Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-10-17
The COLUMBIA.
Decisive Result at Last Obtained In
First Yacht Race,
BOTH MADE A FINE START.
Shamrock Was Forced Over Line
First, but Columbia Soon Took
Lead and Turned the
stake Ahead.

New York, Oct. 17.-At last the first
of the big yacht races has been decided.
Columbia proved the better boat in this
race and won after Il pretty contest.
Shamrock got the better of the start,
but did not hold the lead for long. Co.
lumbia forged ahead long before the
stakeboat was turned and maintained
her lead.
The Columbia did it all in windward
work. She surprised even those who
knew her best. 1t was not hard thrash
to the outer mark, but a good beat In
topsail breeze, with something Of a sea
on. At no time after the Columbia be-
gan to pull away to windward, ten min
utes after the starting gun was fred,
was the first race of the series in doubt.
When the starting gun was fred on
the Luckenbach, the Columbia's jib top
sail was broken out. The two racers were
then close to the line, and as he trimmed
his mainsail aft more Captain Barr work.
ed his bow across the Shamrock's stern
and was in the better position. 1t was u
feather in Captain Barr's cap and show
ed that he was as good as the three ex-
pert shippers on the Shamrock when 1t
came to playing for a windward position.
The Shamrock was so close to the line
that it was impossible for her to drop
back and try to get up to the windward
Of her rival, so Captain Hogarth did the
best thing he could do to shove his boat
across the line far enough ahead to pre-
vent the Columbia from breaking up his
wind so the helm was put down hard,
and the challenger shot across at
II :O1 03.
The Columbia was on the Shamrock's
quarter, moving bit the faster, and as
soon as he saw the Shamrock heading
over the line Captain Barr headed across
also. With the greater speed on, the Co.
lumbia was almost mast and mast with
the challenger and to windward. Her
time was II Ot :06 three seconds behind
that of the Shamrock. 1t was Won
derfully close start, and the honors be-
longed to Captain Barr.
The battle down to the line was roy
al one. The boats had fought for what
was for once a real weather position.
The victory in this was to Barr, for,
though the Shamrock was first over the
line with three seconds lead, Columbia
was on the weather, and they were off on
the course, the markboat having been
stationed due east from the lightship.
They were on the starboard tack. The
few following boats blew their whistles
in JOY, and the torpedo craft joined In
piping for the race that looked as If it
would be real one.
Hogarth Takes a Chance.
Once over the line, the contestants
seemed to give a new jump Of life. Held
under by the Columbia, Hogarth's only
chance seemed to be to crowd his boat
out and past. and he did. The club top
sail, standing like house against the
sky, caught the breeze that crowded past
the Columbias moderate canvas.
In about three minutes the Shamrock
had the Columbia astern but still to
wndward but every effort was being
made to pinch the green boat out to
windward. The squirt was a magnif-
cent one, but once having gained her lead
the challenger seemed to halt somewhat.
The breeze was full eight knots at the
beginning, and her sails were filling as
true as ever, but the fact was apparent
that she was not opening as before.
Just as far apart as before, four or
Ave lengths, as the judgment of the OBJ
servers might decree, the boats held for
a time. 1t was not that the Columbia
seemed to be going faster, rather that the
Shamrock was going slower,
The sight of the boats holding down
the course was one to compensate for
DAYS of weary waiting. On the few pas
senger excursion boats which had come
out the enthusiasts could be seen, joyful
that it was their luck to be part Of the
spectators. The fog, however, was COM
ing in faster and faster. gray wall. 1t
began to block the horizon, 1t gave a
midocean impression, and from out its
extreme limit lumpy sea kept rolling In.
Far down to the eastward, black mass
with two black spots, was the course
boat feeling her way. Behind her the
boats followed through the clear space
that at this time was almost three miles
In diameter.
For 5, 10, II, minutes they still held
on the starboard tack. The white shroud-
cd figures are still on deck. Forward
on Shamrock was one man in black Oil
skins. who seemed to bear some resem-
blance to Ratsey, the sailmaker. AIT on
the Columbia Mr.. Iselin's party could be
seen scattered around, with one excep'
tion-Herbert Leeds was we'll forward
The Columbia was making the most russ
in the weather. Her bow was blowing
deep into the lumpy waters, raising d
white spray of foam. The Shamrock re-
fused to put her enormous freeboard un'
der the water.
Good Gains by Columbia
Columbia, besides fuss, was getting
more speed, and when she finally came
about it was apparent that all of ao
earth's pinchng tactics had failed. The
Shamrock was the first to make the
move, the Columbia following almost i'm
mediately, and as they filled away sh'
was length to weather. The perform
ance was nothing less than marvellous
The two boats started three seconds
smart. had sailed several miles and ther
were not more than ten seconds apart
The hitch was a record breaker. Al
though the course was straight out to sea
tha starboard tack carried them toward
Long Beach.
They stood out into open water again
For about 20 minutes they held on tn
new hitch, and when they came abou
hut n small space separated them. Co
irmhia was to windward and one lengtl
ahead.
Roth boats were now on the starboar'
| +ack The, Shamrock continued to bea
FAST but was still off in pointing, an
the Columbia was rapidly luthng out t.
wndward. The wind was still holding on
and at this hour. there seemed to be d
doubt of a finish within the time limit