Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-10
NERVOUS ON THE COLUMBIA
Indicated by the Grew Spending Time
Cutting and Reftting Sails.
CALM AND CONFIDENT ON SHAMROCK
Reason for All This is that the Eng.
lish Boat Has Done Bctter
Work on the Three Days
of Flukes.

OK fiukeHs
NEW YORK, oct. 9,-There is a buoyant
feeling of expectancy and excitement among
the yachtsmen tonight, not that they feel
sure of race tomorrow but that they know
every day will be a race day from now out to
the finish, with the exception CT Wednesday.
This agreement of the regatta committee and
the Shamrock people has proved popular. 1t
Is fair proposition and every one likes the
manner in which it is met,
This has been foggy day down around
the Horseshoe and everything has been
quiet in the fleet there. except on the decks
of the Columbia, where the crew has been
cutting and reftting sqils. This is taken
in yachting circles to indicate nervousness.
There is nothing to be gained in trying to
put aside facts. They are worrying on the
| Columbia; they are calm and confident on
| Shamrock.
The reason for all this is that the English
| boat has done the better work on the three
| days of the fukes. Look at 1t from whatever
standpoint you will, these plain facts stare
| you in the face. On two of the days at
the moment the signal Race off" was set.
| Shamrock was in the lead. On the third
day it was no worse than on even terms.
| Indeed, the weight of opinion is that it was
ahead, considering its position and the fact
| that it started seconds behind Columbia
Add to this its allowance of six seconds and
| the chances are still more in its favor. There
| is good reason for nervousness among the
| Americans and nothing has occurred to di-
minsh it. 1t is an unpleasant truth, but
! 1t is just as well to admit 1t. The weather
| is the important thing now.
| Three dayS of drifting have changed the
character Of the speculation. 1t is quite as
much will there be a race" as which will
win" The weather man at Washington
promises a southery increasing breeze. Ii
it comes it will be welcome to thousands
of yachtsmen who have come many miles
| to witness the contest. If this prediction
is fulfilled the racers will be sent over the
line to the windward down the Jersey coast,
the course the same as Saturday, but that
the order Of the sailing Is reversed, the first
leg to windward with run home. This
will be more satisfactory, as 1t gives a
better chance for skill in maneuvering for
the weather berth at the start.
Columbia Tries Sails.
AS soon as Hathaway's sailmakers got
through with the alterations with the
Columbia's sail this morning the Columbia S
mainsail was hauled up from below, bent
to the boom gaff and hoisted. After inspec-
tion by Managing Owner Iseln and Captain
Barr it was decided that the sail was not
yet fit to do battle tomorrow, it was
lowered and after some minor alterations it
was hoisted again at p. M, when it set
almost as fiat as a board, except for few
wrinkles up near the bead under the gaff.
A new clubtopsail was also bent, but
not hosted. 1t was made up on the yard
and covered to keep it dry, for the air was
full of what old sailors call Scotch mist -
, The mainsail was lowered soon after 4
O'Clock, slowed on the boom and covered
for the night.
The docking of the yachts between races
which was the original intention, If they
showed signs of becoming foul. will have tc
be abandoned on account of the new ar.
rangements 1t is as fair for one as for the
other as it now stands, say the owners
who feel that what little growth may have
accumulated could make a very slight
difference in the sailing of the two yachts
| Sir Thomas Upton remained on board
the Erin all day. He did not deny himsel
to visitors, but gave all his usual courteous
h greeting when they came up the gangway
9 He was expecting to attend a private dinner
= given in his honor tonight at one of thu
big hotels but sent a telegram to the gen
I tleman who was to be his host, begging
0 to be excused until after the races had beer
,, run, as he was centering all his efforts OF
the task before him and did not want tc
leave Sandy Hook until after tomorrow.
G races, anyway.
s Sir Thomas has been the recipient OF man!
hundreds of cablegrams from friends OF
q the other side, congratulating him on thu
e fine showing the Shamrock has made il
$ light weather, and every time big batcl
(. of dispatches is brought from shore thos
e on the Erin have good time reading them
for among them are many humorous ones
This morning a number came and the mos
amusing was one from England, saying
v Never mind the hairpns, bring back tn
e cup
. On the Erin considerable interest wa
S manifested in the Columbia's mainsail
: which was hoisted and lowered several time
d | during the day. Everyone knew it was no
a new sail and that several alterations ha
| been made in 1t. This recutting of the sal
q | gave the Erin people more confidence thai
0 ever, and they felt the Columbia peopl
0 were a bit worried as to the outcome OF tn
n race. They felt that no one would sprea
o out a sail in such fog as prevailed al
0 day today, thus allowing 1t to get damp an
q shrink unless there was fear of being de
o feated.
: Sir Thomas will entertain another larg
a parry oh poaiu INC iIih uuiih6 'oholioW
i race and hopes that his guests will see
): fair finish this time.
!, SPORTS LOSE HEAVILY ON VINCENT
l. Winner of TransyIvania Unable l.
?; Land Walnut Hall Cup.
LEXINGTON, KY, Oct. 9.-The track wa
heavy and slow. The feature today wa
the Walnut Hall cup, worth $4,000. togethe
q with the silver cup given by L. V. Hark
n ness.
n Lord Vincent, the Transylvania winner
II was top-heaVy favorite before the race
30 with Edna Cook second Both failed I
i6 win the race going to Ellert. Consderabl
10 money was dumped on Vincent at 90 to q
" Vincent could do not better than secon
% place in two heats.
% The 2:17 pacing brought out strong FIELD
50 with Little Thorn favorite and Free Bon
32 second. 1t was postponed after the fourt
Il heat until tomorrow. Results:
3 Walnut Hall cup, 2:l6 trotters, purse