The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-07
BY the Big Yachts on Their
Ocean Race Course.
BRISK MORNING WIND
Of 10 Miles Hourly Velocity
Early Died Away,
And at 8 O'Clock the Breeze Is
Only Three Knots.
Vessels z Miles From Finish
Almost BecaImed.

Long Branch, oct " u OaDAO
Boat, 8:15 p. m.-Many of the New York
yacht club boats are returning and the
race is apparently of.
Time limit expires 1852 and yachts
can not possibly make it being ~ miles
from finish and beating against the
wind.
New York, Oct AT sunrise this
morning a strong nOrtherly breeze was
stirring up the white caps on the up
per bay; the sky was clear, a light
autumnaI haze hung over the Long IS
land and Staten Island shores, and the
air was crisp and invigOrating- Brief
". it would have been impossible to
imagine a morning more full Of prom
Use of a fine race between the Colum-
bia and the Shamrock.
At the anchorage and places of en-
barkation, however, it was seen that
the disappointments of Tuesday and
Thursday had affected the spirits OF the
yachtsmen and yachts women, for the
number Of people hurrying to the eXcuf-
sion fleet did not appear to be nearly
as large as one the previous days set
for racing OFT the battery only five
tugs were waiting for their passengers
These boats included the tug Volun-
teer. fixing the Shamrock's flag which
was taking on board the guests of Sir
Thomas Upton, who were subsequently
transferred to Sir Thomas yacht Erin
in the Horse Shoe.
Winter overcoats and wraps were in
order on all sides, among the eXcur-
siOnists
The first weather bulletin of the day
came from Galilee, N J, from Which
point the Associated Press cOrreSpon-
dent at 1902 a. m reported that the
r7n n
the coast at the rate of 20 miles an
hour. He added. however, that the
breeze showed signs of mOderat1ng by
noon. A very high sea was running
at that time and the observation limit
was i miles.
At the Highlands. at about 8 a. m,
the conditions of the race were almost
exactly similar to those prevailing at
the same time on Tuesday. The wind
Wss from the north, northeast, blow
ing almost directly down the Jersey
shore at a velocity OF almost Is knots
an hour.
The sea was covered with whitecaps
and the waves, the relics of yesterdays
storm, had their tops and creSUS taken
off by the breeze as they broke on the
Jersey shore, off the Highlands.
A number of coasters came out
around the Hook during the early
morning and ran away before the wind
down the coast, making excellent time.
From the Highland Light, the range
of vision south and east extended to q
hung over New York 7larbor and very
little in that direction could be seen
beyond the point of the Hook, a dis
tance of about miles.
The Shamrock was inside the Horse
Shoe as usual and had her two head
sails in stops by O'Clock and by half
past her tender, the tug James L.
Lawrence, was making preparations to
tow her outside. The Columbia was
being towed down from Bay Ridge.
The breeze was so fine and true off
he Hook that fha Shan diSnpnSad
with the aid of the tug and started out
for the light ship under sail. She had
Up her mainsail and jib and headed up
for the channel on the StarbOard tack.
Just as she got under way the COlum-
bia came down the channel and round
ed the southwest spit in tow Of her tug.
The Columbia stopped before reach
ing the Hook, about a mile to the west
OF the point and began hosting her
main sail. The Shamrock ran out past
the Hook at a lively gait.
The wind then still held from the N,
n. E, blowing about 10 knots an hour.
The weather off shore from the High
lands was very clear and ships over
twenty miles away could be plainly
seen.
The Shamrock made the run out from
her anchorage to Sandy Hook light
ship, a distance of over eleven nautical
miles, in 90 minutes with only mainsaiI
and jib.
The Columbia made fully as good
time. passing Scotland lightshiD before
10 o'clock. The wind at that time was
still from the north, northeast, a little
over 10 knots and holding true and
strong, with every Indication that it
would continue throughout the day and
enable the boats to have a good race.
After reaching the Ightship the
Shamrock eased off her sheets and
stood to the south and the crew began
to make ready the club topsai for
hosting
The old cup defender Vigilant had a
little brush with the latest challenger
on the run out. The Shamrock went
by her as if she was anchored.
Behind the Columbia were a half
dozen revenue cutters and a number of
steam yachts and as the two yachts
reached the lightship the first of the
excursion fleet appeared heading down
the swash channel
At 10 o'clock the steam yacht Erin
with large party on board. steamed
out of the Hook with a big Shamrock
nag on her foremast.
The Columbia arrived at the IightshiD
at 1O:O9 a m, having made the run out
under similar canvas as the Shamrock
and in practically the same time. When
she arrived at the light shin she also
eaSed on her sheets and stood a LITTLE
to the southwark but soon came about
and ran over towards the challenger
which was then sailing along on the
port tack about a mile southeast of the
Hghtship. Both boats were evidently
trying the breeze to decide as to their
Gght sails.
The wind at the time still came from
8As n. N. e. but had fallen off a trifie