The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-12
Stronger 0F HEART
CoIumbia's Crew Admit They
Have a Race For Life
BUT BELIEVE THEY'LL WIN
Prospects for a Race Today
Rather Gloomy.
BUT BELIEVE THEY'LL WIN

| New York, Oct 1.-THE outlook for a
race between the Shamrock and the Co
lumbia tomorrow is none of the best,
Even the hitherto optimistic weather bu-
reau will not promise a breeze. The re-
vised program calls for a start every
weekday from this time on, so there IS
a possibility of the fate Of the cup being
decided this week.
Looking as fine as two fddles tuned up
to concert pitch, the Columbia and the
Shamrock lay quietly at their mornings
all day. with their tenders close at hand
and tugs standing by for a call During
the early morning hours the fog was
even thicker than on Tuesday. but when
the sun came UP toward noon the fog
cleared away under the influence of a
light breeze from the southwest. The
covering was taken off the Columbia
mainsail just before noon and il was
given a thorough overhauling and dry
ing. The new club topsail was also look
ed after and the running gear inspected
fore and aft.
Speaking of the new topsail made for
the Columbia since the last race and set
on Tuesday for the first time. Mr.. Iselin
said: Yes, it is d larger SAT- than any
Of the others and I am pleased with the
way it sets. Whether it is larger than
any of the Shamrocks 1 am not pre-
pared to say. You who see the boats I'M
der sail from the distance ought to be
able TO tell that, for 1 have not seen the
sails of either boat from a distance"
The utmost confidence in the American
yacht prevails among her crew. Many
of them have wagered a months wages
on her, and all agree that she cannot be
beaten. Just give US breeze like We
used to have at Newport on some days"
said one, and we will show what she
can do. Those who think she is just
light weather boat will get left. that's
all The harder it blows the better the
boat will go, down the wind. or any other
way; it don't make any difference, so it
blows a good, steady breeze from start
to finish. We know we have hard boat
to beat, but we shall beat her, just the
same"
Captain Barr has little or nothing to
say, but he, also, the sailors say, has no
thought of anything but making the Co
lumbia cross the finish line first in every
race. Captain Nat Herreschoff says less
than anyone on board, but he never let's
a chance go by to improve the yacht in
every possible way.
Sir Thomas Upton was as cheerful as
usual, full of hope for breeze tomorrow
and full of confidence in the Shamrock's
ability to lift the cup. There she is"
said he, with a show of pride in his voice
and gesture as he pointed to the green
beauty, lying peacefully at her buoy,
nothing has been done to her since the
last race and nothing needs to be done
She is all ready to start when the gun
is fred
The sail-covers on the big yachts. ia
ken off at midday, were replaced about
mid-afternoon, the Columbia's men be-
ing the first to do this. No work on
sails or rigging was done on the Ameri-
can boat On the Shamrock none had
been attempted on other days. c. Oliver
Iselin said the new club topsail and the
mainsail were both satisfactory, so far
as he could tell, and no more change had
been made in either. He said, further,
that practically no changes had been
made on the Columbia.
In response to a question, Mr.. Iselin
said Designer Herreschoff would sail on
the Columbia on all of the cup races, as
he had sailed on the trials already held,
and would add his experience and knOwl-
edge of the boat TO that of Captain Barr.
At the New York stock exchange today
offers of 10 TO on the Columbia found no
takers There was no money backing the
Shamrock in the hands Of commission
brokers Money at the New York Yacht
club and other clubs has found no Sham
rock takers, and the Columbia seems to
be the favorite yet with American bet
tors. Betting has been even, 10 TO s and
10 to 6, today, in Columbia circles. but no
money is ready from the opposition and
no betting of any account has been done.
One to 4 bet in hundreds was recorded
at the Hoffman House, but all the other
centers have no reports Of wagers.
In an interview with Former Commo-
dore James D. Smith, Of the New York
Yacht club. he said: There IS little dit
ference between the boats. IL there Il
any, and from what have seen Of then
sailing qualities thus far, I should prefer
the Shamrock. I would not say that 1
wished the Shamrock might win the Sc
ries eveutully, but I believe that the
Shamrock is the most dangerous chal-
lenger that the New York Yacht Clue
has had for a contestant since the
America brought the cup over to U.s."