The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-04

unless a gale sprang up miraculouH NV
was no possibility OF finish. and thereN I
gale In sight. In fact there was hardi
breath OF air In sight Just then.
When there was but thirty minutes leitC olum-
bia got breeze that sent her scuttling after
Shamrock at rate that started hope again
Everybody had seen that the race could not be
finished but they were all praying that when 1t
ended Columbia should be ahead. In fifteen
minutes she gained almost all that she had lost
and the signs otjoy on the excursion fleet could
again be heard. The bands started up. Now
and then there was yell. Now and
then somebody would toot whistle.
and Columbia moved on. Two-:hirds OF
the boats that had formed the lane down which
the yachts were coming had at this time
gone way ahead and were lowering about the
/ Lightshp. The other third were crowding In
on the line that should have been kept clear
and crowding in astern but not to the extent
that either OF the yachts was interfered. Seven
minutes before 5:45. which was the time that
tho race should have been finished. Colum bia
got on even terms with Shamrock and started
to run through herlee. She did show streak OF
daylight between them. and thon Just as sud-
denly and without any satisfactory reason
Shamrock started to walk away from her.
This last seven minutes Of the contest was as
exciting as any part OF 1t. After being passed
by Shamrock the second time. Columbia came
up to almost even terms again, tn en- once
more she was even. only to fall back
again. The shippers OF the yachts were within
speaking distance. when around the Lightship
the whistles began blowing. announcing that
the time in which the race must be Hnished had
elapsed. and the days sport was over.
The race was dead. but In Its death the boats
that made 1t were not divided.
Columbia quickly took in her spinnaker.
and then. strangely enough. she poked her
bow ahead OF Shamr rock. and they were In that
position when the boats that had brought up the
rear came along. Within five minutes Of
the whistllng signifying the end. tow lines had
been passed to the yachts. their sails were
lowered and the work OF taking them in to an
anchorage behind the Hook. there to lie until
tomorrow morning. was begun. The moment
that the whistling began the big excursion feet
around the LiRhtship turned its back on the
yachts and started heller SHELTER back for the
city. The boats that were behind the yachts
rang. jingled their bells and started on too.
They all ran in close. and many OF them cheered.
The Erin. which had followed close astern and
which was crowded with friends OF Sir Thomas
Upton and Richard Croker. ran alongside
and everybody stood up and waved his
hat and cheered the Shamrock and her
crew. The Shamrocks sailors lined up along
Erin forged ahead a bit and her passengers
and crew repeated the cheer for Colum ba
and her men. and Columbia men re-
turned 1t. Then Columbia and Sham
rock were left alone to be towed to their
anchorage and the belated boats put out at
top speed after the big feet that was racing
homeward. Darkness was coming on almost
before the fleet was inside the Hook and
lights were placed.
Then some OF the excursion boats, notably
those af the Iron Steamboat Company. mar .
themselves a nuisance and made the skippe.s
OF all the other boats swearing angry by light
ing up arc liVhts on their after decks These
lights made deep shadows outside OF the boats
! and it was almost i'm possible for the skiprefs
OF the boats who came after in whose eyes the
lights were shining. to see anything. and col
lsions were narrowly ayerted In many in
stances. It was half past 9 when the head OF
the fleet arrived At tho Battery. and the
whole feet came quickly after. There was
a jam in both the Fast and tho North
rivers. Excursion boats got tangled up
with ferryboats. tug boats with excursion
boats and yachts with everybody else: but SO
far as reported there were no accidents OF any
account. and everybody who went to see the
race got home safe and happy, whether he
wanted to see the Shamrock win or the Column
ba. AS ono old salt put it. it was
one OF those cases where much could
be said on both sides. and there will be- as much
interest in Thursdays race as there would
have been il there had not been even an at
tempt at race yesterday; probably there will
be more for Shamrock 3 adherents and Column
bia 3 adherents both declare that their boat
made the better showing. and that II she gets the
right kind OF weather next time. she will win.