The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-28
ON The Open Deep.
Columbia and De.
fender Have a Bout
Off Newport.
BOTH BEHAVED HANDSOMELY.
Rival Captains Watch Man
ipulations Of Canvas
Critically.
BOTH BEHAVED HANDSOMELY.

Newport, June 27.-There were signs
Of life aboard Columbia very early this
morning, and at o'clock her jib was
run up in stops The mainsan was
hoisted slowly, and at 10 o'clock the
last sway was given on the halyards.
Mr.. Iselin, accompanied by several
friends, came aboard from the st. Mi
chaels shortly after. and at 1870 O'Clock
anchor was weighed and Columbia
stood up toward the eastern end of
Goat island to meet Defender.
The latter spent the night on the in
ner side of the island, and left her
mornings under staysail and jib, just
about the same time as Columbia. Capt.
Barr steeTed Columbia, and Capt.
Rhodes was at Defenders wheel. While
Defenders mainsail was being hoist
ed, Columbia headed down the east
passage. about an eighth of a mile in
the lead of Defender, which tackled di-
Tectly in the wake of her rival, and it
began to look like business, for the
crews of both yachts piled up to wind
ward in true racing fashion, the skip
pers crouched ct the wheels, and the
other people aboard kept down in the
lee Of the hatchways.
Going down the passage, Defender
sent up her working topsail, a piece of
canvas that did not fit very well, but
served to increase her speed, and she
gained considerably on Columbia. The
latter made a couple of short bitches
until she was able TO clear the end of
Goat Island in safety. closely followed
in every move by Defender. and then
L.
on the starboard tack. Defender did
not fetch about on this tack until she
was well to windward of Columbia s
wake. The fresh breeze heeled the
two boats considerably. For three
miles the ship held on this tack, De-
fender fetching by the lightship to
windv ard. while Columbia passed to
leeward of 1t. Meantime, Columbia
hoisted her working topsail in stops,
but when IL was broken out and sheet
ed home. something went wrong with
1t, and couple Of men went aloft to
straighten things out. capt. Barr
fused with the sail for some little time,
and when it suited him. began to get
after Defender in more businesslike
way
Defender was quite a distance TO
windward. but astern of Columbia when
the topsail was sheeted fat and Capt.
Dit until finally she was almost direct
ly across Defenders boz and breaking
up the latter's wind
Capt Rhodes when he saw that Col
unhi3 was going TO blanket him COM
pletely i ne held on this hitch. tackled
ship and stood over toward Narragan-
cstt Pier Columbia followed suit short
" after, still maintaining her slight ad-
vantage. In five minutes Defender came
E fcrn ~,
the starboard tack; Columbia also came
about, still in the lead. Both boats con-
tllued on this hitch for some time, Col
umnia continuing 10 hold her slight ad-
vantage. Four miles from Brenton's
Reef lightship Columbia had gained
ABOUT minute and half over his rival
ana held a fine position 10 windward.
but just bit astern of Defender.
The breeze lightened up a bit and
about y o'clock Defenders crew com
menced to send up a small jib topsail
IN stops. This was noticed on Columbia
and her crew started TO do likewise. but
owing TO some difficulty with the sail. Ii
had 10 be lowered for some little time.
After several unsuccessful efforts the
sail was finally hOisted into place and
almost simultaneously the jib topsails
were broken out and he opened home.
Under this additional canvas the
speed of both yachts increased, but the
Columbia felt il more than her rival.
At just 1890 O'Clock Defender lay TO and
waited for Columbia TO run down from
her windward position to within speak
ing distance. Then they both headed for
Point Judith with bOoms about a third
off the starboard side.
The run back towards Newport was
made in good time. Columbia reached
her anchorage al 2.35 o'clock Defender
q . nj
umbia but remained outside. cruising
Up and down, waiting for another race,
which, according to Mr. Iselins pro-
gram was 70 be held this afternoon.