The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-17
IT H%aII ! MAGNIFICENT RACE
Sir Thomas Upton ( septs Re-
suit Like a Try : port.
COLUMBIA suPERI ! ALL ROUND
The Race Was cr a Thirty
OourSe-ColumUla -7UJA +sno-4s
atStart and Kept it Through
out, Gaining Constantly

New York, October 1.-THE cup which
the old schooner America won so command
ingly against all comers over the course
around the Isle of Wight in 1851 and brought
back across the seas will probably remain
here another year In defiance to the world
In glorious breeze, over a windward and
leeward course thirty miles, the Columbia
scored against the Shamrock today in the
first race for the 1899 series of the trophy
She bounded across the finish line fully a.
mile and half ahead of the challenger,
defeating her by ten minutes and eight Sec
onds corrected time after allowing the six
seconds handicap which Columbia must
coneede to the challenger on account of her
longer water line.
1t was a decisive contest, a magnificent
race, magnificent1y sailed and magnificently
won. Opinion as to the merits of the two
boats had been somewhat divided as a re-
suit of the f1ukes during the past two.
weeks. Although the preponderance of ex-
pert opinion never wavered in it's loyalty
to the wonderful speed and ability of the
white flyer no nautical sharp expected that
the Shamrock would be so overwhelmingly
Vanquished as she was in today's royal
struggle. The Yankee boat outgeneraled
her at the start, beat her hopelessly in
windward work to the outward mark and
gained twenty-five seconds ON the run home
before the wind. There was good strong
ten to twelve knot breeze and its held
throughout the race. 1t is undoubtedly
bitter blow to the English, for their hopes
of lifting the cup have never been higher
since the Thistle met the Volunteer in 1887.
like ha Sha c1a nuoc da-
feated in the first hours sailing The
regatta committee as result of the show
ing made by the Columbia today are con-
WINGED that the cup is safe. Blow high or
low the Columbia, it is believed by her
manager, Mr.. Iselin, can beat the Sham
rock Sir Thomas, like the true sportsman
that he is, confessed after the race that
he had been fairly beaten. He had no
apology to make.
Magnificent Duel
Today's race was magnificent duel and
made up for the repeated disappointments.
The prospects were not aluring. Still the
mist wreaths were carried along by good
ten knot breeze right in from the east and
the old shell backs said there was more
wind where that came from. But the ex-
cursionists who went down the bay were
not very hopeful until they got outside.
The low clouds overhead shut out the sky,
making 1t withal splendid day for racing.
The shores were uncertain and shadowy.
The sails of the oyster fleet were simply
grey dots in the haze. The meteoric tor
pedo boats were like black shadows fitting
across the water. The only color In the
dull landscape were the ensigns and bril-
liant streams of checkered flags which
adorned the excursion fleet and the dash of
spray 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 anchorages and
raised mainsails before casting off. Mrs.
Iselin was not deferred by bad weather
and was on the Columbia wrapped up like
an old salt In yellow oil skin.
The crew had on their working suits of
white and wore watch caps of black and
red, Mr.. Iselin's private colors.
Several of the crew of the She nirock had
southwesters. From the tru Il of the
Shamrock's topmast fioated Liplon's flag,
a green shamrock in q yellow field. The
wind kept freshening all the way out to the
hghtship and the seas split more of their
froth. No large assemblage was on hand
to witness the start the repeated fukes
having made the public very charry. A
few side wheelers, the regular fleet of
ocean-going tugs and score two of
steam yachts were all that fell In line.
promptly at 1O o'clock the committee boat
signalled the course fifteen miles dead into
the eye of the wind to the eastward and
return. Both yachts No. club topsails,
their shippers evidently agreeing that 1t
would not be wise to carry large sky
scrapers In such a breeze Just as the
warning gun doomed. driving mist swept
in from the east beating into the faces of
the patriots and adding 10 their dscom-
fort. There was some lively jockeying be-
hind the line before the start and the CO.
lumbia got the better of 1t. She clearly
out unanswered her rival. eventually fore
ing her over the line first by half a length,
but leaving the Columbia in the weather
position.
They Cross the Line
Close hauled on the starboard tack the
yachts plunged seaward. heehng to the
12-knot breeze. The first few minutes of
the race were the most interesting. They
made a pretty picture as they raced away
like hounds. Their sails to the nautical eye
were perfection In fit. They looked as IL
they might have been carved out of ala
baster. 1t was soon apparent that the
white flyer was forging ahead. The clear
water began to show between them. The
Columbia not only seemed to outfoot the
challenger, but experts saw that she
pointed higher. 1t was astonishing how she
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