The record-union., 1899-10-13

NEW YORK, Oct. ia blanket of
fog over the course and the utter alb
sence of wind caused the fifth success
sive fizzle, when another attempt was
made to-day to sail the first of the Co.
lumbia-Shamrock series for the inter-
national trophy. The yachts will try
again tomorrow.
The repeated failures have had a
most discouraging effect on the gen.
eral public, and there was a great fall
ing off in the number of excursion
boats, as well as the number of their
passengers, when the feet gathered
around Sandy Hook lightship to-day
at the time set for the start. The
heavy fog made navigation not only ex-
ceedingly difficult, but very dangerous.
The ships of the fleet tried to brave
the perils of the fog, keeping double
lookouts forward, and their fog whistles
constantly going to avoid collision. AT
times it was impossible to see fifteen
feet ahead, and it was an uncanny
spectacle to have a big, ghostlike hull
loom up close aboard. The mist lay
thick upon the surface of the water,
and on the way down the bay the top
royal yards of several big clippers could
visible. The yards seemed to be sus-
pended in mid air without support.
Down in the lower bay the fog was
not quite so thick, and a light breeze
from the west gave a faint hope that
it would send the fog out to sea and
furnish the racing conditions later on.
Mainsails We're hoisted early on both
yachts, and soon after 9 o'clock they
4
towed out to Sandy Hook lightship.
Club tOpsails were mastheaded on the
way out, the Columbia setting a smaller
one than was shown on Wednesday
afternoon. The Shamrock's was ap-
parently larger than any yet seen aloft.
1t was bent in two light aluminium
spars and its narrow cloth radiated
from a center band like a jib.
The yachts arrived off the lightship
at 1910 a. m. Casting off their tow
lines and breaking out their head sails
they tarried about the lightship for an
&our or so in the light southwest
breeze, waiting for the committee to
arrive. The fog showed a disposition
TO clear off about this time, but there
was hardly wind enough to give the
yachts steerage way.
arrived there was no wind and no pros
pect of any, so at 1910 o'clock after
a consultation, the race was declared
off
As agreed on a few days ago, the next
race day will be tomorrow (Friday},
and each succeeding day thereafter
with the exception of Sunday, until the
race is decided.
Mr.. Iselin's interview in this morn
ing's papers protesting against the saw
age criticism of the Columbia which
has been literally indulged in by some
of the newspapers, and appealing for
support for the Yankee and her crew
until the series is completed evidently
touched a patriotic chord, for on the
way back every excursion steamer in
the fleet sailed alongside and saluted,
While the passengers gave the white
boat three rOusing cheers and a tiger.
The repeated flukes off Sandy Hook
have led to some agitation for change
of the course to Newport, where there
is usually a breeze, probably to Mar
blehead, off the Massachusetts coast,
where no difficulty would be expert
enced in getting plenty of wind, but it
is hardly likely that any change will
be made. The Regatta Committee are
sure that this sort of weather cannot
last at this time of the year
COMMENTS OF LONDON YACHT
ING PAPERS
LONDON. Oct. 12.-The yachting
World" says to-day with reference to
the international race for the Americas s
cup:
There are three points regarding
which the mind of the public is now
satisfied. The Columbia is no match
for the Shamrock in light weather; the
Americans are sIratchine sn1neuhat in