The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-06
FubIicI. I.ibrar 4.I

hardly five knots. AS she crossed, the green
boat broke out her spinnaker. which was
in stops. 1t is an English fashion TO hoist
this sail from the boom, and the Sham
rock in her trials clung TO the English way,
but since her arrival she has learned many
Yankee tricks, and breaking out the spin
maker Is one of them. The cup defender
was little slow in getting her big bellying
sail out. and this somewhat dampened the
ardor OF the patriotic throng of Americans,
who love nothing more than forehandedness
and snap, but sixty seconds later both boats
were on even terms, fleeing before the gen.
tie breeze. The bells in the engine rooms OF
the excursion fleet changed and the careen-
ing huils started forward in pursuit But
they slowed down almost Immediately and
then stopped. The lazy breeze was carrying
the big yachts down the wind at a snail's
pace. They drifted along like two lazy
clouds of smoke upon the surface of the
water. their frail hulls slipping through the
placid seas as gently and peacefully as if
they had been in a dreamless sleep.
THE COLUMBIA GAINS.
For almost an hour the spectators on the
excursion boats watched them drift like
Coleridge's painted ship upon a painted
ocean, The only cheering feature of the
situation was that the Columbia steadily
gained ground, as inch by inch she crept
along. At the end of fifteen minutes several
lengths of clear water showed between her
and her green rival. The bands played ard
a few whistles footed. On, on she moved
until she was fully five hundred yards
ahead. 1t was picturesque but not excit-
ing. The immense spread of canvas, in
Guiding the balloon jib, was drawing in the
gentle breeze. The whole crew of each
yacht was sent aft to act as ballast TO keep
the head of the yacht up. Only a few of
them were busy easing sheets and tighten
ing halyards. Then the wind began to die
and the great balloons OF canvas forward
collapsed like meal sacks. AT the time the
wind canted little and Columbia concluded
to change her tactics. She took in her spin
maker and tried reaching, leaving the bal
loon jibsail. 1t was a challenge to the
Shamrock on her best point of sailing, and
Captain Hogarth eagerly accepted the game.
They went heading over toward the Long
island shore and the Columbia continued to
increase her lead. The Shamrock, chagrined,
attempted to crowd on a little more canvas
by setting her staysail but 1T only kept the
precious wind from her balloon and the sail
itself hung from the stay as limp and list
less as a wet rag. In a few minutes she
took II down.
AS the yachts approached nearer the
Long island shore the haze lifted for a mo-
ment and Long Beach, with its big hotel
and deserted summer cottages, rose as if
by enchantment from the deep. Then it
closed down again and the lazy yachts
drifted on
The great ocean liner Augusta Victoria
of the Hamburg American line, outward
bound to Southampton, broke through the
mystic circle where the yachts were bat
Ting for the supremacy and slowed down
for a moment to let the passenger 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.
EMIGRANTS SEE A GOOD OMEN.
A few minutes later the Cunard liner
Servia with the English jack at her tafrail,
appeared as IL by magic through the outer
edge of the curtain and came foaming into
port Al SdYn The pa,rvl boats whistled
their warning, but she swung slightly for
ward as she came on straight through the
course dipped her flag as she got abeam of
the racers and disappeared like a streak
three-quarters of a mile to leeward The
emigrants aboard crowded upon her fore
castle deck TO see the sight, and what they
saw pleased them immensely There was
the representative of the new world in
which they had decided to cast their for
tunes leaving the representative OF the old
astern. 1t was good omen Of the future
to each of them. The Columbia got most
of the wash from the big transatlantic
liner
Meantime the excursion fleet was pushing
toward the outer mark. When they got
there they waited for an hour, but the cham
pions did rot come. Through the mist they
could just be made out looking like high
peaked circus tents. Then, when the wind
hauled around to the south-southeast and
the racers had taken in their spinnakers to
beat into it close hauled, the excursion boats
all puned back to see what they were
doing at this point of sailing. But for the
rest OF the race the yachts were half the
time in the doldrums with their sails flap
ping listlessly. When the streaks of wind
would strike them they would luff and tack
and split tacks. each vainly endeavoring to
get into the place where the light zephyrs
were crinkling the smooth surface of the
ocean. For two hours this was kept up.
during which no one seemed to be able TO
tell exactly how the Shamrock drew up with
her adversary Rather than prolong the
agony and suspense. at 3:43 o'clock, when 1t
was apparent 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 incident of
the day occurred just at the finish and II
repaid the thousands OF sightseers for the
disappointment they were experiencing. Just
as the regatta committee boat hung out the
balloon stay, which declared the race off, the
spectators, all of whom were in doubt as TO
which boat was ahead, were watching the
yachts with intense interest. They split
tacks and now the Columbia was sailing
toward the Irish boats port tack, with the
evident intention of crossing her bow. The
water between them grew narrower and
narrower. until she was close enough to pass
a line aboard. Everybody aboard the ex-
cursion fleet expected her to cross the sham
rocks bow, but Captain Barr found il too
risky and as the American champion rose
In queenly fashion on a heavy swell; he
put his help down and came over on the
starooard tack under the Shamrock's lee.
PATRIOTS DISAPPOINTED.
III was disappointing moment for tho pa
triots 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
petcre the astonished spectators realized
"a haH ha-