The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-10-07
PROBABLY NO RACE.
THE WIND VAS GOOD WHEN THE
YACHTS STARTED.
1t was Blowing twenty Miles an Hour, But
Decreased Rapidly as the Race Pro-
gressed- Equal Merits of the
Yachts Again Demon
stracted.


Special TO EVENING HERALD.
New York, oct. 1T is estimated that
nearly a hundred thousand people went
down to the sea in ships this morning to
witness the great international race for the
Americas cup between the yachts Columbia
and Shamrock. So large an audience has
probably never been seen collected for any
purpose on the open sea, and probably the
largest feet Of transports which ever sailed
out of New York harbor ON such a mission
was pressed into service.
Contrary to general expectations, the two
hukes in the races have increased, instead of
diminishing, interest in the races and the
hackers and admirers Of the respective yachts
appear to be even more enthusiastic over the
races than they were the first day This is
undoubtedly due to the rst two trials dem
onstratiDg that the yachts are as evenly
matched as two vessels Of the kind can be.
The day was an ideal one for the race aud
the wea ther was remarkably clear When
the yachts and feet of excursion boats
assembled at the rendezvous about the Sandy
Hook lightship the wind was blowing at the
rate of twenty miles an hour and all indica-
tions pointed to an exciting and successful
race.
The course announced for the race was
fifteen miles leeward and return
Capt Barr displayed improvement in the
handling of the Columbia to-day and he
crossed the starting line first, at 1l:2O:1, The
Shamrock followed at 11:2l:l6, the Columbia
getting oyer minute and 10 seconds ahead.
At HAS the wind had decreased to eight
knots. The Columbia maintained good
lead and slowly increased it until noon.
when she was about an eighth of a mile to
the good, but the wind was decreasing.
As in the preceding races, the speed of the
Columbia decreased with the wind and the
Shamrock was gaining in proportion. The
Shamrock slowly oyerhauled her competitor
and passed her at 1890. At 1 o'clock the
Shamrock was still holding her lead and she
had the best of the wind.
During this part of the race the wind con.
tinued to decrease, until at 1;25 it had fallen
from the highly encouraging speed of twenty
miles an hour to but three knots This cast
gloom over the spirits of the great host OF
spectators and they commenced to lose hope
that the yachts would be able to reach the
finish line within the time limit, which is
five hours and half for this course
Should a third fuke result it will be
exceedingly unfortunate as to-day was the
date fixed originally for the third and last
race of the series and those directly interested
in the yachts are becoming impatient and
discouraged. Each day race is postponed
adds enormously TO the expenses of the
respective yacht owners and hackers, es il
adds so many more days to the time the
captains, experts, crews and others must bC
kept in commission. and this amounts to uC
small item each day Besides this
banquets receptions and supplemental
spins on the sea are to follow the regular
races and those concerned in these are an
xiOus to have them over and done with. L
is not unlikely that some of the events con
templated may be dispensed with on account
| of the tedious delays occasioned by the hukes
At 1885 the Columbia had pulled herself to
g, ther and was gaining ground. The Sham
rock was but one minute in the lead at thi
| hour.
Eleven minutes later, 1:46, the yacht
turned the outer stake boat with the Sham
rock lenth, or two, in the lead, clos,
margin. The Columbia was still increasin,
her speed, and minute later, 1:47, tn,
yachts were on even terms, with the Col
umbia gaining steadily.
During the succeeding half hour the posi-
tions held by the yachts were such as woulC
have made the prettiest race ever seen be
tween similar vessels with a correspondence
favorable wind. 1t is nip and tuck, tn,
Shamrock being slightly in the lead at 2:2O
At $40 the yachts were six miles from tn,
finish and the chances for successful fnisl
were against them, although some expert
figured that they had a chance to get il
about seven or eight minutes before th,
expiration of the time limit.
At $3.50 the Columbia had again secured tn,
lead. She was assisted in this by some draw
back the Shamrock met with, by which tha
vessel lost % seconds. The cause is no
known,