The record-union., 1899-10-20
COULD NOT FINISH
IN Time LIMIT.
Another Trial, But There Was No
Race With Yachts.
The Day Opened Ausplciously, But the
Wind Would h]t Hold Out.

-
the Shamrock Three Miles
When Committee Boat Fired the
Gun Declaring the Race Off.
NEW YORK, Oct 19.-Had the wind
held to-day the Columbia Shamrock
series for the Americas cup would
have ended in three straight wins for
the defender, and the Irish cup hunter
would have sailed home without the
trophy, beaten as decisively as any
former candidate. Only the failure of
the wind saved the Shamrock from
defeat more stinging than on Monday.
To-day she was beaten on the run to
the outer mark five minutes and fifty
one seconds elapsed time, and on the
leg home, which should have been a
beat, but which, owing to a shift OF the
wind, was a broad reach, the Colum-
bia sailed away from her like a witch.
When the race was declared off about
ten minutes before the expiration Of
the time limit, the Columbia was lead
ing by about three miles She was
then four miles from the finish. Had
the race ended the Shamrock would
have been beaten by at least twenty
minutes.
Sir Thomas hard luck continued to
follow. His boat was very badly hand
led to-day, in spite of the aggregation
of talent aboard of her. The two, Eng
lish Captains and the Captain of EN-
peror Williams yacht Meteor failed to
get the Shamrock over the line before
the gun was fired. and she went into
the race penalized by two seconds on
that account The additional ballast
which was put into her yesterday also
seems to have been a blunder on the
part of her managers, as it increased
the size of the body to be forced
through the water, and in the light air
that prevailed to-day retarded instead
of increased her speed.
What the Shamrock may be able to
do in rough weather and a reefing wind
is still problematical, but after the
drubbing she has received, the experts
are almost unanimous in the belief that
the Columbia. can take her measure in
light airs or a gale of wind.
The crew Of the Shamrock have given
it up. They are now convinced that we
have the better boat Before the race
on Monday they had the most supreme
confidence in their ability to win with
the Shamrock
There was no living with them"
said one of the Yankee tars on the
Shamrock's tender Lawrence They
did not think their boat would win;
they absolutely knew it. They would
not even hear arguments After they
Y~Gt n6 fynfr hn
were so sore that they would not speak
to each other. Now they are frank
enough to admit that the Columbia is
the better boat by ten minutes over
a thirty mile course
The boats will race again tomorrow,
and even if the Columbia wins it is
possible two more races will be sailed
A proposition to this effect has been
made, and Sir Thomas seems anxious
that it be carried out He has been
greatly disappointed in the showing his
boat has made but believes she might
do better over a triangular course and
in a heavier wind, and has said he
would be pleased to sail two more races.
TECHNICAL STORY OF THE SAIL.
NEW YORK, Oct. 19.-Clear wealth
er and fine breeze from the northwest
greeted the shippers and crews of the
Columbia and Shamrock at sunrise this
morning, and the occasional puffs that
made little white caps on Sandy Hook
Bay gave promise of plenty of wind for
the third race of the international SER
les. Both boats were taken in tow be-
fore o'clock. Eager to try his large
club topsail on his new topmast, Cap
tain Hogarth made sail on the Sham
rock on the way out to the lghtship.
and by 9:15 the tow line had been
cast off and she was under way with
everything on her, including the baby
jib topsail.
1t was 10 O'Clock when the Columbia
cast off from her tug, broke out the lib
and began to sail about with mainsail
and jib set. Fifteen minutes later her
largest club topsail was set, and soon
after the staysail was broken out.
The preparatory signal was given at
10:4o, the warning at 1885, the start
at IL, and the handicap gun at 11:02
The maneuvering before the start was
remarkably interesting work. Excur-
sion boats and yachts gave the racing
craft plenty of room, and Barr and
Hogarth had their little game all to
themselves. At the warning signal
both yachts, with booms to starboard
and sheets fiattened well in, were sail
ing to the northeast, parallel to the
line, but about quarter of a mile
north of it, with the wind a little abaft
the beam. The Columbia was to wind
ward, with Shamrock on her lee beam.
a couple of lengths away
1t being necessary to use the five
minutes between the warning and
starting signals, both yachts leaned far
over to the northeast, gradually mffing
to the northward. When three min
utes were left the Columbia luffed into
the wind, then coming about. headed
for the line.
Hogarth, instead of tacking like the
Columbia, wore the Shamrock sharp
around on her keel, bringing her close
up under the Columbia's lee, both hav-
ing booms to port. Hogarth lost both
time and headway by luffing instead of
tacking, so that when the Shamrock
hauled up nearly on the wind. the Co
lumbia, under better headway. was
pointed straight for the line a couple
of lengths to the good. AS soon as
Hogarth realized this he broke out the
Shamrock's balloon jib topsail, her crew
trimming the sheets smartly lust as
the gun was fired. The CoIumbia's