The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-17


the beat to windward. About this time the
wind did begin to drop but at no time did 1t get
below Ave miles an hour. and during the last
two or three milea OF the run 1t breezed up
again. allowing the boats to finish with every
thing drawing full.
At 2:3O the sloops were about in the same
relative positions. that Ia to say. the Column
ba still maintained her lead OF more than
a mile. or OF nearly ten minutes in time.
Nothing short OF fiuke could snatch VIC
tory from her. The excitement OF the turn
at the outer mark had passed. and the excur-
sionists settled down to calculating whether the
Shamrock was gaining on the Columb ia or the
white boat was holding the green one. Many
OF them thought the foreigner was picking up
little. but her gain IL any. was very slight. At
$50 the Columbia's balloon lib topsail began
to belly Just trfe. but not enough to cause
any worry on the part OF her supporters. The
guide boat kept a mile ahead OF the leading
yacht. shaping a true course for the Sandy
Hook lghtship. The tide was with the boats
and the race was almost sure to be completed
within the time limit OF five and a half hours.
Here again the patrol boats were a little too
exacting The regulations framed for tho Cup
races allow the excursion boats to steam
within half mile OF the sloops when they are
sailing before the wind. but the revenue cut
tors and torpedo boats insisted on keeping the
fleet nearly milo ana q half from the line on
which the Shamrock and Column !a travelled.
II abeam Of the white boat. the green boat
could hardly be seen in the haze. and IL one
stayed abreast OF the challenger the other was
almost out Of sight. Fortunately the mist
lifted bit. and the situation from the specta-
tors standpoint was not altogether hopeless.
CLOSE WORK on THE JOURNEY HOME.
At p. II. the Colum bia was maintaining her
advantage. Indeed. 1t was close thing. as far
as elapsed time goes. all through the journey
home. When the returns were all in 1t
was found that the winner had gained
only "a seconds in tho nfteen-mile
run. This was h rdly observable dur
ing the progress Of the journey home.
About this time the balloon lib topsail Of the
Columbia began to grow weakened again.
while the Shamrock's big headsail was curving
out without a wrinkle. During the next few
minutes the green boat probably gained a few
seconds. but certainly not enough for Sir
Thomas Upton to feel that he had q grasp on
the Cup. She bowled along in style
and was doing most OF the business
as far as showing full sails went until at last
the .avoring breeze reached the Columbia
From that time on the Shamrock's career was
checked.
Now all hands began to search the pa orama
toleeward In the hope OF locating theSandyH Hook
Lightshp At last the foremost tug OF the pro-
cession found the familiar old vesse and at once
shaped course for 1t. The other steamers
and tugs followed suit. ringing Jingle bells in
order to be in at the finish. This was an easy
matter. as the yachts were not travelling more
than eight knots an hour. The nearer they
came to the Lightship the higher rose the
hopes OF the Columbia's adherents. Nothing
short OF miracle could now forestall victory
for the American soop. The Regatta Com
mittee's tug ploughed ahead at full speed to
anchor in the point she had left some hours
before. and the excursion fleet. as well as the
patrol boats. gathered around her.
FINISHED IN A SPANKING BREEZE.
On came the Columbia. her sails pulling hard
at their sheets. mile or more in the rear
thundercd the Shamrock. At her heelS WINS
fina capful OF wind. as could be seen from the
big white-capped rollers that played about her
But the wind was too late to save tho chal-
lenCer. which was now beaten beyond all
doubt. She might reduce the Yankees lead
bit. but the white boats grip on tho first
race was secure. At a ten mile gait the Column
bia tumbod along for tho finish mark now only
half mile away. The wind fell for fcw Sec
onds when she was within hundred yards OF
the line, but nnnl puff sent her across n win
ner by more than ten minutes. As the gun
doomed from the committee boat every
vessel In the feet set its whistle going,
while some OF the steam yachts fred
their cannon. Not to be outdone the
Sandy Hook Lightship gave vent to what were
intended to DO few cheering blasts. but tho
mournful whistle that warns mariners made
but doleful salute. The Columbia crossed at
3:54:5o.
1t seemed an age before tho Shamrock
reached the end OF her journey But she
finally doomed up maJestically and MS the gun
sounded her crossing time at 4:O5:l0 the
whistles Of the vessels screa med loud greeting
to the game. but vanIuished cup hunter
The yachts took in sal as soon as they passed
the Lightship and n few minutes later were led
by their tugs to the moorinGs In the Horseshoe
Tho eNcursionists FOLLOWED Thorn until they
turned inside the Hook and then the big boats
and little ones scrambled up the Bay for home
THE SUMMARY.
Start oI Ha%< Ymth h TS. co T'"t
H, H.Ms. II. Inns. BINS
COLUMBIA
ll:Ol:o1 l;4sIG 2:54.60 4:53:53 A:b3;53
SHAMROCK.
I1:OI;o3 l5s:O6 4o5;lo 5;oio7 5,o4:oI
Columbia boat Shamrock to the Outward
Marx q minutes 30 seconds elapsed time
Columbia beat Shamrock on the run home
"a seconds. Total gain In the race 10 minutes.
"a seconds. Columbia allows Shamrock 8 see.
onds, and therefore won by 10 minutes 3 sec
onds corrected time.
Columbia made the beat to the mark In 2