Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-17
THE COLUMBIA WINS,
A Race Between the C0ntsnding
Yachts al Last
THE TROPHY IS SAFE,
So II Is Now BelieVsd by the Naut-
cal SharpS.
THE CONTEST A DECISIVE ONE
The Trial Of Speed n Magnificent
Struggle, MnGnificently Sailed
Time between the Yachts at the
End. 10 Minutes, s Seconds.

NEW YORK, October 1.-THE cup
which the old schooner America won
against all corners on the course around
the Isle Of Wight in 1851, and brought
back across the seas, will probably re-
main here another year, in defiance to the
world.
In a glorious breeze over a windward
to leeward course Of thirty miles the
Columbia scored against the Shamrock
to-day m the first race of the 1899 series
for the trophy. She bounded across the
finish line fully mile and half ahead
of the challenger, defeating her by 10
minutes and IA seconds. actual time, or
10 minutes and seconds, corrected time.
after allowing the six seconds handicap
which the Columbia must concede to the
challenger on account of her longer
water line.
DECISIVE CONTEST
II was a decisive contest, a magnificent
race. magnlfcently sailed and magnifi-
Gently won. Opinion as to the merits OF
the two boats had been somewhat divided
as a result OF the fukes during the past
two weeks. Although the preponderance
OF expert opinion never wavered in its
loyalty to the wonderful speed and ability
Of the white flyer, no nautical sharp eX-
pected that the Shamrock would be so
Overwhelmingly vanquished as she was in
to-day's race. The Yankee boat out
generated her at the start, beat her
hopelessly in windward work to the outer
mark, and gained twenty-five seconds
in the run home before the wind. There
was a good strong ten TO twelve-knot
breeze, and it held throughout the race.
1t is undoubtedly a bitter blow, because
the English hopes of lifting the cup have
never been higher since the Thistle met
the Volunteer in 1857. Like the Sham
rock, she was declsivey defeated in the
first hours sailing
CUP SAFE.
The Regatta Committee, as q result of
the showing made by the Columbia to-
day, are convinced that the cup is safe.
Blow high or low. the Columbia, It is be-
lieved by her manager, Mr.. Iselln, can
beat the Shamrock. Sir Thomas like
the true sportsman that he is, confessed
after the race that he had been fairly
beaten. He had no apologies TO make.
To-days race was a magnificent duel
and made up for the repeated disappont-
ments the sight-seers have suffered. 1t
was anything but a comfortable day on
the water. The prospect was not alluring.
Still. the mist was hurried along by a
good 10-knot breeze right in from the
east, and the old shell-backs said there
was more wind whore that came from.
But the excursionists who went down the
bay We're not very hopeful until they got
outside. The low clouds overhead shut
out the sky. and the streaked waters
matched them. The mist made every
thing look ghostlike and indistinct. The
shores were uncertain and shadowy. The
metoeric torpedo-boats, sliding swiftly
out to the lightshp. were like black
shadows fitting across the water The
only color I'm the dull landscape were the
ensigns and brilliant streams OF checker
ed flags which adorned the excursion
feet. and the dash OF red from the big
hulk OF the lightshp.
THE CONTESTANTS.
Outside the wind was fresher. Both
Yachts were towed out from the anchor
ages. and raised mainsails before casting
OF. Mrs. Iseln was not 10 be deferred /
by the bad weather, and was conspi-
cuous figure on the Columbia, wrapped up
like an old salt in a yellow oil-skin. Inc
crew had on their working suits OF white.
and wore watch-caps of black and red,
Iselln's private colors. Several Of the
crew OF the Shamrock had on southwest
ers. From the truck Of the Shamrock's
topmast hQated Lipton's flag, green
shamrock in a yellow field.
The wind kept freshening all the way
ont TO the lghtship. and the seas split
more OF their froth. No large assem-
blage was on hand TO witness the start,
the repeated fukes having made the pub
lie very chary about coming out. few
side-wheelers. the regular feet or ocean
going tugs. and score or two Of steam
yachts were all
THE START.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the committee
boat signailed the course-iifteen miles
dead into the eye OF the wind TO the east
ward. and return. Both yachts set No. z
club topsais. their shippers evidently
agreeing that II would not be wise 10
carry their largest sky-scrapers In such a
breeze Just as the warning gun doomed
a driving mist swept I'm from the east
heating into the faces OF the patriots
and adding 70 their discomfort. There
was some lively jockeying behind the
line before the start, and the Columbia |
got the better of II. She clearly out |
manoeuvred her rival, eventually forcing |
her over the line first by half length, J
but leaving the Columbia in the weather |
nosltion. The official time Of the start |
was: |
Shamrock. nO1N8; Columbia ll0i:05.
Close-hauled on the starboard tack, the |
Yachts plunged seward, heeling TO the |
12-Lnot breeze. The first few minutes OF |
the race were the most interesting. They |
madesa beautiful picture as they raced |
away like hounds. Their sails. TO the |
nautical eve. were perfection in Mt. They |
looked as il they might have been carved !
ont OF alabaster. so firm and faultless |
were the lines.
WHITE FLYER FORCES AHEAD.
II was soon apparent that the white |
flyer was forging ahead. The clear water |
began TO show between them. the Co
lnmbia not only seemed TO outfoot the |
challenger but the experts saw that she
pointed higher. II was astonishing how
she sliced her way up into the wlnd.
Within fifteen minutes she had lead OF |
five lengths, and from that time on the |
race was hers The patriots were Jubi- |
liant. and the bands. which began playing. |
never stopped until the race was over.
The Columbia seemed more tender tnan