Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-09

ried about the Illness Of MIR. Fife and he
insists that the Shamrock Is under great
disadvantage in not having him on board.
The opinion was quite general today that
there is something more in yacht racing
than can be drawn from the merits OF the
boats. There was wind enough for couple
of hours TO furnish test, the first real test
OF the week, and while it lasted the boats
were under equal conditions and the sham
rock did the better work. That is the
reason for the rise in Shamrock stock today.
It is good in a run dead before the wind.
1t is good in a beat to the windward. What
It will do in a reach is undecided but the
Impressions are against it on this point OF
sailing
There was another northeaster today
and Sandy Hook waters were churned up
in fine style
Captain Barr spent the best part OF his
day on board Columbia MIR. Iselin left
Saturday night with his entire party OF
Corinthians, and when the captain arose
this morning it was to the task OF looking
after number of things which Mr.. Iselih
himself ordinarily attends to.
No sunday Trial.
All Columbias sails were unbent on Satur-
day night, but at the time it was expected
that one Of the morning tasks would be to
set them again. The Sunday trial has always
been feature up to this time. The state
OF the weather today spoiled all hope along
that line and the men did not seem to mind
the deprivation.
Stripped OF It's canvas the defender looked
very bare. 1t was headed into the gale, or
as much of 1t as got inside the Hook, and
the man forward watch kept under the
lee as well Ss he could Captain Barr spent
most OF his time below. Altogether the
day was a dreary one. There was nothing
left for the men to do but to loll on the
tender and wish for a breeze for tomorrow.
Last Sunday they had plenty of visitors
who cheered the boat. These craft were
missing today The Sandy Hook boat came
alongside and these on board saluted the
defender. The Hook was deserted today,
except for the newspaper boats.
In spite of all the past hz2les, the sailor
men on Columbia still feel confident OF sue.
cess. The presence Of Shamrock near by
simply makes them more firm in their belief
OF victory when real trial comes.
The race OF Saturday operated as a tonic
on them all Up to that time they had heard
so much about their skipper being outgener-
aled that some OF them may have begun per-
haps, to fear that there might be something
In 1t. The Saturday race, to their mind
however, showed them different phase, ana
every one on board felt they would show
the English shippers yet what was possible
The men had no other comment to make
on the race. The policy of those in charge
of the defender is not to talk at all and
the men followed the implied instructions to
the letter.
Lirton's sunday.
Sir Thomas Upton spent the greater part
OF today on board the old schooner yacht
America as the guest of Lieutenant Colonel
Butler Ames. He arose early, notwthstand-
hn fnt
race, and after breakfasting spent couple
OF hours reading the newspapers. Then he
went on beard America in one of Erin's
launches in company with Sir Henry Bur-
dette, Right Hon. W. j. Pirrie and Mrs
Pirrie. Charles Russell, DR.. Mackie, Mr.. j.
T.. Young and Sailmaker Thomas Ratsey.
AS soon as the party was safely on board
America left its anchorage and under
reefed mainsail. foresail, jib and staysai
knocked about the Horseshoe for a couple
OF hours. The staunch old boat was sailing
at its best in the stiff breeze and the party
enjoyed the outing very much Mr. Ratsey
glad to get on board America, for he
had heard much from his father about the
craft that came over from America to Eng
land forty-eight years ago and captured the
cup that Shamrock has come to lift" this
year.
Ratsey's father saw the craft frequently
and got his first ideas about building sails
that would set fatter than the type of Eng
lish sails, which cut baggy at that
time. The elder Ratsey was following the
same vocation that his fathers had followed
for generations before, that of sailmaking
and he admired the America so much that
he had a model made, which is in the Ratsey
office to this day.
Upton Wants Strong Breeze.
When America came back to anchorage
at O'Clock Sir Thomas sgnaled for his
launch and came over to the Associated
Press yacht Wanda. After greeting those
on board Sir Thomas first words were:
isn't it singular that We always get a
strong breeze after a race day?"
Tho owner of Shamrock, when seen
later by the Associated Press representative
on board his steam yacht, Erin said he
would like to have a strong breeze for the
contest on Tuesday. so that the two boats
could finish a race, for II they did not do
so pretty soon no would have to build a
house on Sandy Hook. He mentioned dis
patch he had received from St. Johns N. F.
begging him to come down there and sail
the races, where there is plenty of wind
and lots OF water"
Sir Thomas said the crew OF his yacht
to have try at the Columbia in a stiff
breeze for they were more confident than
ever OF winning the cup. now that they had
shown how speedy Shamrock was In light
air.
A dispatch came to Sir Thomas this aft
ern0on from Weather Forecaster Williams
OF the weather bureau in Washington an
nounclng that heavy northeast gale was
moving slowly up the coast from OFF North
Carolina and that 1t would be dangerous for
small boats.
Lying under tho lee OF Sandy Hook the
two racing yachts were well protected from
the heavy sea running outside, but still
Sir Thomas deemed 1t advisable to take pre-
cautions. His first move to run over
to Columbia and notify Captain Barr OF the
warning that he had received from Wash
ington. He also placed tug at Barr's dis
posal II he cared to tow up the harbor out
of danger. for the Irish knight does not want
anything to happen to the cup defender any
more than he does to his own boat Then
he came back TO the Erin and instructed
Captain Matthews to keep steam up al
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