The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-10-19
Columbia in The Lead When
Contest Was Declared Of.
In a Light and Fiifu| Wind the CUP
Defender OutSaiIed Sir Thomas
LiptOn'S Shamrock.

ship could not be made out, and II was
only when the sun shone on the white
sails that the yachts could be discerned
The frst OF the excursion fleet put I'm
an appearance about s:45 and they were
accompanied down the Swash channel
by great fleet of coasters.
PATROL BOATS ARRIVE.
The two yachts arrived at the light
ship about 10 o'clock, the Shamrock get
ting there a few minutes ahead Of the
Columbia.
The Columbia swung around 10 the
wind and began setting her clubtop-
sail. The weather at that time showed
signs OF clearing and the lghtship
could be made out from the Highlands.
AT the same time the wind seemed to
Increase so that the Colulnbia's topsail
Mapped quite lively before IL was fully
In position.
sir Thomas Lipton's guests, reduced
In number. came down to the Erin in
the steamer Blackbird, and having
transferred to the yacht proceeded to
the line. 1t was long after when the
revenue boats and torpedo boats began
TO arrive, and they were followed by
number of private steam yachts and
a number of excursion boats. The sun
| was warm enough tomake October mid
y.
cred in intensity as noon approached,
but with itsincrease came also a fresh
ening OF the breeze that made jubiiant
the heart OF yachtsmen and tempered
the heat.
SHAMROCK SHOWS WE'LL,
At $50 the Shamrock. getting down
near the line, dropped her tender. She
had her mainsail. gtaysail tib, baby
Jib and clubtopsail set. Just after get
ting away she found the breeze stiff,
for she took in her stay sail after
standing for a short time on the port
tack.
The Columbia Cropped her tonder in a
moment. and haneuvered about the
line. Those watching the two boats
could see that the Shamrock stood a
little stiffer with her increased ballast.
The Shamrock. under her Immense
expanse sof sail showed to beautiful ad-
vantage and going on long reach
fairly flew over the water.
BEFORE THE START.
Immediately after the preparatory
signal was fired from the COMMITTEES
tug Luckenbach at t0.45 the Manning.
the flagship OF the patrol fleet, footed
her whistle to warn all boats but the
two contestants out of the patrol line,
and Sir Thomas Liptons yacht Erin
took up u signal and ecnoed y down
the line Previous To the signal the
Shamrock began 10 get her spinnaker
ready to break out on starbcard side,
and as soon as the gun was fred ran
her balloon jib up 10 the outer stay In
readiness for the start. The Columbia
was north OF the lightship when the gun
was fired, but swung around at once
and bore down toward the line. Her
crew also made the spinnaker pole
ready TO lower 10 starboard.
THE challenger did not attempt to
nush to windward OF her rival but con-
tented herself with keeping abreast OF
her In these relative positions the
two racers came close up to one Of the
revenue cutters. Then the Shamrock
swung off to starboard, and as soon as
the Columbia had rounded 20 port
gybed over and then worked up across
the latter's stern. Both were then
heading toward the starting line and
when the starting gun was fired at III
o'clock they were making leisurely for
II. The Columbia was moving just
little faster when the signal was giv-
on but the Shamrock crew almost
Immediately broke out her ballooner TO
! port, and under this increase OF can
vass the challenger began TO foot better
than the cup defender.
THE START.
AS soon as the Shamrock's ballooner
had broken out and was fairly trim.
| ned aft the forestay sail was lowered
| and the wind filled the great saiis
splendidly driving the craft ahead at
| fine speed.
The Shamrock's crew had lowered
the spinnaker pole TO starboard but did
NOT break otn the sail then. The time
for firing the handicap gun was draw
ing near and the Columbia crossed the
line an 1i:0i:33. The Shamrock was over
timed Hogarth not getting his vessei
over until ii :O2 i02 two seconds after tile
handicap gun was fired. The English
racer thus lost that time. South south
EAST out 10 se< the mark boat set down
the lceward course, which the Wlnu
called for. Almost due south along Si.9
Jersey shore with spinnakers In stops
ond sheets iust eassd on the two boats
started off apparently at right angles 10
the course laid down and II was feen
fbat n ullG lufflnE match was on.
m was evident that Can't. Hogarth or
| cbanrock who has frm heller IN tnf
reaching powers Of his boat. was try
| ing 10 indulge her in that IRE. Capt.
| Rarr on the Columbia seemrd hotnihE
| Ioash 10 trv II cut end 50 began ~.
reach of the course. The Columbia lei
| about four sngths over the line aud hcr
positIon under the reaching tactics had
| but one disadvantaTc. that che was ~
/ leeward. still there was small Tear of
tContinued on Pege Tw0)