The record-union., 1899-10-17
Walked Away From the Shamrock
In the Race Yesterday.
Easily Won the First Heat in the Sail for
the Americas Cup.
Was Fully a Mile and Half Ahead
of the Shamrock at the Finish
Was a Magnificent Race From
the Start, With the American
CoIors in the Lead.

NEW YORK, Oct 16.-The cup which
the old schooner America won so hand
lily against all comers over the course
around the Isle of Wight in 1901 and
brought back across the seas will prob
ably remain here another year, de-
fiance to the world. In glorious
breeze, over a windward and leeward
course of thirty miles the Columbia
scored against the Shamrock to-day in
the first race of the 1899 series for the
trophy She bounded across the finish
line fully a mile and a half ahead of
the challenger defeating her by ten
minutes and fourteen seconds actual
time or ten minutes and eight seconds
corrected time, after allowing the six
seconds handicap which the Columbia
must concede to the challenger on ac-
count of her longer water line. 1t was
a decisive contest. a magnificent race
magnificently sailed and magnifcently
won.
Opinions as to the merits of the two
boats had been somewhat divided as a
result of the fiukes during the past
two weeks Although the preponder-
ance of expert opinion never wavered
in its loyalty to the wonderful speed
and ability Of the white flyer no nau-
tical sharp expected that the Sham
rock would be so overwhelmingly van
quished as she was in to-day's race.
The Yankee boat outgeneraled her at
the start, beat her hopelessly in the
windward work to the outer mark, and
gained twenty-five seconds in the run
home before the wind. There was a
good strong ten or twelve knot breeze
and it held throughout the race 1t is
undoubtedly a bitter blow, because the
English hopes of lifting the cup have
never been brighter since the Thistle
met the Volunteer in 1887 Like the
Shamrock. she was decisiveIy defeated
in the first hours sailing.
The Regatta Committee, as a result
Of the showing made by the Columbia
to-day, are convinced that the cup is
safe. Blow high or low, the Columbia
1t is believed by the manager Mr.. Ise-
lin, can beat the Shamrock. Sir
Thomas. like a true sportsman that he
is confessed after the race that he had
been fairly beaten. He had no apollo
gies to make.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RACE.
NEW YORK, Oct 16.-A heavy,
damp fog hung over the upper bay this
morning and there was only a light
southerly breeze stirring, a discourag-
ing outlook for the beginning of the
third week of the attempts to sail the
first of the series of races in the con-
test for the Americas cup between the
Columbia and the Shamrock.
The observers of the Associated Press
along the Jersey shore had no encour-
n fr11~ CHI ba
early morning bulletins, but Sandy
Hook at 9:15 O'Clock reported that
there was then some prospect of a. race
to-day. The wind was south southeast.
about seven miles. and freshening
steadily. There was a heavy mist.
Both yachts left their moorings with
jibs up in stops
At 9:40 the Columbia and Shamrock,
both in tow, We're passing out
The conditions about the starting line
We're nearly as bad this morning as they
We're in the upper bay and in the city.
At 9 O'Clock, while a heavy fog limit
ed the observation materially. it was
stiu clear enough to see three miles.
and there was a breeze blowing that
promised to clear away the mist
There was not a glimmer Of sunshine.
however, and the sky was Of a dun,
leaden hue.
At 9:20 o'clock there was seven
mile breeze from the southeast that,
while blowing the mist into the bay
and city, cleared the atmosphere about
the course, and before long the obser-
vation line had extended to five miles,
with a probability of a general clear
ing in time for start if the wind held
good.
The breeze, while not stiff, was much
better than for several days, and
yachtsmen and the few spectators be-
gan 10 have hope that the day might
bring forth q race
At 9:45 the wind had again plowed
it's way through the fog. the grayness
lifting again. and blowing at the rate
of seven mics an hour from the south
east, made the conditions better than
any day for a week past.
A little later the observers near the
start caught a glimpse of the. Columbia
coming down under her main sail in
tow. Following her closely came the
Shamrock. At 10 o'clock the breeze
was blowing nine miles an hour from
the southeast. At 1920 the commit
tee boats We're in place, and at 1920,
with the wind veering east and blow
ing quite briskly. the committee boat
signaled that the course would be east
Both yachts at this time had their
club topsails and mainsails set The
wind at 1915 was blowing at the rate
of eight knots.
The two yachts were jockeying about
the start with their jibs. main sails and
topsails set when at 10:53 the warning
gun was fired Both boats had timed
themselves So we'll that when the start
ing gun was fired they crossed within
a minute and almost together, the
Shamrock with q slight advantage.
The preparatory gun had been fired
from the committee tug at 10:45 The
blue Peter and red ball were hoist
ed simultaneously. Both the racers
We're then heading for the line having
cast from their tow boats Under main
sail, club topsails and jibs they came
slowly down with the wind on their
quarter
The Columbia broke out her forestry
sail just as the smoke had drifted away
from the signal gun. The Shamrock