Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-10-06
SECOND BIG RACE.
Columbia and Shamrock Again Strug-
gle For Supremacy.
THE STORY OF THE CONTEST,
The Shamrock Again Got the better
of the Start, but Did Not
Keep the Lead Many
Miles.

| Miles.
New York, Oct. 6.-The second rae,
between the Shamrock and the Columbi,
was sailed in light breeze and a haz,
over the water.
When the starting signal was given a
IL o'clock. both boats were within {
short distance of the line, but the al,
was 30 light that they did not have much
way on. The Columbia's spinnaker wa.
broken out after the starting signal haG
been given, and so close together were
the two racers that the Columba's main
sail Tapped over the Shamrock's spin
maker and prevented it from drawing
well. The boats were only a few sec
onds apart when they crossed the line.
The smoke Of the gun fire that had
given them the signals hung gray in the
air, and the two boats broke through, the
Shamrock, with the squirt which had Civ
en- her first place over the line, missing
all but few rings Of it; the Columbia
which was just off the markboat, catch.
ing nearly all of it. So they were off.
1t was difficult to distinctly see the
racers, but far down on the forthcoming
line. where the torpedo boats were lying,
the spurts of steam went up, which
showed their knowledge of what was
going on.
The course set took the boats practical
ly right out to sea, and there were hur-
ried changings Of plans of many Of the
excursion boats.
The racers were carrying their sails
alike. Forward the big ballooners filled
and sagged with the tickle breeze, while
the spinnakers seemed to draw but little.
The first five minutes were not cheering
fof Captain Barr. The half length lead
Of the Shamrock at the start was length
eneA out until clear water showed. The
Colnmbia's sail filed and then she went
on and caught her opponent. Inch by
inch she crept up until she had lead Of
one length and half. The fair weather
Columbia disciples began to cheer up.
Captain Hogarth had practically all
his men aft, but few green caps could
be seen forward. One could almost feel
the order that was given, for the men
hurried aft, and it really seemed as if
the head of the Shamrock lifted. Her
spinnaker pole seemed to be set forward
farther, and the squirt was on. Clear
water went by. The Shamrock nipped
the stern of the Columbi and was max
ing good Roadway.
Good Move by Barr.
The sailing maneuvers were now on
for good. Captain Hogarth eased his
sheets still further off, while Captain
Barr, perhaps with the wind caroming
idea in mind, began to get more of his
sheet aboard. Whatever the exact idea
Of the move it redounded to the credit
of the Yankee-Scotch skipper, for thu
American boat began to drop the Sham
rock, not by start. but with that slow
dropping which, ii. liter, wears away a
stone.
The fuller way of Columbia was soon
noticeable, and in ten minutes the lead
was one of three ship lengths. However
unpatriotic the wind may have been on
Tuesday old Boreas now acted as de-
cidedly neutral party. He filled out the
big ballooners for both craft as round
and fair as New England apple, and
then he stopped. The club topsail he left
to sway uneasily.
Hope as one would, it was nothing but
q drifting match that was being watched.
Even the jump Of the sea was missing,
and the fleet of excursion boats filed
along like so many sober minded bur
ghers And yet the coppery sky, which
some Of the city watchers thought wa
due to some mammoth smoke nuisance,
had promise of wind.
1t began to seem as though some Of the
weather rumors would be kept. Both
craft got puff with shift, and in three
minutes the spinnakers were taken in
with rush. Hogarth and Wringe had
hurried consultation on the Shamrock.
The breeze was now north-northwest,
and the Shamrock's boom came in with
it. They took their staysail in, sending
it in stops again. When this move had
been ten minutes in action, chance was
opened to compare the results of the
work on both boats. The Shamrock had
gained. Columbia's mainsail was trim
med too fiat, while the Shamrock's fell
off, caught more wind, and the great
green boat was putting faster. Further
more, the Shamrock had been put in a
windward position and was heading 1t
now on what had changed from the broad
run to something very like reach with
sheets eased Off.
The wind was one for an experiment
apparently. for the sheets We're eased off
on both boats, and for five minutes they
sailed off the course.
The men walked away with the sheets,
and the booms came aboard again, while
they swung back into line on the regular
course. The Columbia was footing away
and making gains. The gains were very
small ones, but yet the fact was apparent
that, while the Shamrock was lifted only
by occasional spurts, the Columbia aver
aged better.
The Shamrock was showing herself to
be a wonderful light weather boat vet
the Columbia was displaying the extra
bit that bore out her first reputation.
A LuhinG Match.
The two yachts were now headed east
by south ON broad reach, being several
points over their true course. with the
Columbia at least a quarter of a mile
in the lead. Both were carrying balloon
jibs mainsails and club topsais.
At this point of the race the yachts
engaged in Il lufiing match, the Shamrock
trying to work up to the windward of
the Columbia and thus be able to fall
in directly behind the American yacht
whenever she should square away for
the marks.
Captain Barr, on the Columbia, how
ever, was not to be caught mapping and
met the Shamrock's captain at every
move.
The Columbia actually headed north
east, or seven points to windward Of
her true course, the yachts sailing as
close to the rim as they could without
A.