The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-10-18
AGAIN COLUMBIA WINS
Shamrock Compelled to Quit on
Account of an Accident.
OUR YACHT SAILS COURSE ALONE

According TO Agreement shewas Com
PEELED to Continue, Regardless OF
Shnmrock's sNfishap-Made a Remark
able Run over the Triangular Course
New York. oct. 1S.-The topmast of
the cup challenger Shamrock carried
away % minutes after the big single
stickers had crossed the starting line
yesterday, and her enormous clubsail,
with its 5000 feet of canvas, came
rafting down on the deck, leaving her
n hopeless cripple. No amount of
pluck or courage could face such
catastrophe, and Captain Hogarth i'm
mediately abandoned the race, towing
the yacht to the anchorage. The Co
lumbia continued over the course
alone, placing to her credit the second
Of the races for the Americas cup.
The accident to the Shamrock ruin
ed the race and caused the keenest re-
gret among the yachtsmen and the
thousands of sightseers who were on
hand to witness what had promised to
be a glorious duel 1t is unfortunate
that the defender should have been the
beneficiary of an accident, as there
is little glory In beating a cripple, but
the rule is ironclad. If crippled be-
fore the start time for repairs is al
lowed, but once over the line If any
thing carries away the sufferer must
make such repairs as he can, or, if
rendered hors de combat, as the Sham
rock was yesterday, he must take the
consequences. There is good sense and
logic behind the rule. The races are
a test of construction as well as de-
sign and seamanship. Doubtless If Mr..
Iselin could have had his choice in
the matter he generously would have
declined to continue. in view of the
crippled condition of his rival, but the
rules gave him no alternative. He
was in duty bound to go on, and as
he finished well within the time limit
the race was his. Had the accident not
occurred, however, It is believed that
the Yankee boat would have repeated
the beating she gave the challenger
on Monday.
During the 25 minutes the yachts
competed Columbia had gone through
the Shamrock's lead like a streak and
had established a lead of more than
300 yards on the weather bow. When
the Puritan fouled the Genesta on the
inside course in 1887, carrying away
the challenger's bowsprit and topmast
| although the race was at his mercy
under the rules. Lord Richard Sutton
| refused to take the advantage given
| To avoid Just such a condition, IL
which the beneficiary of an accident
is always reluctant to claim his rights
a special clause was added to the reg
ular rules this year, leaving absolutely
no option in the matter. This clause
was signed by Sir Thomas Upton and
Mr.. Iselin few days before the date
| of the first attempt to race.
Yesterdays accident shows what q
delicate machine a racing yacht is
nowadays, and how close to the limi
of safety it is built. 1t is a superla
lively light structure, weighted dowr
by enormous ballast to carry the gi
gantic spread of canvas. The mos
delicate and scientific adjustment o
weights is required. The simple break
ing of a stay yesterday wrecked tn,
Shamrock. The wire backstay of tn,
topmast, which helps to support tn
slender spars, gave way, and this sup
port removed her Oregon pine topmast
as big as telegraph pole, go feet loni
|
like a match just above the lower mas
cap This mast was not only support
ing the pressure of Is knot breez
against her big kite, but also sustain
ing the crushing weight of the sail it
self, and the two club topsail yards
each 40 feet long.
Later in the afternoon the Shamrocl
was towed up to the Erie basin in tn
! upper bay. A new topmast was sen
up today, and she was remeasureC
! The third race of the series will b
| sailed tomorrow. This race will agaiI
be over a windward and leewar
course, and If the Columbia should wi
the series will have been complete
without giving the Shamrock an op
! portunity to test her merits in her ia
vorite point of sailing over a triangula
, course-reaching
The day had promised a gloriou
contest There were only gray neutra
! tints in the morning, but hard stron
IL knot breeze out of the east kicke
up the white caps, and the wind an
tide helped to pile up the tumblin
waters. The pulses of the sportsme
throbbed in anticipation, and big eX
cursion feet went out to witness tn
second duel between the Columbia an
the Shamrock. 1t looked like blo'
such as the Shamrock is reported
/ have been praying for, and the sailor
! of the Irish boat made everything snu
aloft in anticipation of an increase
the wind.
Never probably was there a NOR
magnificent or exciting start in a GU
contest, and the Irishman carried o
the honors. Shamrock crossed tn
starting line at 11;15, and Columbi
Just two minutes later. At 11:24 tn
accident happened to Shamrock, an
she was towed to her anchorage. A
this time Columbia was an eighth of
mile to windward of the challenge
Followed by the excursion feet CC
lumbia continued over the cours
alone, and crossed the winning line q
2:37:17.
5 Columbia's time was little short {
marvellous. She covered the course
hours and 81 minutes; the beat
miles to windward in ! hour, 80 mir
utes and II seconds; the reach to tn
second mark in SO minutes and SO SCI
5 onds, and the last leg in 1 hour,
-