The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-18
The COLUMBIA SECURES
TIGHT GRIP ON The CUP
Finishes the Race Alone Because of the Breaking
of the ShanlrOCk'S Mast.
The Yankee Yacht However, Would Undoubtedly Have
WOn Even Had Accident Not Occurred.

New York, Oct 1.-THE topmast Of the
cup challenger Shamrock was carried
away twenty-five minutes after the big
single sticker had crossed the starting
line today, and her enormous club top
sail, with its 5000 feet of canvas, came
rafting down on the deck. leaving her
a hopeless cripple. No amount of pluck
or courage could face such a catastro-
phe, and Captain Hogarth Immediately
abandoned the race, towing back TO the
anchorage after he had cleared away
the wreekage. The Columbia continued
over the course alone. placing TO her
credit the second of the races for the
Americas cum
The accident TO the Shamrock ruined
the race and caused the keenest regret
among the yachtsmen and the thou
sands of sightseers who were on hand
TO witness what had promised to be a
glorious duel. It is unfortunate that
the defender should have been the
beneficiary Of an accident, as there is
little glory in beating cripple, but the
rule is iron-clad. If crippled before the
start. time for repairs is allowed but
once over the line, if anything carries
away, the sufferer must make such re-
pairs as ne can, or if rendered hors de
combat. as the Shamrock was today
he must take the consequences.
An Ironclad Rule.
There is good sense and logic behind
TIE rule. The races are a test of con-
struction as wen as of design and sea-
manship. Doubtless, if Mr.. Iselin could
have had his choice in the matter, he
generously would have declined to con-
,tinue, in view of the crippled condition
of his rival. but the rules gave him no
alternative. He was in duty bound to
go on, and as he finished we'll within
the time limit, the race was his.
Had the accident not occurred, how
ever. it is believed the Yankee boat
would have repeated the beating she
gave the challenger yesterday. During
the twenty-five minutes the yachts
sailed she had gone through the Sham
rocks lead like a streak and had es-
tablished a lead Of more than 800 yards
on the weather bow.
EIust Claim the Race.
When the Puritan fouled the Genesta
on their inside course in 1857, carrying
away the chaliengers bowsprit and
tupmaSt. although the race was at his
mercy, under the rules. Lord Richard
Sutton magnanimouSly refused to claim
it To sVoid just such a contingency.
in which the beneficiary Of an accident
is always reluctant to claim his rights.
special clause was added to the reg
Olar rules this year, leaving absolutely
no option in the matter. This clause
was signed by Sir Thomas Upton and
Mir. Iselin few days before the date
of the first attempt to race.
The accident today shows what a
delicate machine a racing yacht is now
adays and how close to the limit of
safety it is built. It is a superlatively
light structure, weighed down by
enormous ballast to carry the gigantic
spread of canvas. The most delicate
and scientific adjustment Of weights is
required. The simple breaking Of
stay today wrecked the shamrock.
How the Shamrock Was Wrecked.
The wire back-stay of the topmast.
which helps 10 support the slender
spaTs gave way. and this support re-
moved, her Oregon pine topmast, as big
as telegraph pole, sixteen feet long
and fourteen inches in diameter, snap
ped off like a match just above the
lower maSt-cap.
This mast was not only supporting
the pressure of d knot-breeze against
her big kite, but was also sustaining
the crushing weight of the sail itself
and the Two club topsails yards. each
forty feet long.
Later in the afternoon the Shamrock
was towed up to the Erie basin. in the
upper bay. A new topmast will be set
up tomorrow and she viii be re-
measured. She viii probably he taken
out for spin tomorrow to try her new
stick, and the third race Of the series
viii be sailed on Thursday.
This race VIII again be over a wind 1
ward ana ieeward course, and if the
Columbia wins. the series will have
been completed without giving the
Shamrock an opportunity to test her
merits in her favorite point of sailing
over a triangular course. 4
The Day Promised Well.
The day had promised a glorious con-
test. There were only gray neutral /
tints in the morning, but hard, strong
twelVe-knot breeze out OF the east 4
kicked up the whitecaps ana the wind /
and tide helped TO pile up the tumbling |
waters.
The pulses of the sportsmen throbbed |
in anticipation. and a big excursion I
fleet plowed out 10 witness the second |
duel between the Shamrock and the /
Columbia Some Of the small sailing I
feet got outside. plunging their bow
spirits under and wetting their head 1
sails as they wallowed in broken wa /
ter. until they were glad enough to |
square away for more placid seas.
Later in the day the wind drove the !
clouds away, leaving an almost flaw
less vault of blue overhead. The shin I
ing waters and the gay flags and hunt /
ing mSde a brilliant marine picture.
The Shamrock went out eager for the /
fay. She cast off her tow before she |
reached the bell buoy at the head of the |
Swash channel. and made the way with |
a light shift of her canvas. 1t looked I
like blow such as the Shamrock is
reported TO have been praying for, and
the sailors. Of the Irish boat made
everything snug aloft in anticipation
Of an increase in the wind.
The race was to be over an equilato-
rial triangle ten miles TO the leg. which
would give the challenger a chance at
her favorite point of sailing-Teaching
An Exciting Start.
AS soon as the committee had sig
nailed the course. a beat TO windward.
the excursion boats lined tip, rail to
rail. back of the lightship to watch the
jockeyine for position. Never prob
ably was there a more magnificent ex-
hibition OF exciting starts in a cup
contest, and the Irishman carried off
the honOTs. The tw yachts wheeled
and circled about like big white gulls,
each striving for the advantage. their
hulls and decks and sails cleaning in
the sun.
The Shamrock finally got the Column
bia under her lee two minutes before
the start. and try as the defender
would. she could not shake off her
rival Both were on the port tack, to
the southwark af the lightship. Final