The Portland daily press., 1899-10-21

over the surface. The exourvion fleet
were chasing after the yachts as fast as
their steam would carry them. But the
Big sloops set 50 hot pace tn At they left
half the tug boats and small stsam yachts
astsrn. They were going at a ls-knot dip.
the Yankee slowly but surely, inch by
inch, overhauling her rival. Closer and
closer she drew. dead astern Of the chal-
iepger. hoping with her canvass to shut
of her rivals wind. When the Colum-
bia had crept up to within striking dis
tance, the Shamrock crowded ON q little
more cangas, setting baby jlb topsaiI,
ana for ten minutes she seemed to hold
the American even. Both were going
very swiftly. AS the yachts approached
the outermark, it was seen that the CO.
lumbla was again picking up on the
Shamrock. At 1910, half mile from
the mark. the Bristol boat got alongside
the challenger and neck and nsok thsy
bowled down for the float. Three min
utes later, when they took in their spin
Makers preparatory to gybing, the Co.
lumbia was length in the lead and foot.
Ing like mad. The yachts swept around
the mark, the Columbia II seconds
ahead, but so close that one chorus from
the fleet answered fer both. The Colum
bia had gained d minute and eighteen
seconds insa 15-mile run. AS they leaned
away on the starboard tack for the beat
home, the Columbia was to wlndward
ard about a length ahead.
with their sheets trimmed fiat aft. they
surged into the head seas, sending the
brine smoking high as the spIeaders.
They careened until their lee rails were
awash In the waves. Oceans of spray
came over and occasionally both shipped
s9lid cresis Of water forward. Everything
aboard was wet and dripping. Seldom
has thers been such a smashing ssa under
the bows Of cup contestants. The Sham
rock labored more than the Columbia.
Once or twice she buried her bows in the
seas, wetting her head sails Ten min
utes of this satisfied the patriots that tn
defender was as much superior to the
Shamrock in rough weather windward
work as she was in the lighter airs. She
pointed almost point higher than her
rival and footed just as fast. The Co.
before they turned the mark, but the
Shamrock he On until In the freshen.
lug wind 1t desmed dangerous to
carry 1t long sailor was sent aloff
to lower 1t. a delicate job with
the big 9o-fc seking into the jump
ing sea like. oronoho. bat aft er i've
minutes OF work, 1t was accom-
plished. On, very tack OF this thrash
to windward . Yankee increased her
lsad, sailing - close that the old salts
said she oo.-ll ''Wipe the eye of the
wind"
At 1.45 this Columbia was leading by a
quarter of a mile. The situation for the
Shamrock was desperate and the Brit
ish skipper decided to crowd on more can
vass.- After some trouble he succeeded
In sstting a ; small club topsail. The
Columbia ke9t under mainsail, stay and
iib. The challenger leaned over under
press of canvas until her decks were at
an angle of 80 degrees. Her speed was
undoubtedly increased, but her inability
to point lost her almost as much as she
gained In footing. Then she resorted to
splitting taoks, once running close In
shore under ths Navssink Highlands. A
slight can't in the wind favored her at
this time and she managed to oloss up
the gap until little more than half mile
separated her from the Columbia, Soon
after the wind slackened q little and
thereafter the Shamrock lost rather than
gained ground. ALI excursion boats at
this time were bucklng into the head seas
for home. But the pace was too hot and
not half the feet was in at the finish.
The rush Of the racers ON the final tack
Continued on Second Page.