Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07

would lie south-southwest, bringing the
boats along the Jersey coast, down to
Long Branch.
The yachts spent half hour after ar
irving at the start in trying the strength
Of the wind, running about on one tack OF
the other and up and down, off and on
the wind.
As the time for the start approached the
wind seemed to decrease, and at Io:4o was
not blowing much over twelve knots
The Shamrock was the first to decide as
70 topsails. and at 1910 her big clubtop-
sail was set, indicating that those on ooaro
did not fear an increase of the breeze AT
the time she set the sail aioft she was
about half mile from the lightship, head
ing toward Long Branch on the port TACK.
The Columbia ran along behind her on the
starboard tack and at 1912 her cluo-top-
sail was run uD.
At 1905 the Corsair having arrived with
a large number of other yachts. the pre-
paratory gun was fired. Both boats were
then to leeward Of the starting point ana
about on even terms. The Columbia went
to windward of the judges boat and taekeo
to starhoard
The Shamrock was already on that tack
boats at 11:13 had club topsails mainsail
and lib set and when at HIS the warning
gun was fired the Shamrock went port
about the stakeboat and the Columbia TO
starboard both rounding quickly, and 11:l6
were heading for the line.
TopsuiI Did Not Set Right.
After getting Shamrocks topsail in place.
Sailmaker Ratsey discovered that 1t was
not fitting properly, so 1t was lowered 10
the deck This movement caused the peo-
pie on the Columbia some wonder, ana,
easing off a bit, the American poal ran
down past the challenger TO see what the
trouble was. Hardly had the Columbia got
alongside when the Shamrock crew COM
menced hoisting the same club topsal, ana
This time it appeared to fit satisfactorily.
At II: O5 the gun on the tug Luckenbach
smoke out the preparatory signal, the blue
peter and a red ball were hoisted to the
foretopmast and maintoDmast heads, re-
spectively. Then the shippers on the rival
boats began jockeying for the start IN earn
est The Columbia was about northeast
from the lightship. heading for 1t with
sheets amidships. This was to allow the
Columbia people to have good look at the
Shamrock as the latters crew hddled with
the club topsail. When the topsail on the
green boat was properly III piaSo SAAS "NS
trimmed, and as soon as the vessel had
sufficient Roadway she bore on to star
board toward the eastward end Of the line.
The Columbia, after running down by the
iightship trimmed sheets and started along
the port tack on the lee side of the line.
coming around under the stern OF the COM
mittee tug.
The Columbia had the weather petition.
and try as he would, Hogarth could not
Gust her from her better berth.
Make q Pretty Picture.
AS the boats tore along toward the light
ship in almost a parallel direction to the
starting line they made a beautiful picture.
Both yachts had their booms to port, with
the wind over their counter, and they heel
ed down to the pressure on their sails.
throwing out big wave from the port
quarter. Just before getting to the light
ship the Columbia eased off quickly and
crossed the line at IL :21 :02, breaking out
a huge ballooner
The Shamrock tried to get nearer to the
lightship than her rival in order to break
up Columbias wind. but found that she
had not room, and she crossed on the
Columbias weather quarter at 1:21 10
The Shamrock position almost enabled her
10 take the Coumbias wind.
The Columbia, up to the start. seemed to
be having the best of it, and, indeed. she
was the first over but the Shamrock point
ed into a weather berth. This was the
challenge that set Barr off his course and
down on the fleet of steamers. The torpedo
boats shrieked wildly. They did not need
second look to know that Barr, ard Ho-
garth as we'll would sail through walls of
iron rather than give in the first battle of
the new day. So they kited back and forth
along the edges of the fleet whistlng lust
lily.
The difference in sails was easily appar-
eEt- The Shamrock was carrying her big
gest clubtopSail and her staysail and lib
When the Columbia broke out her big bal
looner. which filled in a hearty wholesome
way, she took a squirt.
Columbia Takes the Lead.
The windward maneuver, begun with the
preparatory gun, vas called off within
fifteen minutes after the start. Both boats
sat back into the course, Columbia In the
lead. Both squared off on the course For
mile the wind. eight miles an hour held
true. Then a soft spot at least two miles
in diameter developed. The wind was up
and down In the big ballooners for fifteen
minutes Then five-mile breeze came up
and OFF they went. The water between Co
lumbia and the following Shamrock was
not more than three lengths. At 1910 the
Shamrock passed the Columbia
About eight miles from the turn the CO.
IUmbia was about 800 yards In the lead.
Each racer was carrying clubtopsail, MAIN
sail. spinnaker and balloon jib The breeze
had dropped to about six miles an hour,
and was as in the two previous trials,
variable. II looked as IL another drifting
match was on. For ten minutes the rela-
tive positions OF the yachts was practically
unchanged. when suddenly the Shamrock
stirred up a little enthusiasm She had
been holding more to the windward of the
course the Columbia was steering evil
IDENTIFY looking for wind and soon she
found 1t. A freshening breeze from off the
Jersey shore filled the emerald yacht 3
sails. and slowly but surely she pulled out
ahead.
The Shamrock seemed to do less rolling
than her rival and consequently did not
spill the wind out of her sails as much as
did the Columbia.
Race Lacking I'm Interest.
By 1890 the Shamrock had a lead of about
an eighth of a mile. but the race was der
cidedly lacking in interest.
For over an hour neither yacht had
touched a sheet altered a SAIL
At 1910 the Shamrock had increased her
lead to about a fifth Of a mile by standing
to windward, thus catching the breeze first
as It came of shore.
AT 1888 the Shamrock took in her spin-
maker and gybed over, having stood 90
much to windward hunting for wind that ia
head for the mark she had to get on the port
tack A few minutes later she sent her
,pinnaker to port. The Columbia followed
suit and both yachts. with spinnaker to
'rt. were speeding for the mark, which