Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-12
Poor Outlook for Successful
Yacht Race, Thursday.
Little Done on the Boats to Prepare
for Another Trial, Today.
Mr.. lseiin Has Confidence in Columbia and
Wonders Why People Have Not.

| IMAM tlie loS, Tor lhefe is little promise
OF wind. The only thing that can be
said now is that it looks like a calm
morning, with the possibility Of an in
creasing southerly breeze in the after
noon.
The postponements have not lessened
the tension. Indeed, the talk, here
and everywhere, Is quite the same. in
creasing possibly along with the doubt
| as to the outcome. Every one is now
firmly settled in the conviction that.
| when the struggle comes, il Will be q
grand one. for the Shamrock has not
lost anything in expert opinion during
the last two days Of waiting. on the
contrary she has shown q tendency 10
get in. a Well-known sporting man. in
a Well-known sporting place has $4,000
70 place on the Shamrock for the first
race. Further than that he makes no
| proposition. On the series he will not
wager penny. Except in cases where
a man wishes TO back his patriotism.
the betting, today. was almost on even
terms.
This has been another waiting day on
board the cup racers. They have been
! tlnkering the Cnlumbil's sails a Bit.
but all has been quiet on the Shamrock
| The weather has not been p-opitfouy
| for experimenting ana with the ex-
| ception Of the sailmakers on board the
| Columbia all hands have had another
| day Of rest. Both crews are anxious t.
| set at the work. although it is more or
less If strain Ia race every day. there
| Is no one who docs not welcome this
change in the programme made ~ the
| race every day excepting Sunday until
the series is finished.
Practically for the first time since the
Columbia began racing e. oliver Iseln.
| today. commented OH the attitude of
the people ana newspapers toward the
American defender. The reporter of
The Associated Press called unon Mr..
Iselin while he was on the tender st.
hiChaels. Appros Of public comment
about the management and handling of
the Columbia Mr.. Iselin said:
"tne of the matters which has i'm
pressed me. this year in COMPARISON
with other years is the lax support
which is being given the American
boat. To make the proper sport in
these contests both boats should have
That backing that goes to make an in
tereStinS contest Those of us who
have been with The Columbia ana in
and day out have perfect confidence in
her. | think she viii prove herself the
ADLER boat in weather. once we have Il
race. The hopes of the defenc of the
cup rests on the Columbia and the
American people have given proof time
and time again of how highly they re-
gard that trophy. Surely if any words
are To be said ut this time they should
lie ones of encouragement Yet what
do we find? This seems to be The hey
day time for criticism. For some, the
particular task seems to be to find
flaws and foster discomfort
My own belief in the craft cannot
be shaken by any such side lights, but
remember that we have men who per
haps are not in the position to weigh
all the facts. The men who are sail
ing the boat are as keen as they can be
for a victory. Now | will not say that
these men have been affected by this |
talk or what they have read. but vet
can see where ii might destroy part
Of their energy. If it reaches them at
all in that way. there is a loss of en-
thusiasm to us. This spirit" contin- |
ued Mr.. Iselin. lis not to be found on !
the other side. When boats are racing |
there they are Loyalty supported and |
honestly.
let us sail our races Win them I |
think we will. and when it is over. if |
we have not done all that is proper and |
sportsmanlike the time will then be /
ripe for criticism and we will be in a |
position TO improve on the just ones
Il; ,I, 49,
same time all danger of disturbing the
spirit Of the crew will be removed
Along this line" said Mr. Iselin.
'how much have we. or any one really
seen on which to base a criticism.
Nothing has been learned and for my
part, regard a test as yet to come
Yet. strange to say, though a race has
yet to be gone through. we find that
people have already weighed us and
we are found wanting.
The whole thing is amazing: it is
new, as We'll in cup racing. Why just
ook back to past cup events. Take the
alkyrie races. On one OF
those days Valkyrie led the Vigilant
90 minutes on the outer mark. yet no
1ownhearted cries We're heard and the
support was sincere to the end. Give
IS, give the men, give the boat the en-
enlargement which we think we have
4 right to expect and / think we will
Justify the result
Looking as fine as two fiddles tuned up
q concert pitch, the Columbia and the
shamrock lay quietly at their mooring
'uoys all day. with their tenders close
1t hand and a couple of tugs standing by
or q call. During the early morning !
hours, the fog was even thicker than
Tuesday. hut when the sun came out, to-
wards noon. the fog cleared away under
he influence of light breeze. Many fog
ound Atlantic liners which had been
Waiting for hours to cross the bar. passed
\ TO the Hook and up to the quarantine.
among them was the Oceanic. /
The cover was taken off the Columbias
nainsail just before noon and it was :
iven thorough overhaudinS and dry !
Y. The new clubtopsail was also locke !
fter and the running gear inspected fore {
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