Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-03
TO-DAY'S TELEGRApHIC NEWS.
The Columbus hamrock Race.


New YORK, o.. 3-FoT the tenth
time in iho history OF the Americas
cup the British today are trying to win
battered piece of silverware. Its in.
tIiosic value is only few hundred SOW
ereigas, yet hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been spent in vain effort
to win it back. Sir Thomas Upton, u
man OF millions, is the latest Britisher
to try and win back the cup, and be
confidently expects to carry home the
trophy. Americans, generally, do not
think he will succeed and have implitit
faith in the Columbia. The wind this
morning was blowing from the north
at rate varying from six to ten miles
an hour, but giving evidence of fresh
ening. Both the Shamrock and the
Columbia are as ready for the contest
as human hands can make them. The
course selected for today's race is sail
fifteen miles to Windward or leeWaid
aud return. Ii will be beat into the
eye of the wind and straight run with
the breeze dead astern. The official
measurement showed that the Colum-
bia was nearly two feet longer on the
water line than the Shamrock, and that
she had to allow the British boat 81
secor DIS in thirty mile race. Despite
the fact that the Columbia is longer
than the Shamrock, the challenger has
a greater sail area. Shamrock's total
Sail area is Is .49l square feet to Colum'
bias IS, 1876. Probably no such exodus OF
boats from New York harbor in years
was so large as the one this morriog.
ed the fleet and every boat was gaily
decked with bunting and flags. All
craft were heavily laden with passen-
gers. Hundreds OF people with all
kinds of glasses to view the race, lined
tie shore from Sandy Hook to Elberon
AS the yachts started over the line
both broke out their baby jib topsails.
The course is about south by west.
The Shamrock crossed the starting line
about 25 seconds ahead of Columbia
Both boats behaved beautifully in tbs
strong wind. The excursion fleet was
kept some distance astern and they will
probably not interfere With the racers
Shortly after crossing the line the Co
lunbia appeared to be cutting down
the Shamrock's lead, but very slowly.
A; 1l:4O the wind suddenly died away
aud the slight gain the Columbia made
10 her chase after the Shamrock seem
ed to be lost and the cup challenger in
creased her lead slightly. AT 1910 the
Shamrock had increased her lead 10
about 2 minutes. TIE wind had died
TO 7.knot breezs At 12:lS beth
yachts gibed their booms to port and
he Columbia rapidly closed the gap
and at 1919 passed the Shamrock.
At one o'clock both yatcbs were
making for the stakeboat off EberoD,
the Columbia being about three minutes
in the lead and still gaining. Columbia
turned the stake boat at l:22.
The Columbia completely outpointed
the cup challenger and at 1884 had in.
creased her lead to three Fights of 8
mile.
The race should he finished by 4:30
Captain Hogarth evidently tried 10
coax the Colum bia into snort tacks, but
BARR beat him at his own game.
The Columbia seems to stand up bet
er and points higher than her rival. At
D. N. the Shamrock appeared to over
come some of her rivals lead
! At 2:27 p. m. the Columbia was about
one minute and 25 seconds ahead Of
Shamrock.
Owing 10 the light wind the yachts
were unable to finish in the required
time of five and half hours. The race
was, therefore, declared off and will be
smiled over on Thursday.