The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-13
PREVIOUS RACES
FOR AMERICAS CUP
HOW THE COVETED TROPHY
WAS FIRST WON.
Has Been Held on This Side for
Nearly Half Century and Sir
Thomas Upton Will Tave to Work
Hard to Take It Back with Him.

Harry p. Taber, in Buffalo News.
Next to a beautiful woman, racing
yaCht-none of your steam affairs, but
a good, clean Cutter-is the most beau
tiful thing in the whole world. Ships
are very human things, and they come
nearer living than anything that has
been built by the hands of man. There
are people who wonder why it is that
there is so great interest i'm the com.
ing international races for the Amc;I-
cas- cup. The explanation lies less
in the mere sport, than in the fasCin-
alton which everything that had to do
with the ocean exercises over moss
people. and yet the races, from the
point of view of any one who loves
sport for sports sake, are the most
attractive features of the year. John
r. Spears. who knows the personality
of ships, and has written about them
in a most fascinating manner, has this
to say in the current number of the
Cosmopolitan:
"Of all the stories of the shOal-water
seas, there is none like that of the
Americas cup, the trophy which goes
with the yachting supremacy of the
word-the perpetual challenge cuD of
the C:tanest, most beautiful. manifest
sport ever followed or dreamed Of"
Thet is the story in "A nutshell.
cup FIRST OFFERED
The story of how the cup first came
to America--how the old clipper ships
had held records for fast sailing, and
how the sailors of the United states
would have backed their craft i)r any
amount-all this is romantic, and it is
impossible to tell the story here with
anything of the picturesque value it
deserves. Briefly, it was in 1851 that
the America built for racing purposes,
was sent over to England to compete
for the cup offered by the Royal Yacht
Squadron. On Aug. % of that YEA she
beat everything the British seanle"
put forth to meet her, and bought
home the cup, which ever since mas
been lovingly called by her name. At
the time Of her great race, her victory
was so decisive that none of her op-
ponents was in sight when she finished,
and for AS years-at various timesJ
the English have tried in vain to take
the unhandsome piece Of silver back,
but never once have they come near
the goal.
After the Americas victory the cup
remained undisturbed for many years.
1t was in 1869 that the subject of in
| ternational racing was again discussed
| and in August, 1870, Mr' j. Ashpury
| sailed his English cutter Cambria
| against crack lot Of American boats
| and came in tenth.
RACES SINCE 1871
The following year Mr. Ashbury again
| eailed his Iivonia against Franklir
Ospood's Columbia. The year before
! Mr. OsCood had won with his Magic
and the races Of 1870 proved again th'
superiority of American yachtmen. II
! 1871 Livonia was again beaten by w
p Douglas Sappho. The following
summary of the races and those suc'
ceeding 1871 Is compiled from oflicia
sources:
The race on oct. 1S was 20 miles u
windward of Sandy Hook lightshiI
and return. on oct. 16 the course use,
was the regular New York Yacht Clut
course. During the race ON Oct 10 Col
umbia was disabled, which accounted
for the substitution Of SapphO in tht
races sailed oct. 21 and 23
The cup was not again challenged 70,
! until 1873. the race taking place the fol
lowing summer. Major G. clifford, on
of the most popular yachtsmen whC
has sailed from Great Britain in an Of
fort to recover the cup. was the chal
lenger lie brought the yacht Countess
Of Duffcrin with him to sail agains
| Madeline. owned by T. $. Dickerson.
The first race took place Aug II
1876. over the regular New York Yach
club course. The American boat wo,
by 1on, 59s. on the following day, il
race 20 miles to windward of sand,
Hook Lightship and return, Madelin
won easily by 27m. IDS.
MISCHIEF WINS.
This appeared to satisfy the yachts
men Of Great Britain for another hv
years, and the next series Of regatta
took place in 1881 ON Nov. Of tha
year Mischief, owned by j. l.. PusB