The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-11
HENCE ANOTHER FLUKE
BACKED UNCLE SAINTS WEALTH
ER ORACLE AND LOST.
THE NEXT ATTEMPT WILL BE THURSDAY
There Is WaiIng and Crashing Of Teeth Among
Those Who Went Down on Expensive
Trips to See Races That
Never Came Off.

New York, October 10-Hard luck
continues to pursue the big single stick
ers. On the three days last week when
the yachts made attempts to sail, light
fiuky winds left them stranded on the
course when the time limit expired. To-
day a fog bank prevented them from
even leaving their mooring buoys inside
the spit of land which forms Sandy
Hook at the entrance to the lower bay
This was by far the most dismal fasco
of all. City and bay were done up in
grey swathing clothes of impenetrable
mists when the yachtsmen jumped out
Of bed this morning to get look at the
weather and there was gloom and dis
may along the water front
The old salts shifted, saw the mist
wraiths and shook their heads.
Nothing doing on the ocean today"
was their verdict.
But the weather bureau, with its
scientific meteorological methods, had
predicted fair weather with freshening
winds for today, and a few clung vainly
to the hope that the weather bureaus
representations would turn out true for
once. OF course the poor, misguided
public went like lambs to the slaughter.
They backed Uncle Sans weather ora
Gle and put to sea. But not in such
numbers as last week. Many of the
sight-seers who witnessed the three
flnkes at an average cost per huke Oh
from five to twenty-five dollars, had
lost their interest, and it will take a
race to restore it.
Meantime the racers lay tied to their
big buoys inside the horseshoe. The fog
had let down its blank gray curtains
all around them. The circle of vision
was barely 200 yards in diameter The
yachts We're as completely shut off from
the rest of the world as if they had
been inside a big circus tent.
Shortly before II O'Clock tine commit
tee boat which had gone outside to take
a last look around, returned and re-
ported no indications of a change in the
weather, so the formal announcement
was made that there would be no race
today. Aboard the Erin, the English
men were in the dumps. A fluke or two
they could stand, but such beastly luck
crushed them. Some of them have en-
gagged passage ON the Oceanic Which will
Nei ioHloTToW anu consequently they
will go home without having seen a
race. Sir Thomas, disappointed as he
was, maintained an outward show of
good humor.
Il thought you clever Yankees could
do anything" he shouted over the rail
to some of his newspaper acauaint-
ances. but YOU don't seem able to pro-
pitiate old Boreas. When you come
over on the other side next year TO
bring back the cup I'll guarantee you
at least two races week and more
if you want them.''
SShortly after one O'Clock. after CON
snlting with Sir Thomas and Mr.. Ise-
lin, it was decided to abide by the de-
cision of yesterday not to sail race
tomorrow. The next attempt, therefore
will be made on Thursday, and there
after daily until the series is completed
Later in the day, it cleared up and
though the weather bureaus prediction
of fresh breeze was not realized. there
was enough air stirring for the Column
bia to hoist her sails and make 10
minute spin to try her new club topsail
and see how her newly cut mainsail
TT. Both were pronounced perfect by
the experts.