The record-union., 1899-10-10

! NEW YORK, Oct. 9.-There was a
buoyant feeling of expectancy and ex-
Ecitement among the yachtsmen to-
night, not that they feel sure of race
4 tomorrow, but that they know every
7 day Will be race day from now OUT
to the finish, with the exception of
/ Wednesday. The agreement of the Re-
gatta Committee and the Shamrock
and Columbia people has proved popu-
lar 1t is a fair proposition, and ev-
eryone likes the manner in which it is
met
This has been a foggy day down
around the Horseshoe, and everyth
has been quiet with the fleet there, ex-
cept on the decks of the Columbia.
where the crews have been cutting and
refitting sails. This is taken in yachts
ing circles to indicate nervousness.
There is nothing to be gained in trying
to put aside facts. They are worrying
on the Columbia; they are calm and
confident on the Shamrock. The reason
for all this is that the English boat has
done the better work on the three days
of the flukes
The weather is the important thing
now. Three days of drifting have
changed the character of the specula-
ton. 1t is now quite as much will
there be a race as which will win?'"
The weather man in Washington
promises southerly increasing breeze.
If this prediction is fulfilled, the racers
will be sent over the line to windward
down the Jersey coast, the course the
same as Saturday, but the order of sail
ing will be reversed. The first leg VIII
be to windward. with run home. This
Will be more satisfactory, as it gives "a
better chance for skill in maneuverine-
for the weather berth at the start.
AS soon as Hathaway's sailmakers
got through with the alteSations on the
Coiumbia's mainsail this morning the
sail was hauled up from below, bent
to the mast, boom and gaff and hoisted.
AFTER inspection by Managing Owner
lselin and Captain Barr, it was decid-
ed that the sail was not yet fit to do
battle tomorrow, so it was lowered.
and after some minor alterations it was
hoisted again at 3 d. m, when it set
almost as fiat as board except for a.
few wrinkles up near the beam UNDER
the gaff. The new club topsail was
also bent, but not hoisted It was
made up on the yard and covered to-
keep it dry, for the air was full of
what old sailors call Scotch mist.,f
The mainsail was lowered soon after q
o'clock, slowed on the boom and COW.
cred for the night.
Z. Oliver Iselin arrived from the cjtvN
on tug just before noon When seem
on board the st. Michaels soon after he,
said: I'VE are all hoping for a. breeze
Tomorrow, so that we may finish at
least one race. l should like to get
through before Christmas"
: Asked If the arrangement to race ey-
cry day after Thursday was satisfac-
tory TO him, he said: Yes. indeed we
are only too glad to be able to race
every day. and finish up the SERIES
Mr.. 1selin did not care to make anv
comment on the last race, further than
to say that some of the newspaper crit
lclsmS of the Columbia's tactics were
unfair and uncallad for. The Colum-
bias crew, he said. were all we'll and
eager for the next race.
II we have good, steady breeze
said he, Il have every confidence I'M
the yacht"
Sir Thomas Upton remained on board
the Erin all day. Sir Thomas has been
the recipient of many hundreds of
cablegrams from friends on the other
side OF the water, congratulating him
on the fine showing the Shamrock has
made in light weather, and every time
big batch of dispatches is brought
from the shore those on the Erin have
good time reading them, for among
them are many humorous ones This
morning the usual number came. and
by far the most amusing was one from
England saying:
Never mind the hairpins, bring back
the cup
on both Shamrock and Erin an air
OF confidence is noticeable, and the men
VIII be- greatly surprised If they do not
capture the cup. The owner of the
challenger voiced the sentiments of
those on the Erin that there would be
no wind tomorrow. He felt that the
fog, which hung heavily over the
Horseshoe to-day, would not clear up
for at lea ct fNAtnr ntrr-f four. be-,