The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-08

New York, Oct THE third attempt
to sail the first race of the Columbia
Shamrock series for the international
trophy ended in a farce. The race was
declared off 10 minutes before the time
limit expired, with the yachts five miles
from the finish. The vast throngs who
went down to the sea to witness the
battle royal were in measure compen-
stated by seeing a magnificent light
weather duel
When the race was abandoned, the
Columbia was in the lead, and improv-
ing her position, and had it been fin-
ished today, the American champion
would probably have won. In the race
today, as on the two previous days, the
course was laid Is miles dead before the
wind. and return. So evenly matched
were the racers, that they rounded the
outer mark almost neck and neck, and
finished after a three-hour thresh to
windward, with the Columbia's nose
half length IN sront and in the wealth
er position.
AS result of today's struggle and
those of Tuesday and Thursday, tbs
talent are a good deal COMPOUNDED. Some
OF them differ as TO the merits of the
two boats, but they seem unanimous
lhffpon two things: First, that the Sham
rock Is the ablest boat that ever crossed
the ocean to lift the mug; and, second,
that she is more ably handled than the
defender The superior seamanshlp OF
Capt Hogarth and his English crew
was demonstrated at several critical
points in the race today. though to Capt.
Barr and Mr.. Iselin belongs the credit
Of executing as brilliant and as daring
a piece of seamanship as was ever wit
messed in a yacht race.
The Shamrock did undeniably better
work to windward. She carved her way
M into the wind in astonishing style.
But Columbia seemed to be able to more
Than make up in footing what she lost
In pointing. The early morning was
full Of promise for glorious wholesale
breeze.
A stiff 2O-knot blast from the north
east covered the bay with white caps.
but before the excursion fleet had
reached the stakeboat, the breeze be-
gan to moderate. The sky was cloud
less and the atmosphere was so clear
that every foot of the course was visi-
HE to the thousands watching on the
Jersey hills. From the shore every
movement of the race was followed by
the sharps with glasses, and the result
was known there long before 1t was
flashed nv wire from the cable boat.
Outside. the long ground swell rolling
in from the Atlantic, a result OF the
gale that swept up the coast yesterday,
piled up lumpy sea, which brought
grief to many Of the sightseers afioat.
The Columbia had all the better OF
the start She bounded across the hne
with mainsail, club topsail and stay
sail drawing, spinnaker down to star
hoard ready for the race before the
wind and ten seconds afterward hel
balloon lib broke out. The Sharrock
went over II seconds later, with tne
same rig. The patriots were mad WIFE
delight but their enthusiasm was snort
lived The English skipper luffeu vi
TO run through the lee of the weather
gauge. Capt Barr tried to head of
fhe move by lufing also. This sem
both boats off at almost right angles
to the course, straight In for the Jel
sew coast and straight for the mob q
400 vessels gathered to the right OF tnt
line. The torpedo boats charged uowr
upon them to clear the way FOR tne
yachts Never was there such scam
herring Of ships, and several serious col
isions were narrowly ayerted. Bui
The fleet was soon scattered.
The Shamrock got the better of The
luffing match blanketing her rival and
Getting to windward. Then, when boil
had squared off on their course aud le'
go their liiOuSoANS WeitSN
and watched. Slowly the Colunbis
drew away, despite the Shamrock's re
heated efforts to blanket her. Oncs
clear. the Columbia forged ahead rapid
II. her three great balloons drawing th'
wind caroming from mainsail to spin
maker and from spinnaker to balloon Jib
she had established a comfortable leat
when the breath lightened and hauled
more to the northward Wrinkles be
gan to trickle down the sides Of thu
Commbia's balloons and several times
iii three sails seemed light. The Sham
rock at this point began to crawl up
cant. Hogarth took in the Shamrock
sninnaker when the mark was sight
ad eybed the Shamrock and trimmed
down the balloon jlb topsail rapidly
and with everything drawing splendid
Nv. he was luffing up toward the Column
bla. ,,
cuff but the Shamrock had passed hin
we'll to windward. Capt Hogarth thei
cot his spinnaker to port and increased
me lead. Capt. Barr waited almost i
minutes. while thet- Shamrock passed
him before he followed suit. The Sham
rock was 100 yards ahead before he hat
cot his sails trimmed to the right con
ditions. Soon afterward the wine
hauled around still further, making !
a broad reach to the mark Both tool
IN their spinnakers and eased thei
sheets Then the Columbia gaine'
steadily
The yachts were now about mill
and half from the outer mark. Steam