Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-06

the passengers who lined the rail catch
glimpse of the contest Then she
dipped her flag and sped on, vanishing
| like flying express train into the
gloom. A few minutes later the Cum
ard liner Servia, with the English jack
at her taffrail, appeared as if by magic
through the outer edge Of the curtain
and came foaming into port. In vain
the patrol boats whistled their warning,
but she swung slightly outward as she
came on straight through the course,
dipped her flag as she got abeam of the
| racers and disappeared like streak
three-quarters of a mile to leeward.
The emigrants aboard crowded upon her
forecastle deck to see the sight, and
| what they saw pleased them immense
ly. There was the representative of the
| new world in which they had decided to
cast their fortunes, leaving the repre-
sentative of the old world astern.
1t was a good omen of, the future to
each Of them. The Columbia got most
of the wash from the big transatlantic
liner, bobbing on the huge swell as it
went under her and splitting much pre-
cious wind out of her sails.
Meantime the excursion fleet was
pushing toward the outer mark When
they got there they waited for an hour,
but the champions did not come.
Through the mist they could just be
made out looking like high peaked cir
Gus tents. Then, when the wind hauled
around to the south, southeast and the
racers had taken in their spinnakers
to beat to it close hauled, the excursion
boats all pulled back to see what they
were doing at this point of sailing.
But for the rest of the day the yachts
were half the time
IN THE DOLDRUMS
with their sails tapping listlessly.
When the streaks of wind would strike
them they would huff and tack and
split tacks, each plainly endeavoring to
get into the place, where the light
, zephyrs were crinkling the smooth sur
face of the ocean. For two hours this
was kept up, during which no one SEEM
ed to be able to tell exactly how the
Shamrock drew up with her adversary
Rather than prolong the agony and
suspense, at 3:43, when it was appar-
ent to all that the yachts could not
make the outer mark. much less the
finish, and when both were practically
on even terms, the committee decided
to call the race off.
The most dramatic, picturesque and
interesting incident of the day occurred
just at the finish, and it repaid the
thousands of sightseers for the disap-
pointment they were experiencing Just
as the regatta committee boat hung out
the ball on the triatic stay, which de-
whom were in doubt as to which boat
was ahead, were watching the yachts
with intense interest. They had split
tacks and now the Columbia was sail
ing toward the Irish boat on the port
tack, with the evident intention Of
crossing her bow The water between
them grew narrower and narrower, I'M
til she was close enough to pass line
aboard. Everybody aboard the excur-
fact hor m crOcc
THE sHAAIRoCK'S BOW,
but Captain Barr found it too risky
and as the American champion rose ins
queenly fashion on a heavy swell he
put his helm down and came over on
the starboard tack under the Sham
rocks lee. 1t was a disappointed mo-
ment for the patriots Although the
Columbia had her nose in front the
challenger Tapped her and held the
weather gauge Just at this instant the
signal went up declaring the race off,
and before the astonished spectators
realized what had happened they saw
both yachts, whose shippers had evil
IDENTIFY been waiting for the signal, turn
about on her heels and head for home
The movement executed was like two
dancers in a waltz, after the music had
stopped, or like two boys giving a few
gig steps when the days work is done.
The sea was a picture All about the
horizon was tangle of masts and
stacks and sails.
Away off 10 the eastward the White Star
steamer Germanic was coming in from the
Atlantic with bone in her teeth. A full
rugged ship. with al her royals set, was
sailing proudly out TO sea, while off TO the
westward, in the direct track of the ex-
cursion fleet, as every vessel headed
straight for home, the North Atlantic
squadron, bound for Hampton Roads vas
majesticaliy bearing down. The big men
OF war were moving in squadron formation
mile ahead. their white sides glistening,
their yellow superstructure and belching
stacks giided by the slanting OF the de-
scending sun. As the excursion fleet NOV
ed toward them a stream of signal flags
huttered from the flagship. the armored
cruiser New York. and the squadron
changed formatio line abreast. ard
came on as II 10 annihilate the holiday
feet But the mob of vessels were not
frightened. They never faltered and went
racing shomeward, surging between the