The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-21

like. a locomotive. But it was rather
dangerous, and twice an extra. puff of
wind carried the sail forward and up
until it tumbled over the stay. But
the Deer Island sailors each time had it
back in place in a jiffy. The Shamrock
had no such mishap, as HOgarth car
ried his boom much lower.
A Yankee Trick.
The Yankee trick, however did it's
work. lifting the head Of the Columbia
out of the water until she seemed TO
be Swimming over the surface.
The excursion fleet trailing down on
either side were chasing after the
yachts as fast as their steam would
carry them. But the big sloOps set so
hot pace that they left half the tug
boats and some Of the steam yachts
astern.
They were going at ffteen-knot
clip the Yankee slowly but surely,
inch by inch, overhauling her adver-
sary. Closer and closer she drew asterm
Of the challenger, hoping with her
mountain of canvas to smut off her
rivals wind. When the Columbia had
crept up to within striking distance.
the green boat crowded ON little more
canvas, setting a baby jib topsail. and
for ten minutes she seemed to hold the
American even.
A~lGA LINZ oCdEcQ OSEI-
Both were going like scared deer.
A stern chase is a long one but as the
yachts approached the outer mark tine
patriots, with high bounding pulse, saw
that the Columbia was again picking
up on the enemy.
At 12:10 o'clock half a mile from the
mark, the Bristol boat got alongside
the challenger. and neck by neck, like
a span Of race horses. they bOwled
~
later, when they took in their spinnab-
eTs, preparatory to gybamg, the Column
bia was a length in the lead and foot
ing like mad.
The Yachts swept around. the mark.
the Columbia seventeen seconds ahead.
but so close that One chorus from the
fleet answered fer both. The Column
bia had gained a minute and eighteen.
seconds in the fifteen-mile run. As
they leaned away on the starbOard
tack for the beat home the white flyer
was to windward and about length
ahead. With their sheets trimmed fiat
aft they surged into the head seas,
sending the brine smoking as high as
the spreaders.
Their Rails Awash.
They careened until their lee rails
were aWash in the swiring, driving
waves. oceans of spray came over, and
UEGctSiOI2AAly UULu SllEQBEI S&AbQ GSSS
of green water forward. Their wakes
were q smOthered foam. Everything
aboard was wet and dripping. Seldom
has there been such a smashing sea
under the bows of cup contestants.
The water spurted twenty feet into
the air. The green boat labored more
than the Yankee. Once or twice Sine
buried her bowsprit in the seas, wetting
her head sails. 1t WAS a grand sight
The Columbia pointed almost a point
higher than her rival, and footed just
as fast The Columbia had housed her
working topsail before they turned the
mark, but the Shamrock held ON until
in the constantly freshening wind she
decided that it was dangerous to carry
it longer, and a sailor was sent aloft
to lower it.
It was a delicate job. with the big
ninety-footer buckng into the jump
ing sea like a broncho. but after five
minutes Of hard work it was success
fully accomplished.
Yankee Increases Lead.
On every fresh tack to windward the
Yankee increased her lead. sailing SO
close that the cid salts said she could
wipe the eye of the wind
At Las the Columbia was leading by
a quarter of a mile. The situation for
the Shamrock was desperate. and, Teck-
less Of the consequences. the British
skipper decided to crowd on more can
vas Fearlessly he sent up and after
a deal Of trouble succeeded in setting
a small club topsail.
The Columbia had the race well in
hand and did not need to risk a broken
spar She kept on under mainsaE,
gtaysaiI and jib. Fortunately the chal-
lenger's toplnast did not carry away,
though she leaned over until the press
of canvas under her slippery decks
were tilted at an angle Of thirty de-
grees. Her speed was undoubtedly in
creased, but her inability to point lost
her almost as much as She gained In
footing.
Then she resorted to splitting lacks,
once running clcse inehore under the
Navesink Highlands.
A slight cant in the wind favored her
at this time, and she managed to close
up the gap until little more than half
a mile separated her from the Column
bia The patriots began TO feel nervous,