The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-12
NO PROSPECT OF WIND
OUTLOOK LAST NIGHT FOR A YACHT
RACE TODAY NOT GOOD.
Picking Up Courage and
Now Confident of Defeating sham
Betting on Result.


morrow Is none of the best Even the
hitherto optimistic Weather Bureau will not
promise a breeze. The revised agreement
calls for start every week day from this
time on so there is a possibility of the fate
of the cup being decided this week.
Looking as fine as two fiddles tuned up to
concert pitch, the Columbia and Shamrock
lay quietly at their moorings all day, with
their tenders close at hand and tugs stand
ing by for call. During the early morn
ing hours the fog was even thicker than on
Tuesday, but when the sun came out to-
ward noon the fog cleared away under the
influence of light breeze from the south
southwest. Many fog bound Atlantic liners
which had been waiting for hours to cross
the bar passed into the harbor and up to
| quarantine. Among them was the White
| Star ship Oceanic. which rounded the south
west spit soon after 1:30 p. m.
The cover was taken off Columbia's main
sail just before noon and it was given
thorough overhauling and drying The new
club topsail was also looked after and the
running gear inspected fore and aft Speak
irg of the new club .topsail made for the
| Columbia since the last race and set on
Tuesday for the first time, Mr.. Iselin said:
Yes. it's a larger sail than any of the
| sets. Whether it is larger than any of the
| Shamrock's 1 am not prepared to say. You
| who see the boats under sail from a dis
| tance ought to be able 10 tell that for 1
| have not seen the sails of either boat from
distance
The utmost confidence in the American
yacht prevails among her crew. Many of
| them have wagered a months wages on
her. and all agree that she cannot be
| beaten. Just give us breeze like We used
| to have at Newport on some days" said
| one, "and we will show what she can do.
| Those who think she is just light weather
| boat will get left, that's all. The harder it
| blows the better the boat will go, down the
| wind or any other way, it does not matter
| so long as it blows a good, steady breeze
| from start to finish. We know we have a
hard boat to beat, but we shall beat her
| just the same"
| Captain Barr has little or nothing to say.
but he also. the sailors say. has no thought
| of anything but making Columbia cross the
| finish line first in every race. Capt. Nat
| Herreshoff says less than anyone on board,
| but he never let's chance go by to improve
| the yacht in every possible way.
| Upton CHEERFUL AS USUAL
| Sir Thomas Upton was as cheerful as
usual, full of hope for a breeze tomorrow
| and full OF confidence in the Shamrock 8
| ability TO lift the cup. There she is,' said
| he, with a show of pride in his voice and
gesture as he pointed to the green beauty,
lying peacefully at her buoy. Nothing has
been done to her since the last race and
| nothing needs to be done. She is all ready
| to start when the gun is fired"
ea Meatner th et condit1ons at the Horseshoe. S1
| ing, were nearly as depressing to-day as
yesterday. The morning brought a fog like
| that or the day before, although less dense,
4 which lifted SLOWLY the 6aV advanced
| Not breath of air was stirring and there
was no sign of breeze until the early
| afternoon, which was the dreariest part OF
| the day. On board the defender and chal-
| lenger a close watch was kept through the
mist for vessels, but aside from this and
| the ordinary. routine, there was little for
| the crew to do. except wait for the morrow
| and hope for wind. AS the day advanced
the fog lifted, until at noon it was hardly
/ more than a haze on the horizon.
About l O'Clock the first breeze Of the
day came up from the south. light and
on the water. In the afternoon this in
| creased, although Ii was never more than
| enough to move any except the smallest
boats. One of the boats of the Erin fitted
with a leg of mutton sail, set in English
| style. was sailed in midafternoon by one of
the Erin's petty officers and Sir Arnold
| Morley, around the Horseshoe, in and out
OF the fleet, attracting attention from the
| unusual set of the sail.
The sail covers on the big yachts, taken
on at midday. were replaced about mid
afternoon, Columbia's men being the first
| to do this The day was discouraging and
Mr.; Iselin voiced the general feeling when.
/ on board the tender ST. Michaes. he said it
| was fortunate that no race had been sched-
uled for to-day.
| HERRESHOFF WILL AID BARR
| No work on sails or rigging was done on
the American boat. On the Shamrock none
had been attempted on other days c. oliver
Iselin said the new club topsail and the
mainsail were both satisfactory, so far
| as he could tell, and no more change had
been made on either. He said further that
| practically no changes had been made on
| the Columbia. He denied that any trouble
had been experienced with the bobstay. and
| stated that the work on that had been
merely painting. This one is not galvan-
| ized, he said, "and we have to paint 1t
| frequently. That is the reason for the
/ work of the sailors on it, In response to
hon would sail on the &c Columbia in 'aii ali of
| the cup races, as he had sailed in the trials
| already held, and would add his experience
ana ana Knowiedge or the boat to that of Cap
At the New York Stock Exchange to-day
offers OF 10 to s on the Columbia found no
| Shamrock In the hands of commission brok-
ers. Money at the New York Yacht Club
and other clubs had found no Shamrock TAX
erS, and the Columbia seems to be the
| favorite yet with American bettors. Betting
has been even. 10 to and 10 to to-day in
SOluHlDld clICleS Out no money is reddy
from the opposition and no betting OF ac-
count had been done. One to in hundreds
was recorded at the Hoffman House, but
all the other centers have reports of
wagers.
In an interview with former Commodore
James d. Smith. Of the New York Yacht
Club, he said: There is little difference
| between the boats, If there is any, and
| from what have seen of their sailing quail
| tiles thus far I should prefer the Sham
| rocks. While / may be a subject for cavil
| from my fellow-members of the New York
| Yacht Club. / think / am entitled to my
| opinion. For several series of races / have
| been chairman Of the America cup commit
tee. / asked to be excused from further
| duty In this matter and the cup committee
| to-day and for these races is composed of
Commodore J. Pferpont Morgan, Vice Com
| modore Ledyard, August Belmont, jr., Sec
| retary j. V. S. Oddie, Treasurer F. w.
Hearts, former Commodore E. NJ. Brown
and Herman Duryea, 1 do not care so
much to be quoted as saying that / think
the retention of the cup is in doubt. 1
would not say that wished the Shamrock
| might win the series eventually, but be-
| lieve that the Shamrock is the most dam
! gerous challenger that the New York Yacht
| Club has had for contestant since America