The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-06
Four Hours OF LufIing, Beating and
Tacking on Placid Sea, and Then
the Fizxle Was Declared on.
A Day OF DISAPPOINTMENT
LITTLE MORE LEARNED As To THE
MERITS OF THE RACERS.
Course Well Policcd by "Fighting
Bob Evans--scenes and Incidents
Kafser's Captain on Shamrock.


NEW YORK, Oct. 5.-Again to-day the
sea refused the Shamrock and Columbia
field OF conflict; again to-day the multitude
which went out to watch the contestants
for the yachting championship of the world
returned disappointed and not a little dis
gusted.
The question of supremacy of the two
great yachts is still as much an open ques-
ton as before they first met, the con-
test to-day was In some respects more Of a
fiuke than that of Tuesday. 1t was drift
Ing match almost from start to finish. The
yachts crossed the line with breeze CT
five knots and the wind never 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 sailing four hours
and forty-three minutes. the yachts having
covered only twelve miles of the course to
the outer mark, the regatta committee de-
cIded the race off, as it was manirestly i'm
possible, with the breeze then blowing, for
the boats to round the stake before the time
limit expired, much less to get back homo
again.
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 the wind held astern the
Columbia steadily 'outfooted her rival until
she was fully half mile ahead. but in the
shifting. battling winds that followed durins
the last three hours. with the great single
stickers tacking and beating and gybing to
catch every streak Of wind. fortune helping
one about as much as the other the Sham
rock gradually worked her way up until
when the race was declared off. the two
boats were about on even terms. the Sham
rock perhaps half a length ahead, but so
close was the Columbia that Captain Barr
could have thrown a biscuit to the for
eigner.
The only lesson learned by the nautical
sharps from to-day's trial Of the abilities OF
the two boats is that in light weather con-
ditions the Columbia Is the superior in run
ming and reaching and the Shamrock slight
ly better in beating. There has yet been no
indication OF what either boat can do in a
piping whole-sail breeze.
AN INDIAN SUMMER DAY.
The Weather Bureau had promised good,
strong wind for to-day. but the prophecy
was a most dismal failure. 1t was just an
.deal. lazy. hazy. Indian summer day, a
day for white duck and a novel under some
tree ashore. rather than an overcoat and a
yacht lace afioat- heavy haze hung over
sea and land The opaque curtain shut or
the views Of thousands waiting on the high
lands OF Navisink and the Long island
shore. The sky was veiled by a gossamer
OF clouds through which the sun sfted,
turning the sea into molten gold. So gentle
were the pulsating seas that any sort of
harbor or river craft, from steamer to row
a vast colony Of excursion boats, ocean,
going steamers. yachts. tugs. side-wheelers
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 smoke from their
stacks and the steam from their exhausts
mingled with the haze and formed an i'm
penetrable veil which transformed them in
the distance into vast fleet OF phantom
ships Though the curtain shut out the
view OF those ashore, II added TO the pleas
ure OF those afioat, for 1t made each one
feel himself personally a part of the beauti-
ful spectacle.
The torpedo boats guarding the course
threaded their way In and out through the
acres of boats like needles, their wakes a
threat of foam. warning the excursion skip
pers to keep their distance. But little diff
Guilty was experienced to-day. as Captain
Evanss interviews threatening dire conse-
quences 20 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 fut-
tering. What there was was from north
west by north from over the land. Outside
OF the ruck Of the steamers the old cup de-
fender Vigilant made beautiful picture
leaning away through the mist and the old
schooner America which had brought the
blue ribbon of the sea across the western
ocean nifty years ago, attracted universal
attention as she sailed about 10 see how
her latest champion would defend It,
SHAMROCK USES A BIG TOPSAIL.
Preparations We're made aboard both
yachts for the lightest airs before the
start. The Columbia discarded her heavy
steel topsaii yard for lighter and longer
pine one. and the Irish boat sent aloft the
iars~st club topsail ever seen on her, larger
by yards than any used in her trials on this
side.
Mrs. Iseiin. wife OF the managing owner
OF the Yankee boat, and who never fails 20
be aboard during a race. was snugly en-
sconced In the companionway OF the Co.
lumbia, attired in Jaunty white flannel
yachting costume. with red streamer
around her hat.
AS soon as the committee boat had
hoisted the signal letters D. c. l., making
the course nfteen miles southeast by south.
dead before the wind and return. a putting
tug steamed straight out 10 sea to plant the
outer mark. which neither Of the racers
vas destined to round to-day. There was
oouo pretty maneuvering behind the line
bc1orQ ~ ptert each breaking out her bal