The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-16

New YORK. OCl. L. hS NiN'''
Columbia and Shamrock yesterday had
breakfast early. and when they TURN
ed 10" soon after s il was with q "lH'
for. in spite of the rather hazy weather
there was a good breeze from the east
ward. which promised TO increase ana
give the yachts a good race at last.
ibis and staysails were sent up In stops
on the stays. racing matches put on
boats lashed and everything made snug
before o'clock. AT 9:15 the Columbia
cast off from her mooring buoy ana
was taken in tow by the Wallace r.
Flint. The Shamrock started In tow |
of the Lawrence few minutes later. |
Covers were kept on the mainsails and |
club topsails to keep them dry until |
the last moment. as there was JUST |
enough fine rain to dampen them.
At 10 O'Clock both yachts had reached |
the east end Of Gedney's channel, and
at 1910 the Coumbias crew began
hoisting the mainsail. IL was set IN
five minutes. The Shamrock's main |
sail began 10 go uD at the same time, |
but IL was FULLY ID minutes before the
sail was set When the yachts passed
the telegraph schooner Lizzie Carr,
which was living head to wind with a
single-reefed mainsail set, the wind
was fairly steady from the eastward.
blowing about 10 miles an hour, the
water smooth and the sky cloudy. Two
miles was about the limit of observa-
ton owing to heavy mist.
CAST OFF TowS.
At 1925 both Yachts cast off their
towhnes. broke out their jibs and mast
headed their No. club topsails. The
Columbia also sent up her baby Jibtop-
sail on the stav. At the same time tn
committee boat. Walter Luckenbach,
anchored due south OF the Sandy HOOK
lightship. and sent up the course sig
nal: IL was east. making IL beat dead
TO wandward fs the yachts of Is miles
and run back IL the wind held from
the same quarter.
The regatta committee meant busi-
ness for a few minutes later they
started the tug 30 log off the course,
and at 10:45 the preparatory signal was
made. Both yachts then began man
euvering for positions. and at 10:55,
when the warning signal was given,
they were playing for a weather berth
TO the northward of the line. the sham
rock breaking out her staysail at this
time.
BARR'S CLEVER TRICK.
When two minutes were left before
the starting signal. both yachts were
heading-a couple OF lengths apart-f
the windward. with bOoms TO port, the
Columbia to windward. At one minute
the Shamrock began TO keep off for
the committee boat. which was lying
at the south end of the line. Capt. Ho.
garth's intention apparently being %
stop the Columbia. then a length or 81
astern. from getting the weather berth.
Nlas, 81 tt,,Sr .. sI.
Shamrock had run parallel with the
line TO nearly the center OF it. She still
held her course until nearly over TO the
lightship before she began TO luff 10
eros the line. Can't Barr. on the Co
lumbia. held his Yacht well in hand
being at this time good length astern
With sheets fat aft be began 20 luff
the moment Hogarth did. and shooting
the Columbia across the Shamrock
wake he sent her across the line more
than fifty yards 90 windward OF the
challenger. and with such good over
lap on her that. according to the Of
ficial time. she was only three seconds
asfern
The official time for the start was:
Shamrock k........-...".,...... 11:0l:0s
Columbia. ....................... II OF .06 |
Both Yachts were now close hauled
on the starboard tack and were carry |
Il
club topsail. iib, foresail and baby iib. |
topsail. AS soon as sheets were trim |
med. all hands exceDt the men station |
ed az the head sheets iumped for the
weather side and huddled close down |
10 the starboard rail while the skin
pers watched each other like hawks
There we're mot many yachts or ex
cursion steamers out I'm time 10 sec tho
start. The principal ones were tho
steam yachts CorSair. Erin and Mae
ara: the excursion boats Repuhlie
Grand Republic. Monmouth and An
gler: the revenue cutters Manning ana
Onondago. torpedo boats Porter and
Gwln.
FINE VIEW OF THE START.
Those on board this small fleet had
splendid view Of the start and the
first ten minutes after q were anxious
ones FOR the friends Of both yachts.
After that time n was "all over but the
shouting" In five minutes the Colum-
bia had widened the distance 10 wind
ward between herself and the Sham
rock fully a length. She heeled more
than the latter boat. but her sails were
al full and she was pointing higher
from the moment she started Cant
Fogarth. thinking his boat would be
able 90 outfoot the Columbia sufficient
w TO tack across her bow. a little later
gave her a good ran full The green
boat responded noblv. and to some 70
appeared that she was passing the CO.
1umbia very fast So she was. but she
was LOSING windward ground every
minute. when fhe Shamrock tackled ~
port az 1915 and the Columbia thirty
seconds later. N was seen that Barr
had 20 placed his boat on the weather
bow of the Shamrock as 10 qpiIi tho
back wind into the Shamrock's sails
Hogarth was Obliged 90 keen broad OF
Cor about 30 seconds 20 get out fyom