Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-10-21
COLUMBIA VICTORIOUS.
Beats Shamrock a Mile and a Half
in a Thirty Mile Race.
SPLENDID CONTEST THROUGHOUT

The American YACHT Led the Cup
Challenger by Ten Minutes and Four
teen Seconds-Superior Both In Bent
inrandin Sailing Before tho Wind.
New York. Oct. 1.-THE cup which
the old schooner America won so COM
lnandingly against all Corners over the
course around the Isle of Wight III
1851, and brought back across the seas,
will probably remain here another
year. In a glorious breeze, over
windward and lceward course OF 80
miles. the Columbia scored against
Shamrock yesterday in the first race OF
the finish line fully q mile and halt
ahead of the challenger, defeating her
by 10 minutes and II seconds actual
time. or 10 minutes and seconds cor
rected time Columbia covered the
course in All. -. 5Ss.; Shamrock,
5h.. 5m.. los.
Although the preponderence of ex-
pert opinion never wavered in its 10y
atty to the wonderful speed and abil-
ity of the white flyer, no nautical
sharp expected that the Shamrock
would be so overwhelmingly vanQuish-
ed as she was in yesterdays royal
struggle. The Yankee boat outgencral-
ed her at the start, beat her hopelessly
in windward work to the outer mark
and gained 30 seconds in the run home
before the wind. There WAS good.
strong 10 to u knot breeze, and it held
throughout the race.
1t is undoubtedly bitter blow, be-
cause the English hopes OF lifting the.
cup have never been higher since the
Thistle and Volunteer met in 1881.
Like the Shamrock. she was decisively
defeated in the first hours sailing. The
regatta committee. as 4 result OF the
showing made by the Columbia yester-
day, are convinced that the cup is safe.
Blow high or low. Columbia, it is be-
lieved by her manager, Mr.. Iselin, can
beat Shamrock Sir Thomas, like the
true sportsman that he is, confessed
after the race that lie had been fairly
beaten. He had no apologies to make.
The race was a magnificent duel and
made up for the repeated disappoint-
ments the sightSeers have suffered. 1t
was anything but a comfortable day
on the water The prospect was not al
Turing Still, the mist wreaths were
carried along by good ten knot
breeze right in from the east, and the
old shellbacks said there was more
wind where that came from. But the
excursionists who went down the bay
were not very hopeful until they got
outside, where the wind WAS fresher
and whipped some form out of the
waves. Mrs. Iselin was not TO be de-
tered by the bad weather. and was Il
conspicuous figure on the Columbia.
wrapped up like an old salt in yell
low oilSkin.
The Shamrock footed valiantly, but
neither in speed nor in pointing could
she compare with Columbia.
Nothing could have been prettier
than the way Columbia swept around
the outer mark. gracefully as a swan.
In quarter of a mile from the home
run the Columbia crossed the path of
the Shamrock, still beating to wind
ward, and robbed her of the wind for
a minute as she went past. 1t was nine
minutes and forty-nine seconds later
when the Shamrock swung around the
mark and squared away for the finish.
There was soul stirring scene as
the Columbia approached the finish.
The excursion boats had gathered
there in a semi-circle to give her vel
come, and as she swept across the
finish bedlam broke loose. The steam
whistles shrieled. the sirens walled,
the Corsair, the flagship of the New
York Yacht club, and several other
yachts flung their powder into smoke
and the multitudes on the decks or
the side wheelers cheered. The Cor
sair hauled down all her private sig
nails and set old glory at each mast
head and gait and taffrail. The crew
of the Columbia gathered aft, hurrah-
ed with barred heads, then as she low
cred her headsails and took the tow
line from her tender the crowd waited
over ten minutes until Shamrock had
crossed and the fleet had given her
stentorian expression OF good will.
Then they scampered after Columbia,
crowding about her and cheering her
again and again, while the bands play
ed Hail Columbia" Yankee Doodle
and other patriotic airs. They es-
corted her all the way TO her an
chorage inside the hook.
All those on board the Erin who saw
the race agreed that there were no
flukes and that both yachts were sail
ed on their merits. Of all the tugs,
steamers and yachts whose whistles
saluted The victor none blew more
shrilly than that of the yacht owned
by the gallant gentleman who still
hopes to take away the cup.
Sir Thomas Upton took his defeat
with the spirit of true sportsman.
1T was fair and square race, said
he to press representative who saw
him on board the Erin. I'VE were
beaten fairly. No two boats ever sailed
a better race, and they were equally
we'll handled as far as ! could see"