Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-06
NEWPORT NEWS FRIDAY OCTOBER g. 1899
they slowed down almost Immediately
and then stopped.

= !
The light breeze was carrying the big
yachts down the wind at q snals pace.
They drfted along like two lazy clouds
of smoke upon the surface of the water.
For almost an hour the spectators on
the excursion boats watched them drift
painted ocean" The only cheering fa;.-
turc of the situa ton WAS that the Co
lumba steadily gained ground Inch
by inch she crcrt along. AT the end Of
10 minutes several lengths Of clear wa
ter showed between her and h.r green
rival. The bands played and a few
whistles footed. On. On. she moved IN
til she was fully five hundred yards
ahead. II was picturesque. but not ex-
citing. The immense spread Of canvas
Including the balloon Jill was drawing,
in the gentle breeze.
TIL l.N THE. WIND WENT OUT.
Then the Wind began to die aud the
great balloons OF canvas forward col
lanseG like meal sacks. At the same
time the wind cantcl u little and CO.
lunlba concluded To change her tao
tics. She took IN her s5pnnal1er and
tried reaching leaving the balloon jih
set. II Was 4 challenge to the sham
rock on her best point Of sailing and
| capt. Ho%arth eagerly accepted the
gage They Went heading over toward
The Long Island shore, and the Column
DI:. continued to increase her lead The
shamrock. chaGrinned. attempted to
crowd on :; little more canvas By setting
her St;iysail. but it only kept the pre-
cl'us wind from her balloon lib and
the sail itself hung from the stay as
limp Us q Wet rag. In 3; few minutes
she took it down
Meanwhile the excursion fleet was
pushing forward to the outer mark
When they got there they waited for an
hour, but the champions did not come
trough the mist they could just be
made out. looking like high peaked cir
Gus tents. Then, when the wind hall-
ett around TO the south southeast and
'he racers haH taken in their spin
n;tllrrs to beat into it close hauled the
excursion boats all pulled back to SEQ
what they were doing at this point OF
sailing.
IN THE DOLDRUA1s.
bu, 1or me rest Of the race the yachts
We're half the time in the doldrulns. with
their sails tapping listiessy When the
s're;lEs Of wind would strike them they
would luT and tack and split tacks
each valnly endeavoring to get into the
pace Where the light zephy,s We're
crinklins the smooth surface of the
ocean. For two hours this vas kept
up during which no one seemed to be
able 70 tell exactly how the Shauroclz
! hreW up With her adversary Rather
IMAM DEo'ong the agony and suspense
~ go. when 1t was apparent to all
! thar the yachts could not make ;h,
outer mark, much less the. finish aud
When both We're practica " on even
. terms the committee decided to cal! Ms
, race off. -
! ne most dramatic. picturesque and
! ihl'EeStlnS incident of the day occur
, fe'i Just at the finish anc! it reDaid ms
| 'houSitnuS Q! sishIscerS for thu. disap-
polntMeEt they; We're cNperiencjnw Inst
aS me regatta committee boat hung ont
me PAL OF the triatic STAY which de
| cared The race off. the spectators. an
OF Whom We're in doubt as to which hoat
vas ahead. was Watching tbs. ynch1s
with intense interest
.NSOTfiiIE lSAPPOlETME5ET
Ilcy mad split tacks and now the CO.
iuEib;: was sailing toward the irish
| peat On the port tack with the evident
lh'en;on of crossing her bow The VA
vi between them grew narrower ana
! narrower. until she was close enough
! !" Lass Il line aboard EveryGoCv
ABOARD Inc excursion feet expected her
:" cross ire Shamrock'S bow, but cam
iaff round 1T too risky as the Americas
Sni!lplon rose in Il uueenly fashion on
!" HeaNE swell he put his helm down
'snu came Over on the starboard tack
uhdsr the Shamrock's lee. 1t was n
disappointing moment for the na,ri,ts
:Atn"uSh the Columbia had her nose
N lFot the challenger lspper her and
held the weather gauge. Just ~ M
instant the signal went up dcclar;7,s
! the race Oft and before the astonishal
Spectators realized What had happened
lhcy saw both yachts whose skiDpars
had evidently been waiting for the sig
nal, turn about on their heels ana h,,ad
for home