The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-20

Clever Shippers of the Challenger
Mt the Start and Throughout the
Effort to Make Race-Added
FIuIe a disappointment to Pro-
moters of the Contest.
NEW YORK, Oct. 1S-Had the wind
held today the ColumSia-Shamrock Sc
ries for Americas cup would have end
ed in three straight wins for the de-
fender, and the Irish cup hunter would
have sailed home without the trophy,
beaten as decsively as any former can
didate Only the failure of the wind
saved the Shamrock from defeat more
stinging than on Monday. Today she
was teaten on the run to the outer marx
five minutes tifty-one seconds elapsed
time, and on the run home, which should
have been a beat, but owing to sh1tt
of-the wind, was a broad reach, Column
bia sailed away from her like 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 about
four miles from the finish. Had the race
ended Shamrock would have been beaten
by at least twenty minutes.
Sir Thomas hard luck continues to fol-
low him. His boat was very badly han
died today in spite of the aggregation of
talent on board her. The two Engllsh
captafns and the captain of Emperor
Williams 5 yacht, Meteor, failed to get
Shamrock over the line before the handi-
cap gun was fired, and she went into
the race penalized by two seconds on
that account. The additional ballast
which was put into her yesterday also
seems to have been a blunder on the
part Of her managers, as it increased the
size of the body to be forced through
the water, and in the light air that pre-
vailed today retarded, instead of in
creased her spCed. Whatever Shamrock
may be abge to do in rough weather and
q. reeting wind is still problematical, but
after the drubbing she has received the
experts are almost unanimous in the be-
Heve that the Columbia can take her
measure in light airs or gale OF wind.
BRITISH SAILORS SILENT.
The crew of the Shamrock have given
n m They are now convinced that the
United States has the better boat. Be
fore the race on Monday they had the
most supreme confidence in their ability
to win with Shamrock.
There was no living with them,'' said
one of the Yankee tars on the Sham
rocks tender Lawrence. '"They did not
think their boat would win; they abso-
Iutely kncE it. They would not even
hear arguments After they returned
from their race Monday they were SO
sore they would not speak to each other.
Now they are prepared to admit that
the Columbia is a better boat by ten
minutes o., a thirty-lnile course
The boats will race tomorrow, and
even if Columbia wins it is probable two
more races will be sailed. A PROPOSE
ton to this effect has been made, and
Sir Thomas seemed to be anxious that
it be carried out.
He is greatly disappointed by the
showing his boat has made, but thinks
she will do better over triangular
course, III q heavier wind, and has said
chat he would be pleased TO sail two
more races.
This was a radiant day for those
afoat. Though a light haze hung over
the horizon, not a cIoud f1ecked the sky.
A ten-knot land breeze blew from the
northwest, and the foam tipped wavelets
running on the gentle groundswell SHIN
Inered in the bright sun. A big holiday
crowd went out 10 witness what all sup
posed would be the last race Of the cup
series, and the SightSears were treated to
a rare picture as they boWled down the
harbor. The bay was alive with sails.
Fifty or more sailing craft Of various
styles, from schooner to lofty square
rigger bound for the Indies or the China
seas, which had been harbor- bound for
two weeks, were taking advantage of
the favoring breezes, and, like a flock of
wild gullS, were speeding seawaPd with
their spreading pinions cleaning in the
sun.
CLEVER JOCKEYING.
The course today was laid fifteen miles
before the wind, southeast by south,
straight out to sea. After some pretty
maneuvering above the line Capt. Barr,
on the Columbia, bested the talent aboard
the challenger, sending the Columbia fly
ing across the line twenty-seven seconds
ahead of his adversary. So badly had
the Shamrock miScalculated that the
handicap gun doomed two seconds 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 bulg-
ing balloon jibs, mainsails and their
largest club top sails drawing But as
the WlnQ naQ pulled a little to southwark
after the course had been set. instead
of keeping away for the mark they made
almost a triangular race out Of it, With
out setting their spinnakers they luffed
sharply to starboard, each striving for
the weather gauge The Columbia show
ed her rival fleet pair of heels gain
ing gradually from the start For almost
an hour the luff1ng match continued. car
rying the yachts four miles off their
Is course. The Shamrock having been bad
ly beaten in her attempt to get to wind,
ward, both squared for the mark break
ing out their great spinnakers to the
wind
After watching the yachts run before
the wind for an hour, during which the
breeze gradually died down to about five
knots or less the excursion fleet went
ahead and gathered about the float 10
witness the turn. BY the time they had
lined up the big yachts could hardly be
SEEN Through the haze across the
water they looked like phantom pyramids
1t was slow sailing, and there was a
long wait. The excursion boats became
impatient as they lay wallowing in the
swell and shifted their positions uneasily.
starting and stopping their engines.
DRIFTING MATCH.
The balloons Of the big sloops bellied
in and out, shaped and collapsed. and the
race was developing into a drifting match
as they approached the mark. The chal
lenger was directly astern of the Column
bia, trying with, her mountains of canvas
to blanket the lowering sails of the yam