The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-16
COLUMBIA A BIRD.
She Defeats Defender in the Last of the
Trial Races.


Newport, R. l.. Aug. 15.-Under the
clearest of skies ANA in as fine a topsail
breeze as one could desire, Columbia put
the finishing touches to her series of trial
races against Defender in the presence of
the New York Yacht club to-day. win
ming the 21-mile race by minutes 80 SEC
onds.
The fickleness of the breeze caused dis
appointment and the contest. which
looked at the star as if it was going to
be splendid one. developed into lazy
drifting match. The race was given by
the New York Yacht club as a windup of
the annual cruise, as far as racing Is con-
cerned, and cups which were designated
as ''windup cups" were offered as prizes
for the competing yachts. In addition to
the races between the schooners and
sloops, all the 3O-footers In these waters
had little match of their own. the
trophy being a handsome silver cup offer
ed by Commodore j. Pierpont Morgan of
the New York Yacht club. There was
considerable Interest in the schooner
class, in which Amorita and Quisetta
competed.
OF course Columhia won from Defender
and it appears that the people down this
way are tired of seeing the big single
stickers. for the fleet witnessing the con-
test was not nearly as large as yesterday.
Amorita won easily from her rival,
Quisetta. In the 30-footer class Caroline
won by sklful handling.
The start made by Columbia and De-
fender has never been equalled by such
large boats in any race. A bare two
seconds separated them when they tore
over the line. carrying clouds of canvas
aloft and they were only q seconds
later than gun fire in crossing. Ten min
utes before the time of the start both
shippers began jockeyng for the better
more what a great head he has by plac-
ing Columbia just to the weather of De-
fender, less than 80 feet away. Ii is no
discredit to Captain Rhodes however,
that he was under the new boats lee. for
one of the two had to be there on such a
start as to-days and it fell to him to be
the unlucky one. Time was getting
short when Barr iybed the Columbias
mainsail to starboard and swung around
for the line. Defender was already stor-
ing that way. and down they both came
for 1t, breaking out iib topsails and hoist
ing balloon staysals as they did so.
For few seconds they held along on
even terms. but Columbia. having the
weather berth. cut off Defenders wind
just enough to check her little and as
they both crossed a quarter of Columbia S
hull was showing by Defenders bow. A
moment later Defender was astern and
Columbia heading for the flag mark off
Point Judith with good lengths lead
From there on it was simply a steady
gain for the new boat, except when the
wind died out almost entirely after she
rounded the second mark and was COM
ing for home under spinnaker and balloon
jib. Defender seemed to hold the breeze
after she rounded, closing up the long
gap bit. but it was for only few
minutes. Then she got into the soft spot,
and under equal conditions the Columbia
drifted away from her last. Columbia
won by minutes, 50 seconds. Sum-
mary: SD
Columbia-Started 11:35:25: finished
$4,000: elapsed time 3:5335
Defender-Started. 11:35:27: finished
3:27:54; elapsed time, 4:O2:27