The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-18
And which Would Have Won Any-
how. as She Was Ahead when the
Foreigner Became Disabled.
FAST RUN BY THE AMERICAN
TRIANGULAR COURSE COVERED IN
THREE HOURS AND A HALF.
Agreement signed by Upton and Ises
lin That Gave the Race to Columbia
Another Contest Thursday.

NEW YORK. Oct. 1.-THE topmast of the
cup challenger Shamrock carried away
twenty-five minutes after the big singles
sticker had crossed the starting line to-day
and her enormous club sail with it's 1900 feet
of canvas came rattling down on the deck
leaving her hopeless cripple. No amount
of pluck or courage could face such
catastrophe and Captain Hogarth imme-
diately abandoned the race. towing back 10
the anchorage after he had cleared away the
wreckage. The Columbia continued over the
course alone, placing TO her credit the secs
ond of the races for the Americas cup. The
accident TO the Shamrock ruined the race
and caused the keenest regret 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 before the
start time for repairs is allowed, but once
over the line. IL anything carries away the
sufferer must make such repairs he cam
or. If rendered hors de combat, as the Shame
rock was to-day, he must take the conseS
qrences. There is good sense and logic bes
hind the rule. The races are test of CONF
Doubtless IL 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 ruies
gave him no alternative. He was in duty
bound to go on, and he finished withiu
the time link the race was his. Had the
accident not occurred 1t is believed the Yan<
kee boat would have repeated the beating
she gave the challenger yesterday. During
the twenty-five minutes the yacht sailed She
had gone through the Shamrock's lead lke
a streak and had established a lead OF more
than 300 yards on the weather bow.
A SIGNED AGREEMENT.
When the Puritan fouled the Genesta on
the inside course, in 1887, carrying away tho
challenger's bowsprit and topmast, although
the race was at his mercy. under the rules
Lord Richard Sutton magnanimously rev
fused to claim it, To avoid just such a conx
tingency, in which the beneficiary of an ac>
cident is always reluctant to claim his
rights, a special clause was added TO the
regular 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 ate
| tempt to race.
The accident to-day shows what a deli&
and how close TO the limit OF safety il 10
built. A superlatively light structure,
weighed down by enormous ballast to carry
the gigantic spread OF canvas. The most
delicate and scientific adjustment OF weights
is required. The simple breaking of a stay
to-day wrecked the Shamrock. The wire
backstay Of the topmast, which helps to
support the slender spars, gave way and
this support removed, her Oregon pine top
mast as big telegraph pole, sixty feet
long and fourteen inches in diameter
snapped off like match just above the lows
mast cap. This mast was not only sup<
porting the pressure of a fifteen-knot breeze
against her big kite, but was also sustain>
ing the crushing weight OF the sail Itself.
and The Two club topsail yards, each forty
feet long.
Later in the afternoon the Shamrock was
towed up 10 the Erie basin. I'm the upper
bay. A new topmast will be sent up to-mor-
row and she will be remeasured. She viii
probably be taken out for a spin tomorrow
to try her new stick. and the third race OF
the series will be sailed on Thursday. This
race will again be over a windward and lee
ward course. and IL the Columbia wins tho
series will have been completed without Civ.
ing the Shamrock an opportunity TO test her
a triangular course.
GOOD DAY FOR RACING.
The day had promised a glorious contest.
There were only gray neutral tints in ths
morning, but a hard. strong twelve-knot
breeze out of the east kicked up the white.
caps and the wind and tide helped TO pile
Up the tumbling waters. The pulses of the
sportsmen throbbed in anticipation and a
big excursion fleet plowed out 10 witness the
second duel between the Shamrock and tho
Columbia. Some OF the small sailing feet
got outside. plunging their bowsprits under
and wettinS their head sails as they wall
lowed In broken water until they were clad
enough TO square away for more placid seas.
Later in the day the wind drove the clouds
away. leaving an almost iawless vault OF
blue overhead The shining waters and tha
gay flags and bunting made a brilliant ma.
rine picture.
The Shamrock went out. eager for tho
fray. She cast OF her tow before she