Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-20

ONCE MOIlE DEN1ONN
STRATED HER SUPERIORITY
OVER THE BRITISH BOAT, AL
THOUGH THERE WAS NOT SUI
FICIENT WIND TO CARRY
EITHER OVER THE COURSE
WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT-MAY
SAIL TWO MORE RACES EVEN
AFTER THE CUP OWNERSHIP
IS DETERMINED.
NEW YORK, October 19.-Had the
wind held to-day, the Columbia
Shamrock series for Americas cup
! would have ended in three straight
wins for the defender and the Irish cup
hunter would have sailed home without
the trophy, beaten as badly as any
former candidate. Only the failure OF
| the wind saved the Shamrock from a
defeat more singing than on Monday.
| To-day she was beaten on the run to
outer mark five minutes and 81 sec
onds elapsed time, and on the leg
home, which should have been a beat,
but which owing to a shift of the wind,
was a broad reach, Columbia sailed
away from her like a witch. When the
race was declared off, about 10 min
utes before the expiration of the time
limit, Columbia was leading by about
three miles. She was then four miles
from the finish. Had the race ended
Shamrock would have been beaten by
at least 20 minutes.
Sir Thomas hard luck continued to
follow. His boat was very badly
handled to-day in spite of the aggrega-
ton of talent aboard Of her. The two
English captains and the captain of En-
peror Williams yacht Meteor failed to
get Shamrock over the line before the
handicap gun was fired and she went
into the race penalized by two seconds
on that account. The additional bal
last which was put into her yesterday
also seems to have been a blunder on
the part of her managers, as it in
creased the size of the body to be forced
through the water and in the light air
that prevailed to-day retarded instead
| of increased her speed. What Sham
rock may be able to do in rough
weather and a reefing wind is still prob
lematical but after the drubbing she
has received the experts are almost
unanimous in the belief that the Column
| bia can take her measure in light airs
or a gale of wind. The crew of the
Shamrock have given it up. They are
now convinced that we have the better
boat. Before the race on Monday they
had the most supreme confidence in
their ability to WIN with Shamrock.
There was no living with them" said
one of the Yankee tars on the Sham
rocks tender Lawrence. They did not
think their boat would win; they abso-
lutely knew it. They would not even
hear arguments. After they returned
from the race Monday they were so
sore that they would not speak to each
other. Now they IRE frank enough to
admit that the Columbia is the better
boat by ten minutes over a thirty mile
course"
The yachts will race again tomorrow,
and even if Columbia wins there is a
possibility that two more races will be
| sailed. A suggestion to this effect has
been made and Sir Thomas appears
anxious that it should be carried out.
He has been greatly disappointed in
the showing his boat has made. but
believes she might do better over a
triangular course in a heavier wind, and
has said that he would be very pleased
to sail two more races.
This was a radiant day for those
a1oat. Though a light haze hung over
the horizon, not a cloud f1ecked the sky.
! A ten-knot land breeze blew out of the
| northwest and the foam tipped wave
lets running on the gentle ground swell
| shimmered in the bright sun. A big
holiday crowd went out to witness what
all supposed would be the last race of
| the cup series and the sightseers were
treated to a rare picture as they bowled
down the harbor. The bay was alive
| with sails. Fifty or more sailing ships
| of every style, from coasting %schooners
to lofty square riggers bound for the
| Indies or the China seas. which had
been harbor-bound for two weeks, were
taking advantage of the favoring breeze
| and like a flock of wild gulls were
| speeding seward with their spreading
| pinions cleaning in the sun.
The course to-day was laid Is miles
before the wind. southeast by south,
| straight out to sea. After some pretty
m%anoeuvering behind the line, Captain
Barr, on the Columbia, bested the tall
ent aboard the challenger, sending the
| Columbia flying across the line q sec
onds ahead of his adversary. So badly
| had the Shamrock mi~scalculated that
the handicap gun doomed two seconds
before the green boat crossed and she
| sailed way with that penalty iR~addi-
| ton to the sixteen seconds she allows
| the white wonder under the new meas