The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-10-20
Another Drifting Match With
Columbia 10 The Lead.
IsfllNs DESPERATE CHANCES
Race Declared Or With Boil
Yachts Five Miles From the
Finishing Line.

again today played battledore and
shuttlecock with the great single
stickers, and the third attempt to sail
the first race of the Columbia-Sham-
rock series for the Americas cup ends
ed in failure. The race was declared
on fifteen minutes before the time lim-
It expired. with the yachts still I'VE
miles from the finish. But the vast
throngs who went down to the sea to
witness the battle royal were In .
measure compensated by seeing q
magnificent light-weather duel.
In the emu the disappointment of the
patriots was sharpened perhaps by the
fact that when the race was abandoned
the Columbia was in the lead and i'm
proving her position, and had 1t been
finished TO-DAY the American champion
might have had one race to her credit.
As a result Of today's struggle and
those of Tuesday and Thursday, the
talent are q good deal COMPOUNDED.
Some of them differ a. to the merits Of
the two boats. but they seem unani-
nous upon two things-that the Sham
rock 10 the ablest boat that ever
crossed the western ocean to lift the
mug, and. what Ia still more impor-
tanf she IA mora ablv handled than
the defender. Tne superior seaman-
shin of Cantain Hosarth and his crew
was demonstrated At several critical
noints in the race TODAY.
Though 10 Captain Barr and the
nervy Observation-Disclosures of the Yankee
s,oon belong the credit Of executing as
briIiiant and daring a niece of sea-
mansbip as was ever Witnessed in a
Yacht race. its reckiessness caused a
great deal Of neryousness and anxiety.
its ACCOMPLISHMENTS therefore. made the
pulses of the Americana heat higher
with bride. II was the spectacular fea-
ture OF the day and fortune favored
the brave.
The Irish boat did undeniablv bet-
ter work to vindward. She carved her
way up into the wind in astonishing
style, But here again the Columbia
seemed to be Able 10 more than make
nm in footing what abe lost in point.
ing. and a the ability of a sailins ves-
eel II determined by her power to make
headvay against an adyerse wind. abe
n the better mat nv that .teat
The COLUMBIA had the better At the
start. She bounded across the line like
a racehorse. with mainsaii. club tom
sail and staysail drawing and splnna-
ker down to starboard ready for the
race before the wind, and ten seconds
afterward her lib broke out like a
cloudburst. The Irish boat went over
seventeen seconds later, with the same
rig. The patriots were wild with de-
light. But their enthusiasm was short
lived. The willy English skipper luffed
to run through the Yankees lee 10 the
weather position. Captain Barr tried
to head of this movement by luffing
also. This sent both boats on at al
most right angles to the course,
straight in for the Jersey coast and
straight for the mob of 500 vessels
gathered for the rundown. The tor
pedo boats charged down upon them
like a squadron Of cavalry to clear the
way for the yachts.
The Shamrock got the hest of the
lufing match, blanketins her riya, and
getting to windward Of her, Then,
when both had squared of in their
course and let 60 their spinnakers,
thousands waited and watched. Slowly,
very slow at FIRST, inch by inch, the
defender Of the cup drew away de-
spite the Shamrock's repeated ana tire
less efforts to blanket her. Once clear
the white beauty forged ahead RAPIDLY
She had established q comfortable
lead when the breeze lightened and
hauled more TO the northward.
The Shamrock. a. on the two former
days, proflted by the seemingly liRht
air and began to crawl up. But che
did more. Captain Hogarth took in the
Shamrock's spinnaker when the. mark
was sighted, gybed the Shamrock and
trimmed down the balloon lib topsail
with great rapidity, and, with every.
thing drawing splendidly, before the
American knew 1t. he was luGing up
toward the Columbia. Captain Barr
on the Columbia. then followed suit
but the Shamrock had passed him well
to windward. Captain Hogarth then
set his sptnnaker to port and increased
the lead.
Captain Barr seemed unwilling al
first to follow the lead Of the English