Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-10
He Now Feels Confident His
Yacht Will Win.
HAS US SCARED
1t Is au Unplrn.ant, Tcuth That tn. Eng
lish Huat Has Shown Her Superiority
Over the Columbia. Handlers OF
American Racer re Nervous.
(Ey Topography

Ey telegraph
NEW YORK, oct. 9.--There is buoy
ant feeling OF expectancy and excite
nent among the yachtsmen tonight.
not that they feel sure OF Il race to-
morrow, but they know every day will
be Il race day from now to the finish
With the exception of Wednesday. This
agreement Of the regatta committee
and the Shamrock people has proved
popular. 1t is :. air proposition and
every one likes the manner in which it
is met. ...o. -
This has been a foggy day down
around the Horse shoe and everything
has been quiet on the fleet there except
on the decks of the Columbia. where
the crews have been cutting and retlt
Ting sails. This is taken in yachting
circles to indicate nervousness.
THE CUP IN DANGER.
There is nothing to be gained in try
ing to put aside facts. They are wor
rying on Columbia; they are calm and
confident on the Shamrock The reason
for all this is that the English boat
las done the better work on the three
days of the tiukeS. ... ...
There is good reason for nervousness
among the Americans and nothing has
occurred today to diminish it. 1t is an
unpleasant truth, but il is just as we'll
to admit It. ...
The weather is the important thing
now. Three days Of drifting have
changed the character of the specula-
ton. The weather man in Washington
promises southerly increasing breeze
IL it comes it Will tie Il welcome wind
to thousands of yachtsnen who have
come many miles to witness the con-
test. If this prediction is fulfilled the
racers will be- sent over the line to
windward down the Jersey coast. the
course the same as Saturdays, hut that
the order Of sailing is reversed, the first
1afr >,-ir, ,31,.., Il ,>-,tI
GIVES CHANCE FOR SKILL.
This will be more satisfactory as it
Igives chance for skill in manoeuver-
ing for the weather berth at the start.
The fog siren at Sandy Hook emitted
its doleful warning today through the
layers of mist Drea,y as the day
was. it broke at least the rule of a good
wind on off days and Gains on racing
days and on all sides there was hope
that the wind for once would be good
ard true an the day of the race
AS soon as the sailnlakers got through
the alterations Of the Columbia's main
sail this morning, the sail was hauled
up from below. bent to the mast, boom
and gah ana hoisted.
On Inspection by managing owner Ise-
lin and Captain Barr it was decided
that the sail was not fit to do battle to
morrow, so it was lowered and after
some minor alterations it was hoisted
again at ; F.. NJ. when it set almost
as flat rs board, except for the few
wrinkles up near the head. under the
gaff.
OLIVER ISDLIN TALKS.
G. Oliver Iselin arrived from the city
on q tug just before noon. When seen
on board the St. Michaels soon after he
said:
I'VE are all hoping for a breeze to-
morrow SO that we may finish at least
one race. should like to get this race
through before t'hristmas.'
Mr. Iselin did not care to comment on
the past races. further than to say that
seine OF the newspaper reports crit
iciSinS Coiumbias tactics We're unfair
and uncalled for The Columbia's
crew he said. We're all eager for the
next race. IF we have a good steady
breeze said he. Il have every conf
dence in the yacht.
On both Shamrock and Erin an air
of confidence is noticeable and the men
Will be greatly surprised if they do not
capture the cup.
SIR THOMAS CONFIDENT.
Sir Thomas himself is as certain of
carrying the coveted silver cup over to
the Kcyal Ulster Yacht Club as he is
that Their" are to be at least three more
races. but he does not care to win on (,
ftukc OF any sort His sole desire is for
the better boat to win and if he can
not win with Shamrock it is more than
likely that he will come again next
year with another boat.
Tho owner and challenger voiced the
sentiments Of those on the Erin when
be said he hoped there would be wind
tomorrow 50 that the racers could have
a chance to come together in something
other than drifting match
When asked what had been done
aboard Shamrock during the day. Sir
Thomas replied that the crew had not
touched a piece of rigging or sail since
the green craft came into her moorings
Saturday night and that his boat was
ready to sail another race an hour af-
ter that of Saturday was declared off