The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-10-20
COLUMBIA SAILS
COURSE ALONE
Shamrock Met With an Acct.
dent and Had to Put Back.
COULD NOT STAND THE WIND
That the British Owner Has Been Praying
For All the Time Columbia Led
When the Accident
Occurred.
Special to News-Democrat.

Special to News-Democrat.
Highlands, N. j., Oct. 17.--'rhe second
race of the series for the Americas cup
has been lost to the Shamrock by an
accident. After the boats had started
and were sailing almost neck and neck
her large club topsail was carried away
| by the wind. She Immediately put
about and headed for home. The Co.
| lumbia will keep on the course and if
she finishes in the time will win the
race, under agreement of the owners of
the yachts that If either boat should
become disabled the other boat shall
sail over the course alone. A raffiing
yachting breeze of from ten to twelve
knots an hour was blowing at 8 o'clock
this morning. By ten the breeze had
died to eight knots and the weather
was cloudy and threatening. The
breeze freshened again before the start.
The course was triangular, ten miles to
the leg. The first leg was a beat to
windward. The Columbia arrived at
the starting line at 1906. The Sham
rock at 1910. There were many more
betting was ten to six on the Columbia
At 10:45 the preparatory signal was
given, and at 100 the start was made
The Shamrock crossed the line first at
11:O1, the Columbia following at
11:01:42. The Columbia appeared to be
slightly in the lead when the accident
to the Shamrock occurred. The Column
bia must finish the race within the
time limit or the race will be declared
off.
WILL FINISH IN TIME.
Highland, Oct. 17.-There is little
doubt that the Columbia will fin
ish the race within the time limit, as the
wind is still blowing strong. Sir Thomas
Upton has repeatedly asked for breeze
of wind, and has at last got it.
HER UNDOING.
On board the Scripps- -McRae tug John
Bowker, Oct. 1.-THE accident to the
Shamrock occurred "a minutes after the
boats had crossed the line this morning
Her top mast snapped under the strain
of the big club top sail and came down
to the deck with a terrific crash. The
Shamrock's huge club sail had been the
envy of all American yachtsmen ever
since the green boat came over to try
to lift the cup. That sail, the pride of
the Britishers, proved to be her undoipg
The boats were still almost on even
terms when suddenly there was a puff
of wind and the huge club top sail of
the Shamrock rolled up and came down
with a rush. A cry of CONSERVATION
went up. The Scripps McRae tug was
the first to run alongside the Shamrock.
"Is any one hurt on board" was asked.
mo sir" replied Skipper Hogarth.
"Will you try to finish?" mo. we can
not repair, we are crippled" "Who
was ahead when the break Gamer" We
think we were," replied the skipper with
laugh. 1T is hard luck. We were go
ing to have a beautiful race" The
Shamrock men will spend the balance
of the day stepping a new top mast and
repairing for tomorrows contest.
FINISHED IN TIME.
On board the Mackey Bennett,-Co-
lumbia finished at 2:37:O5, official time.
AS she crossed the line, excursion boats
yachts and all craft left forth a blast
from their whistles that must have stir
red the hearts of the Columbia sailors
Ten minutes after crossing the line the
Columbia hooked on her tug and headed
Cor Sandy Hook.