The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-20

ing line.
Highlands of Navesink reported at
9:21 that both boat had left their
moorings for the start
The Shamrock sailed out under main
sail and jib and Columbia was tOWed
out with her mainsau set.
The wind at the Highlands was then
blowing over Is miles from north north
east
When the steamer Blackbird left the
barge office at 1850 for the Erin many of
Sir Thomas Lipton's guests predicted
the best race of the series.
When a reporter of the Associated
Press went on board the Erin this
morning the wind seemed good and
strong from the north northeast, blow
ing about Is knots and increasing. 1t
was then cloudy and somewhat foggy
with clearing indications of a good
steady breeze, Sir Thomas Upton was
not very hopeful, saying as he did yes
terday, that it was a dying wind and
that it had no heart" He thought
however, that there might be sufficient
breeze to permit the yachts to finish.
although he felt sure it would die out
considerably as noon approached and
not be the good steady blow that Sham
rock best liked.
Down about the starting line there
were more ideal conditions for a race
than on any day during the time for
the series, At o'clock the sun drove
away the grey clouds that earlier had
been fiinging down drops of nasty mois-
ture and there was promise of a day of
a
sea. a combination that has not been
prevalent. during the unfortunate trial
days.
The wind at that hour was splendid,
blowing fully fifteen miles an hour from
the north northeast with every indica-
tion that it would be more east sending
the yachts down the Jersey coast.
The tide was running ebb and the
wind partially with it, did not kick up
such a bad sea, although it meant the
smashing of the lee rails and the bury
ing of noses once in awhile for the
yachts.
The line of observation was somewhat
limited at 9 O'Clock by a little fog and
a great deal of haze, but the brisk wind
and the fog cleared it away SOmeWhat
as the morning advanced. There was
some disposition on the part of the
many old weather-WiSe near the start
to be skeptical about the stout breeze
holding out for the race and of course
there was much reason for their lack
morning breezes of the other days that
had failed.
It was nearly half past o'clock
when the observers nearing the start
ing line saw the white wings of the
yachts appearing out of the haze and
jumping along under a spanking breeze
toward the line.
Shamrock turned up her green shin
ing line in the sunlight and pushed her
nose through the foam as if the breeze
had been made expressly for her. Col
a
trifie more dignified, but both sped
along in a manner that spoke we'll for
a much closer contest than any pre-
ceding one, if the stiff wind should hold
out. The yachts jumped out of the
smooth water of the Hook into the
choppy sea under their own sail, as if
rejoicing at their ability to move so
rapidly
The Shamrock had her mainsaiI and
jib set when she started out, and Col
umbia had UP her mainsail only. Even
with that small amount of sail they
came tearing along toward the start
ing point through the chOppy sea and
driving it from their smooth sides in
masses of white foam
Nearing the line, Shamrock with the
aid of her extra headsail, OutfOOted Col
umbia and got down a minute before
her. The lee rails of the yachts were
awash.
At 1904 the committee boats arrived
at the line and at that time there was
not a private yacht or excursion boat
around. Shamrock after running about
a half mile beyond the light ship went
about and started to set her fOrestay
sail For some reason or other she took
it in again. Columbia still kept her one
sail
At 1O:45 a. m. when the preparatory
gun was fired, Columbia was shooting
up to the windward of the starting
line, starbOard tack. She carried main
sail and jib only, but had her stay sail
in stops, ready to break out. The white
UUaL neeleQ over SO IudL ueT rail- WAS
under water all the time and the spray
flew over her sharp bows. The Sham
rock was half mile south of the light
ship, but HOgarth was watching for the
gun and when he saw the smoke he
fetched the Shamrock about and hur-
ried to get to weather of the line.
While on the port tack Shamrock s
crew hOisted small working topsail,
which caused the Shamrock to heel
away down. but so long as the spars
held Hogarth did not mind. Columbia
had meantime come about and ran
down to meet her rival; then coming
| about again, reached up to windward
ahead of the challenger. HOgarth fol-
| lowed in COlumbia's wake and it was
noticed that even after putting up the
| topSan Shamrock did not pick up any
! on the American. Both boats broke out
! forestry sail when the warning gun was
| fired at 10:55 and the crews hurried to
| get their spinnakers ready for breaking
out on StarbOard side. Shamrock was
| first to gybe over and headed for the
| starting line followed Immediately by
| Columbia.
Captain Hogarth apparently slowed
/ up trifie so that the cup defender was
| about to reach up to ShamrOclS's wealth
| er quarter and in these positions the
| two racers ran along at tremendous
| speed for two minutes. BY this time
| each craft had nearly reached the com
| mittee tug marking the east end of the
| line, and although Columbia was up tc
| Windward of her rival, Shamrock wheT
! the starting sun was fired, put her tillel
/ up and swung off to cross the line
| breaking her balloon jib as she did so
| Captain Barr appeared to be in no hur-
! ~ to get away, and instead of swing.
| ing over the line, ran along it almost
| to the Hghtship. The Shamrock
| shippers were not going to wait for the
| American boat, but tore across the line
at 1-OO:34, the crew hauling the spin
| maker out to the end of the pole as she
! swept over. Bars apparent motive il
| not crossing dead astern of his riva
was to save time by holding back unit
| just before the handicap gun anA alsC
! to be in a position to break up Nthe
| Shamrock's wind. In the breeze tina
| was blowing when the boats started i