Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-13
FIFTH FAILURE.
The Yachts Again Fail 10
Sail Their Race.
Wind Fails and Fog Prevails and Boats
Return to Anchorage.
Some Talk OF Changing Course But This Action
Regarded As Unlikely.

New York, oct IA blanket of fog
over the course and the utter absence
Of wind caused the fifth successive fiz-
zie when another attempt was made,
| today to sail the first of the Columbia
Shamrock series for the international
trophy The yachts viii try again, to-
morrow. But the repeated failures have
had mighty discOuraging effect on the
general public and there was a great
falling off in the number of excursion
boats, as we'll as the number of passen-
gers, when the fleet gathered around
the Sandy Hook lightship, today, at the
time set for the start. The ships of the
fleet that braved the perils of the fog
could only crawl out to their destina-
ton Keeping double lookouts forward
and their fog whistles constantly go
ing to avoid collision.
AT times it was impossible to see so
feet ahead. The mist lay thick upon
the surface of the water and on the
way down the bay the top royal yards
Of several big clippers could be made
out when their hulls were invisible A
few of the yachts and tugboats left the
Battery, but their owners or shippers
refused to go farther than Stapleton,
owing to the danger Of collision with
other craft. There they tied up 10 wait
for the fog to lift.
50 far as known only one accident
occurred and that was not srious. The
excursion steamer VIM. Fletcher, ran
into a Staten Island Ferry boat and
mad part Of her rails and bow stove in.
Down in the lower bay it was quite
as thick. and about 10 O'Clock the light
land breeze from the West gave a faint
hope that it would watt the fog out to
sea and furnish racing conditions later
on. 50 the racing sloups let go Of their
mGOrings and were lowed out to the
starting line. There they got their
sails UP and drifted about, rocking in
the gentle swell. But the haze did not
lift and the breeze died away alto
cether When the time came to signal
the course the weather vane ut the
masthead of the committee boat lay
limp against the staff. There was not
enough air 10 show a course for the
yachts 10 sail over.
shortly after ~ o'clock. hy mutual
consent the committee boat hoisted the
letter "R' meaning race is off. The
sails We're lowered and the tenders Of
the two yachts took them in tow back
to the Horseshoe while the excursion
ISIS again sailed diSconsolately home
ward.
Mr.. 1sclin's protest against the saw
age criticism Of the Columbia which
has been literally INDUCED in by some
Of the newspapers and appealing for
support for the Yankee boat and her
crew until the series is completed. evil
IDENTIFY touched q patriotic chord, for
on the way back every excursion
steamer in the fleet sailed alongside
ana saluted while the passengers all
the while gave three cheers and tiger.
The repeated flukes off Sandy Hook
have led To some agitation for a change
to Newport. where there is usually a
breeze. or to Marblehead. off the
Massachusetts coats. where no diff
Guilty would be experienced in getting
plenty Of wind. But it is hardly likely
that any change will be made. The re-
gatta committee agree that this sort Of
weather cannot last at this time Of
year.
Not since the victorious yacht De
fender was lowed home from Sandy
Hook lightship, after the final race
against Nalkyrie III has there been
rendered the Columbia. today. on her
way from the lightship to the
entrance to the Swash channel.
In tow of the tug Wallace
i. Flint, the Columbia took the
lead after the race was declared off.
the Shamrock following half a mile
astern. The fleet of excursion steam
ers and fast private yachts closed in on
The racers. dividing themselves upon
their starboard and port sides.
The Fall River line steamer Ply
mouth. her upper decks black with
people. caught up with the Yankee
boat and set in motion the wave Of
patriotism that seemed to have been
lacking since the races had been inaug-
struck up Hail Columbia" The re
frain was echoed by a 1000 voices on
board amid cheers and shaking of
handkerchefs and waving Of hats. Mr..
and Mrs. Iselin were sitting on spars
near the companionway. This outburst
Of good feeling and fellowship must
have warmed their hearts not to men