE
tion to clear off at this time but there
was hardly wind enough to give the
yachts steerage way. For an hour af-
H ter the committee boat arrived there
was no wind and no prospect of any,
SO at 1910 O'Clock, after q consultation
of those in charge of the yachts, both
agreed to call the race off. a gun was
fired and the code signal letter r.
11oisted. announcing that fact to the as
sembled fleet. A few minutes later. as
agreed on few days ago, another gun
was fired, calling attention to the sig
nal that the race would be run next
Friday. The Manning and other reve-
nue. cutters. the torpedo boat Porter
and all other vessels having the signal
letters hoisted them so that all the
fleet might know of the committees
decision before going back to the city.
The sails Of both yachts We're taken
in as they were towed back to their
moorings in the horseshoe, where they
arrived at 1870. The same persons
were on board the Columbia and Sham
rock as have been there on previous
days.
An Unpromising Prospect.
New York Oct. 12.--Sandy Hook at
D. m. reports thick fog and no wind.
The weather bureau predicts light wind
for to-day. The prospect of a race to-