Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-18
WON ON A FLukE.
CONTINUED from page ~

Defender and Valkyrie Ill as they APP
nroachcd the line on the day when the
VaIkyrie fouled the Defender When
the Shamrock, a moment after gun
fire. rounded the lightship's stern ana
Iuffed sharp up on the wind. the 70
,umbja. having been unable to gain the
weather berth, had now an overlap OF
half her length on the lee side OF the
Shamrock and so close were they tilat
the Shamrock's main boom end, as she
uffed to her course, came dangerously
near Columbia's weather shrouds ana
crossing the line on a diagonal course.
The Shamrock had certainly the bet
fer of the start, and the Columbia WAS
placed in a position that lew yachts
would be able to eXtricate themselves
from without either keeping broad OH
or foulirg 1t was with intense inter-
est. then, that those on the accompany
ING yachts and excursion boats watched
the outcome of this battle royal be
tween the single stickers.
ono minute had not passed before inc
Columbia's bowsprit began to show out
ahead Of the Shamrock s. NJ ll.o2
when the handicap gun was flred. the
Columbia was half a length out from
under the lee of her rival and 30 sec
onds later, when the Shamrock tackled
"a mort to get clear of the Columhia's
back wind the latter yacht. by lacking
five seconds later, placed herself in a
comma nding position on the Sham
rocks with quarter.
The official time of the start was:
Shamrock. 11.Oo15: Columbia. 11.00.11.
The wind was east by south and
freshening by degrees as the yachts
course. They were taking the eastcrly
swells rather hard at times, plunGinG
their bowsprits clear under and doubt
less putting to a severe test all their
spars and rigging.
With half an eye any sailor man
could see, looking at the yachts end
on. from astern. the Columbia was ly-
ing, say from half to three-quarters
of a point higher than the Shamrock.
both apparently having their sheets
trimmed alike on the port tack. The
fact that the Shamrock carried no baby
jibtopsail was excellent evidence that
her CAPTAINS were afraid that if set
il would pull her head off more yet. 50
it was kept down. while the Columbia 5
setting perfectly on its stay, must nave
helped that yacht instead of retardlng
her in the windward work. Fifteen
minutes after the start the Columbia $
position was fully 200 yards dead to
windward Of the Shamrock the latter
being at that time slightly forward Of
the CoIumbia's lee beam.
Capt Barr evidently meant to con
tnue on the port tack to Liverpool. If
necessary. until the Shamrock came
about That never happened, however.
for as the breeze freshened and both
yachts began to put their lee rails down
harder it seemed looking at the Sham
rocks topmast from astcrn, as If 1T
were sprung.
At 112f, with a crash that could be
heard far off to leeward, the sham
rocks topmast broke at a point close
to the cap and the great clubtopsail,
with its long spars. went flying down
to leeward of the mainsail. Swinging
the long tiller across her stern to port,
Capt Hogarth Immediately put the
Shamrock before the wind, and finding
that no one on board was hurt he
gybed her. and all hands began clear
ing away the wreck. The forcSail was
taken in first and men We're sent aloft
to overhaul the ciubtopSail sheets and
halyards and clear away the topmast
backstays and other gear. 1t was some
Is minutes before they We're able to
get the clubtopsal down on deck.
1t was found that the dicet cause of
the accident was the parting of the
forctopmast shroud in the 'nip'-that
is. the portion of this steel wire rope
resting in the Spreadcr which extends
cupboard from the hounds Of the low
or mast. Tho strands Of the wire easily
chafc and rust at that point. especially
49, Il l.
of being to leeward.
That ended the race 50 far as the
Shamrock was concerned.
The Columbia took in her baby jib-
topsail and continued on her course.
lacking to starboard at II -, for it had
been specially agreed. a few days prior
in the event of an accident to either
yacht the uninjurcd vessel was to com
pletc the course This agreement was
signed by Mr. Isclin and Sir Thomas
Upton. 1t was a great pity. Of course.
that such an accident should have oc-
CURED at such Il time. when every
thing looked 50 promising for good
triangular race.
AT the time Of the accident the Co
lumba was an eighth Of mile to
WindWard of the Shamrock. The
steam yacht Erin with Sir Thomas Lip
ton and party on board, followed the
Shamrock back To Sandy Hook, whittier
she was towcd by her tender the tug
James A. Lawrence. on her way she
was passed by the steamer yacht
Oneida with former Commodore f.. G.
Benedict on the bridge. He hailed Sir
Thomas through the megaphOne and
said:
L am very sorry to see the accident
and am also very sorry that the race
is to be won this way. We should all
be more pleased to see the yachts sail
it out"
Sir Thomas thanked him and passed
on in his yacht.
For So minutes and A. seconds the
Columbia continued on the Starboard
tack. She had taken in her jibtopsail
soon after the accident to the Sham
rock, so as to relieve the topmast of
any unnecessary strain. In % minutes
she went about again to starboard and
ii minutes later she made her last tack
for the first mark. In 81 minutes she
was up to the mark. and keeping off
round it. AS she cased sheets to star
board a No 2 jibtopsail was broken