The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-17
SHIPS IN &
A RACE.
They lSail For a Prize
from Hawaii to
the BreakWater.

A race OF 1000 miles for prize Of $1,000
trminated at the Delaware Breakwates
> Yesterday, when three square-rigged ves-
rolls. each flying the Stars and Stripes, ro.
ported their arrival from the far-of
Hawaiian Islands. Though the vessels
sailed several days apart, the fac. that they
al arrived ct their destination within
fsw hours of each other makes the race
enc Of the most remarkable recorded In
she history Of tho American merchant
marine.
4 The vessels engaging In this unique
contest arc the ships !. f, Chap man and
w. f. Babcock and the bark St Ka,her-
Inc. and the latter was tho first to report
though tho was the last to start OH her
long run. She was, in fact, safely an.
chored behind the Breakwater before the
others appeared In sight. All three Gre
Amorican-built and American.owned.
They are noted for the fast voyages al
ready t. their credit, aud are commanded
BY Yankee shippers
HUNG UP PRIZE OF $1,000.
II was while the three vessels were TAX
Ing on cargoes Of sugar at the newly ac-
quired possession Of the Uuitod States
shat the masters agreed to make up
purse of 81, 900 to be won by the vessel first
reporting at the Delaware Breakwater
where all three were to come to await or
ders from their owners 1t was also agreed
Shat due allowance should DO made for the
difference In the tina Of each vessels de-
parture, and then each master PIT his
chip in the best shape possible, AMI eA-
pressed con fdence in his ability to pull
down the prize
The first to sail was the Babcock, which
cleared from Honolulu on March last.
A week later the Chaplain got under way,
but not until March % did the St, Kath-
crime complete her loading, pull up her an.
chors and square her sails from Hilo,
port several miles distant from Honolulu,
Though so far behind, the master of the
stanch bark did not despair of actually
overtaking his rlvols, and with that end
In view he resor; cd to every trick known
to tho skilled mariner, whilo tho mon I'M
der him strained every nerve to catch up
with the fleet ships SO far ahead
THE THREE BOATS CLOSE UP.
# 1t was not until Cape Horn hal b,en
rounded that the st. Katherine came in
sight Of her competitors. The Chapman
had come up With the Babcock while both
were yet in tho Pacific Ocoan, but not I'M
q, IA; l,,r I, n n IN
them did the race begin in earnest. Then
1t was that the rival mariners began to use
every endeavor to force their boats ahead,
and for days 1t was Il neck-and-aeck race,
but the St. Katherine steadily kept to
tine front, and all tho way to CApe Hen.
lopen continued to kec? the others atern'
When in the vicinity Of tho Equator he
three racers were becamca for u week an d
the sailors vera in despair Never for an
instant was vigilance relaxed, as each
.,ekioper was anxious to keep in realm ess
to take advantHg, Of ev'ry breath OF wind.
Not much help was gained from the trade
winds, which were lost after Il few hou rs
OF relief At Clpo nntteras the st. kath-
erinehad comfortable laal, an at tho
fin sh she was several hours ahaal Of tho
Chapman and Babcock, which came to
an anchorage at about the same timo.
Tho vessels each carry Il large cargo OF
raw sugar, which tho rotfaes here md
elsewhere arc greatly in noed of. There
being very little sugar in the Wost Inua
islands the reQners are now compelled tC
1ely On tho far East for their supply, and
a number Of vessels are now bringing car.
goes from Java and the Pacific Islands.