New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-18

THE SHAMROCKS TOPMAST BREAKS
AFTER THE RACE Is STARTED.

III fate seems 20 cling with peculiar persist
ency to this years battle for the cup After
fortnight Of fog and calm. which made II impos-
sble TO sail a finished race. Al unlocked for wind
on Monday not only permitted a start but took
the yacnts around the course Well within the
limit. How that race ended all the world knows
The conditions for race yesterday were per
feet The atmosphere was clear and the wind
held true at a brisk gait. but the race was not
half an hour old when il was brought 10 abb
rupt end so far as a contest was concerned, by
the Shamrock carrying away her topsau.
Although the Columbia. according 10 the ex-
pllclt provisions insisted upon by Sir Thomas
Upton himself. went ahead and by sailing the
course easily within the specified time became
legally and morally entitled 20 the race, this ad-
ditiona instance of the fatality that has pursued
the yachts from the first day of their meeting
was every whit as bad blow 10 the followers Of
the Columbia as to those Of the Shamrock
SORRY THEY MISSED \ FIGHT.
When tho topmast Of the Shamrock came top
pllng down leaving her wreck aloft. there was
not single word sign OF eXultation from the
thousands VINO were ready 70 shout with glee at
the least advantage the American s.oop might
gain What they wanted was Il fair night. and
expressions Of disappointment and condolences
that were heard when the mishap occurred and
throughout the city last night could not have
been more sincere and sympathetic had II been
the Columbia which WAS disabled.
The accident was an the more unfortunate in
that thus early in the contest tho columbia
was manifosting again the superiority sIe
showed on the previous day i'm windward work.
CLIMBING TO WINDWARD
Roth boats got away 10 a beautiful start They
crossed the line almost abreast. and for tho first
ten minutes there seemed little t. choose be-
tween them Then. by better pointing. the CO.
lumha began gradually 20 cat her way 10 the
windward. until when the rivals had been sail
Ing about twenty-five minutes II seemed from
the Manning that the defender had a substantial
lead In the short time that had elapsed she
proved as conclusiycly as she did on Monday
that she could easily beat the Irish boat IN wind
ward work with a respectable hrcoze
TRYING HARD T. GET AHEAD.
II Oas lust a. the contest had become more
than usually interesting. and the skippcrs Of the
Shamrock were using every effort and resorting
TO every device % prevent the Columbia getting
further away. that the challengers huge cluD-
topsau went by the board without se'"hus .
warning apparently the topmast broke on as
,,oan,,, as a dried tnig Just above the iron foot
in which u rested II N'iiA "''''' ''' - '-Ni'
CARRYING with IL the big kite together win tS
ri,,o,rg and spars Further continuance IN the
.a.. was ont Of the question. and Immediately
co,ta,n Hogarth luffed into the wind, while the
coiunhia after taking in her baby iibtopsail for
nrecaution's q sake. continued on her course.
The Erin on which was Sir Thomas Upton.
q, once started for the Shamrock and after a
conference with his captains. the wrecked racer
WAS hitched to the Lawrence and to"ei %
the Horseshoe later going 10 the Erie Basin.
where she Will be repaired
THE GENEsTA CASE CITED.
Much comment was heard last night. and IN
fact on the course yesterday afternoon. upon the
ection Of the Columbia in continuing on her way
and taking the race in the face ~ the misfortune
to her competitor Incidents We're recalled OF
other accidents I'm International contests where
the favored boat refused 70 profit by the mishap
~ the other Reference was partlo uiary made
n the fouling Of the Puritan ani the Genesta by
which the mainsan of the American boat was
torn and the English yacht lost her bowsprlt
II was the Puritans fault. and as the pgepara-
tory signal had been given both yachts were
technically IN the race Therefore the Puritan
VAS disaualinsd and Sir Richard sutton the
cenesta's owner. was told that he could sail over
the course and claim the race. This sir hishA-a