The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-20
Three Miles Ahead When the
Race Was Declared OFF,
SHE SAILED LIKE A WITCH
several Blunders Made by the Three
Captains on the Shamrock - The
Crew OF the Challenger
Have Given 1t Up.

iSiu to-udS tie CC1un Dia-SnainrOck
series for the Americas cup would
have ended in three straight wins for
the defender and the Irish cup hunter
would have sailed home without the
trophy, beaten as decisively as any for
mer candidate. Only the failure of the
wind saved the Shamrock from de-
feat more stinging than on Monday.
To-day she was beaten on the run to
the outer mark five minutes and 81
seconds, elapsed time. and on the leg
home, which should have been a beat,
but which. owing to shift of the wind,
was broad reach, the Columbia sailed
away from her like witch. When
the race was declared off about 10 min
utes before the expiration of the time
limit. the Columbia was leading by
miles from the finish Had the race
ended the Shamrock would have been
beaten by at least 20 minutes.
Sir Thomas hard luck continued to
follow him. His boat was very badly
handled to-day in spite of the aggre-
cation of talent aboard of her. The
two English captains and the captain
of Emperor Williams yacht Meteor
failed to get the Shamrock over the
line before the gun was fired. and she
went into the race penaliZed by two
seconds on that account. The addi-
tional ballast which was put into her
yesterday also seems to have been a
blunder on the part Of her mahagers,
as it increased the size Of the body to
be forced through the water. and in the
light air that prevailed to-day retard-
ed instead of increasing her speed.
What the Shamrock may be able to do
in rough weather and q stiff wind is
still problematical, but after the drub-
bing she has received the experts are
almost unanimous in the belief that the
Columbia can take her measure in light
air or gale of wind. The crew. of the
Shamrock have given it up. They are
now convinced that We have the better
boat. Before the race on Monday they
had the most supreme confidence in
their ability to win with the Shamrock.
There was no living with them,''
said one of the Yankee tars on the
tShamrock's tender Lawrence. They
did not think their boat would win
they absolutely knew it. They would
not even hear arguments. After they
returned from the race Monday they
were sore and would not speak to each
other. Now they are frank enough to
admit that the Columbia is the better
boat by 10 minutes over a 30-mile
course"
The boats will race again tomorrow,
and even if the Columbia wins it is
possible two more races Will be sailed
A proposition to this effect has been
made and Sir Thomas seems anxious
that it be carried out. He has been
greatly disappointed in the showing
his boat has made, but believes she
might do better over triangular
course in a heavy wind. and he has
said he would be very much pleased
to sail two more races.
Bay Alive with Sails.
This was radiant day for those
afoat. Though light haze hung over
the horizon, not cloud f1ecked the
sky. A 10-knot breeze blew out of the
northwest and the foam tipped wave
lets running on the gentle ground
swell shimmered in the bright sun. A
big holiday crowd went out to witness
what all supposed would be the last
race Of the cup series, and the sight
seers We're treated to rare picture as
they boWled down the harbor. The
bay was alive with sails. Fifty or more
sailing ships of every style. from
ooasting schooners to lofty. square
rugged ships bound for the Indies or
the China seas, which had been har-
bor-bound for two weeks. We're taking
advantage of the favoring breeze and.
like a flock of wild gulls. were speeding
seaward with their spreading pinions
SleaHlUh Ill lHe sun
The course to-day was laid Is miles
before the wind. southeast by south.
straight out to sea. After some pretty
maneuverng behind the line, Captain
Barr. on the Columbia, bested the talent
aboard the challenger. sending the CO.
lumbia flying across the line 81 seconds
ahead of his adversary. So badly had
the Shamrock miscalcnlated that the
handicap gun doomed two seconds be-
fore the green boat crossed and she
sailed away with that penalty in addi-
ton to the 16 seconds she allowed the
white wonder now under the new meas
urements,
The race to the outer mark was not
exciting. Both yachts crossed with
bulging balloons. mainsaijs and their
largest club topsaiis drawing. But rs
the wind had pulled a little to the
southwark after the course had been
set, instead of keeping away from the
mark, they made almost a triangular
race of it. Without setting their snin-
board each striving for the weather
gauge. The Columbia showed her rival
fleet pair of heels, gaining gradually
from the start. For almost an hour the
luffing continued. carrying the yachts
four miles off their course.
Was Badly Beaten.
The Shamrock having been badly |
beaten in her attempt to get to wind |
ward. both squared away for the mark, !
breaking out their big spinnakers to the |
wind After watching the yachts run !
before the wind for an hour. during |
which the breeze gradually died down |,
to about five knots OF less, the excur- |
sion fleet turned ahead and gathered |
about the boat to witness the turn. BY |
the time they had lined up the big |
yachts could hardly be seen. Through |
the haze across the water they looked |
like phantom pyramids.
The wind kept failing and there was |
a long wait. The excursion boats be- |
came impatient as they lay wallowing |
in the swell, and they shifted their po- |
sitions occasionally, starting and stop |
ping. The balloons of the big sloops |!
belied in and out, shivered, collapsed, |
and the race was degenerating into q |
drifting match as they approached the |
mark. The challenger was directly as |
tern of the Columbia, trying with her |