Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-10

Hackett, 8. C.. Millett. George Miles and
half a dozen others.
spaulding's of1cial Foot Ball Guide for
1899 is out and is a very complete com-
pendulum Of rules, with pictures Of the lead
Ing teams and players from all over the
country. The guide is edited by Walter
Camp and has a long article on the great
college game by Casper whitney aud other
prominent writer's on the game.
The great mystery still observed regarding
the under body Of the Shamrock. continuing
now when by no possibility could our yachts
men apparently take advantage OF a full
knowledge Of its lines or construction, with
the assertion which 1t Is understood that Sir
Thomas Lipton's representatives have made
that no disclosures would be made regard
Ing 1t even UP to the time the cup race
begins, naturally challenges much ~specura-
ton as to its reasons and the possible ex-
plantations are many.
One is that it is possible that the new cup
challenger Is provided with a keel filled
with mercury instead of a cast lead keel,
such as our own boat has and such as the
recently built boats of this class use.
Such a keel would have some very mani
fest advantages over lead and there is no
SdSoh why lutICuIy salOulu lOt ~ uSeN, CA
cept for the great cost. And as money has
been used without stint in the effort of Sir
Thomas Upton to carry back the cup with
him there would seem to be no reason why
he should not have used the more expen-
sive metal II 1t occurred to him or the de-
signer of the Shamrock.
There Is one more advantage which could
be got from the use of mercury. THAI is
that the amount OF weight in the keel could
be varied at will. Would not this explain
the having OF several sets OF different sized
sails for the Shamrock. 1t could be sailed
and tested from day to day with various
weights in the keel until It was learned just
what was best for 1t and at the same time
1t would be impossible for any one to get a
line on It's performances, for at the last
moment the full weight could be put aboard
with the bending OF It's racing sails, when
It would acquire a stiffness which 1t had
never displayed in former trials.
All the wild rumors of long odds bets on
the Columbia, which were caused either by
excess OF patriotism or by the appearance
Of the Shamrock in Its ketch rig, have sub
sided, and the natural good sense Of the
American people and their aptitude for
measuring the laws of chance have caused
them to recognize in the Shamrock a worthy
foeman in the coming races. The wagers
should be at the outside about 7 to 8, al
though the wild rumors Of 3 to 1 money
have been a refuge for the Shamrock back
ers, and they run to this cover whenever
a proposition to bet is offered. Interest in
the race Is on the increase, and as the time
approaches the hamroc is finding many
supporters.
The sportsmanlike spirit which has per-
vaded the whole Americas cup affair this
season is the highest tribute which could
possibly be paid to the sport Of yachting,
and brands 1t beyond doubt as the noblest
and purest OF sports. Horse racing is gen.
orally alluded to as the sport of kings. This
may be a fact, but for honest, disinterested
sportsmanship, 1t is a dwarf beside yachting.
The commercial spirit does not enter into
the latter at all. Here are two gentlemen,
or syndicates Of gentlemen, spending from
$500, 900 to $1,000, 900 each, for what? TIL
possession Of an old silver cup worth scarcely
500-withou purse, without side bets, with
out any hope Of financial return. II after
the races are over the victorious yacht,
which cost in itself nearly 5000, 900, were
put up for sale, 1t is hardly probable that
it would bring even $40, 900. The spectacle
is an object lesson in what true sport Is.
1t is not England. Ireland and the United
States alone which are interested in the
outcome Of the big cup race, but almost
every European nation as well. France has
made such rapid strides in yachting of late
years that 1t now ranks almost as an equal
OF England and America. The German en-
peror has made a fad Of 1t, and all Germany
follows him and to such an extent that 1t will
be a yachting nation in a few years. Russia
is already we'll advanced in the sport and
Italy is beginning to appreciate the beauties
Of the sailing yacht. Indications point
toward the adoption Of the sport by other
nations as we'll. The Americas cup, being
an international one, is open to challenge
from any of these nations, and while they
have not as yet plucked up courage enough
to send a challenger to this side, they would
all, beyond doubt, challenge If the cup was
won by the Shamrock. Consequently they
are all hoping and wishing that 1t Will
win SO that they may take a hand In chal-
longing for the old time-honored trophy. II
1t does go back both Germany and France
will challenge beyond a doubt, and the glori-
GUS spectacle of the United States, England.
Germany and France represented In a grand
l.u.ao+lo,ol roca poau ha Gean