The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-17
Sir Thomas ipton's Challenges Out-
pointed, Outsailed and Outgener-
aIed Under All Conditions.
JOY AMONG EXCURSI0NISTS
AS THEY ESCORTED THE VICTOR
BACK TO HER RESTING PLACE.
Semi-GaIe Predicted for the Contest
mitted by Sir Thomas.

NEW YORK, Oct. l6.-Ine cup WHICH tnv
old schooner America won 80 commandingiy
against all corners over the course arouno
the Isle of Wight In 1851 and brought back
across the seas will probably remain here
another year, a defiance to the world. In
glorious breeze. over a windward ana lee
ward course of thirty miles. Coiumpia
scored against Shamrock to-day in the frst
race of the 1899 series for the trophy. She
bounded across the finish line fully mile
and a half ahead of the challenger. defeat
ing her by ten minutes and fourteen Sec
onds actual time. or ten minutes and eight
seconds corrected time. after allowing the
six seconds handicap which Columbia must
concede to the challenger on account OF her
longer water line.
II was a decisive contest and magnincent
race. magnifcently sailed and nagnihcentiy
won. Opinion as to the merits OF the TWO
boats had been somewhat divided as are
suit of the fiukes during the past two weeks.
Although the preponderance of expert opin.
ion never wavered in its loyalty to the won-
derful speed and ability of the white hyer.
no nautical sharp expected the Shamrock
would be so overwhelmingly vanquished az
she was In to-day's royal struggle. The YAM
kee boat outgeneraled her at the start. beat
outer mark and gained twenty-five seconds
in the run home before the wind There
was good. strong, ten to twelve-knot
breeze and IL held throughout the race.
The result is undoubtedly a bitter blow
because the English hopes of lifting the
cup have never been higher since the Thistle
met the Volunteer in 1857. Like the Sham
rock. she was decisively defeated in the first
rso rha "a q & 4
result of the showing made by Columbia to-
day, is convinced that the cup is safe. Blow
high or low Columbia. IL is believed by her
manager. Mr.. Iselin, can beat Shamrock.
Sir Thomas. like the true sportsman that he
is. confessed after the race that he had been
fairly beaten. He had no apologies to make.
MISTY AND GHOSTLIKE.
To-day's race was a magnificent duel and
made up for the repeated disappointments
the sightseers have suffered. IL was any
thing but a comfortable day on the water.
The prospect was not aluring. Still the
mist was carried along by a good ten-knot
breeze right in from the east and the old
shelIbacks said there was more wind where
that came from. But the excursionists who
went down the bay were not very hopeful
until they got outside. The low clouds over
head shut out the sky and the streaked
water matched them. The mist made every
thing look ghostlike and indstinct. The
shores were uncertain and shadowy. The
sails of the oyster fleet were simply gray
dots in the haze. The meteoric torpedo
beats were like black shadows fitting across
the water. The only color in the dull land
soape were the ensigns and brilliant streams
OF checkered flags which adorned the excur-
sion feet and the dash of red from the big
hulk of the lightship. Outside the wind was
fresher and whipped some foam out OF the
waves.
Both yachts were towed out from the an
chorages and raised mainsails before cast
ing of. Mrs. Iselin was not deferred by bad
weather and was conspicuous on Columbia.
wrapped up like an old salt in a yellow OIL
skin The crew had on their working suits
of white and wore watch caps Of black and
red Iseiins private colors. Several of the
crew of the Shamrock had on sou'westers-
From the truck of the Shamrock's topmast
foated Lipton's flag. a green shamrock in a
yellow field. The wind kept freshening all
the way out to the lightship and the seas
split more of their froth. No large as
semblage was on hand TO witness the start.
the repeated fiukes having made the public
very chary. few side-wheelers, the reg
ular feet of ocean-go.ng tugs and score or
two of steam yachts were all.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the committee boat
s,gnaled the course fifteen miles dead into
the eye of the wind TO the eastward and
return. Both yachts set No. club topsails.
their shippers evidently agreeing that IL
would not be wise 10 carry large sky
scrapers in such a breeze. Just as the
warning gun doomed a driving mist swept
in from the east. beating into the faces OF
the patriots and adding TO their discomfort.
There was some lively jockeying behind the
line before the start and Columbia got the
better OF H. She clearly outmaneuvered her
rival. eventually forcing her over the limo
first by half a length. but leaving Columbia
in the weather position. close-hauied on
the starboard tack. the yachts plunged sea-
ward. heeling 10 the twelve-knot breeze
RACED AWAY LIKE HOUNDS.
The first few minutes OF the race ~ers
the most interesting They made a beau
tiful picture as they raced away like
hounds. Their SAILS to the nautica, eye.