The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-20
COLUMBIA-SHAMROCK
RACE AGAIN A FLUKE
American Boat Leading When le Race Was Declared OSir
Thomas Upton is Greatly Disappointed at the Ee
mens Refusal to Favor the Sport.

New York, October 19.-Only the cats
paw breeze that prevailed today saved the
Shamrock, the Irish cup challenger, from
being defeated as decisively as any former
candidate. Only the failure of the wind
saved the Shamrock from a defeat more
stinging than on Monday. Today she was
beaten on the run to the outer mark five
minutes and fifty-one seconds elapsed time
and on the leg home which should have
been a beat, but which owing to a shift
of the wind was a broad reach, Columbia
sailed away from her like a witch.
When the race was declared off, about
ten minutes before the expiration of the
time limit, Columbia was leading by about
three miles. She was then four miles from
the finish. Had the race ended Shamrock
would have beaten by at least hard twen-
ty minutes.
Sir Thomas boat was badly handled to-
day In spite of the aggregation of talent
aboard of her. The two English captains
and the captain of Emperor Williams
yacht Meteor, failed to get the Shamrock
over the line in front. The additional bal
last which was put into her yesterday
seemed to have been a blunder ON the part
of her managers as 1t increased the size of
and in the light that prevailed today re-
tarded instead of increased her speed
What Shamrock may be able to do in rough
weather and in reefing wind is still prob
lematical, but after the drubbing she has
had the experts are almost unanimous in
the belief that the Columbia can take her
measure in light air or against Off wind.
The crew of the Shamrock have given 1t
up They are now convinced that we nave
the better boat. Before the race on Mon
day they had the most supreme confidence
in their ability TO win. There was no living
with them, saidIone of the Yankee tars. but
the starch has Been taken out of the Cack-
neys now and they don't howl so loud.
Sir Thomas has been greatly disappointed,
but believes the Shamrock might do better
over a triangular course in heavier vino,
and has said he would be pleased to sail
two more races. This was a radiant day
for those af1oat. Though a light haze hung
over the horizon, not a cloud fecked the
sky. A ten-knot land breeze blew out of
the northwest, and foam-tipped wavelets
running on the gentle ground-swell shim-
mered in the bright sun. A big holiday
crowd went out to the race with all speed
to witness the last race, as thought, and
the sight-seers were treated to a rare pic
ture as they bowled down the harbor. The
hay was alive with sails. Fifty or more
sailing ships of every sort, from coasting
schooners to lofty square riggers bound for
been harbor- bound for two weeks, were
taking advantage of the favoring breeze
and, like flock of wild gulls, were speed
ing seaward with their spreading pinions
cleaning in the sun.
The course today was laid fifteen miles
before the wind, southeast by south,
straight out to sea. After some pretty ma
neuvering behind the lines Captain Barr,
on the Columbia, bested the talent aboard
the challenger by sending the Columbia
flying across the line twentyseven seconds
ahead of her adversary. So badly had the
Shamrock miscalculated that the handicap
gun doomed two second before the green
boat crossed and she sailed away with that
penalty in addition to the sixteen seconds
she allows the white wonder under the new
measurement. The race to the outer mark
was not exciting Both yachts crossed with
bulging balloons, mainsails and their larg-
est club topsail drawing. But as the wind
had pulled a little TO southwark after the