The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-06
ANOTHER RACE FIZZLE.
Not Wind Enough to Take the
Yachts Over the Course.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TOMORROW.

a.
A. One Time Columbia Was . Mile
Ahead. But They Quit About Even.
- Col. Payne's Steam Yacht Amphi-
trite Defeats widoner's Josephine.
New York, Oct. 6.-Again yesterday
the sea refused the Shamrock and Co
lumbla q field of conflict; again yes
terday the multitude which went out
to watch the contestants for the yacht
Ing championship Of the world return
ed disappointed and not q little dis
susted. The question Of supremacy
Of the two great yachts 10 still as much
an open question as before the first
meeting, as the contest yesterday was
ia some respects more Of huke than
that of Tuesday. It was drifting
match almost from start tn finish. The
yachts crossed the line with breeze
of FIVE knots. and the wind blew more
than six knots, most Of the time less
than three, and part Of the time not a
breath of air was stirring. After sail
Ing four hours and 49, minutes, the
yachts having covered only IL miles
Of the course to the outer mark, the
regatta committee declared the race
off, as It was manifestly impossible,
with the breeze then blowing, for the
boats to round the stake before the
time limit expired, much less to get
back home again. The next attempt
will be made tomorrow.
During the time in which the yachts
were at 1t the wind, which carried
them dead before 1t over the line, had
hauled around until at the finish they
were beating into Its teeth. While tho
wind held astern the Columbia stead
lily outfooted her rival until she was
fully half mile ahead, but in the
shifting, battling winds that followed
during the last three hours, with the
great single stickers lacking and beat
ing and gybing to catch every streak
Of wind, with fortune helping one
about rs much as the other, the Sham
rock gradually worked her way np I'M
til, when the race was declared of.
the two boats we're about on even
terms, the Shamrock perhaps half a
length ahead, but SO close was the
Columbia that Captain Barr could have
thrown biscuit to the foreigner.
The only lesson learned by the
nautical sharps from yesterdays trial of
the abilities Of the two boats is that
in light weather conditions the Co.
lumbia is the superior in running and
reaching and the Shamrock slightly
better in beating. There has yet been
no indication Of what either boat can
do In piping fullsail breeze.
The weather bureau had promised
good. strong wind, but the prophecy
was most dismal failure 1t was
Just an ideal lazy, hazy, Indian sum-
mer day, day for white duck and a
novel under some tree ashore, rather
than an overcoat and yacht race
afloat. A heavy haze hung over sea
and land. The opaque curtain shut off
the view of the thousands waiting on
the Highlands of Navesink and the
Long Island shore. So gentle was the
crestless, pulsating seas that any sort
OF harbor or river craft, from steam
er to a rowboat, could venture out with
impunity. and vast colony of excur-
sion boats, ocean going steamers,
yachts. tugs, sidewheelers and sailing
vessels gathered around the red hulk
of the Sandy Hook lightship. seven
miles from the entrance to the lower
bay, to watch the start.
The torpedo boats guarding the
course threaded their way in and out
through the acres Of boats like needles,
their wakes thread of foam, warn
ing the excursion shippers to keep
their distance. But little difficulty was
experienced yesterday, as Captain
Evans interviews threatening dire
consequences to offending shippers had
had wholesome effect. Already the
crowd was disappointed. Each one
had come down praying for a stiff
breeze, and had found instead that
there was hardly wind enough to keep
the flags fiuttering. What there was
was from northwest to north, from
over the land.
Outside of the ruck of the steamers
the old cup. defender, Vigilant, made a
beautiful picture. leaning away through
the mist, and the old schooner Ameri-
ca, which had brought the blue rib
bon of the sea across the western
ocean 80 years ago, attracted universal
attention as she sailed about to see
how her latest champion would de-
fend 1t. Preparations were made
aboard both yachts for the lightest
airs before the start. Columbia dis
carded her heavy steel topsail yard for
a lighter and longer pine one, and the
Irish boat sent aloft the largest club
topsail ever seen on her, larger by
yards than any used In her trials on
this side.
Besides Managing Owner c. Oliver
Iselin and Mrs. Iselin there were on
beard the Columbia W. Butler Duncan,
Jr.. Captain Woodbury. Kane, New5ury
Thorne, Captain Nat Herreshoff, Her.
bert Leeds, Sailmaker Hathaway and
Hugh Kelly, representing the Royal
Ulster Yacht club. Captain Charlie
Barr steered the yacht.
On board the Shamrock, beside her
shippers, Hogarth and Wringe, were
Navigator Hamilton, Captain Ben
Parker, sailing master of Emperor
Williams yacht Meteor, Sailmaker
Ratsey, Messrs McGilldowney, Sher-
man Crawford and Henry F. Lippitt,
the last named representing the New
York Yacht club,
nJSAppoJNTED aprfyr.ro,e