The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-13

eu % 1Ouay esteruay ana Up 10 :
O'Clock this Morning Calm. with
Dense Fog.
buoyarSt feeling f expectancy and ex-
clteqnent among the yachtmen tonight,
not that they feel sure OF a race to-
morrow, but they know every day viii
be a race day from now to the finish,
with the exception OF Wednesday. This
agreement of the regatta committee
and THE Shamrock people has proved
popu ar. 1t is a fair proposition and
every one likes THE manne In which it
is met.
This has beer a foggy day down
around Horse Shoe and everything has
been quiet on the fest there, except
on the decks of h Columbia, where
the crew has been cutting and refitting
sails. This is taken in yachting circles
to Indicate There is moth
ing to be gained in trying to put aside
facts. They are worrying on h CO.
lumbia; they are calm and confident
on the Shamrock. The for all
this is that the English boat has don
the better work o. the three days OF
the flukeS
There is good reason for nervousness
among the Americans, and nothing has
occurred today to diminish lit. 1t is an
unpleasant truth but it is just as well
to admit it.
INDICATIONS FOR GOOD
WEATHRE.
The weather is the important thing
now Three days of drifting have
changed the character of the Specula-
ton.
The weather men in Washington
promise a s~outherly increasing breeze.
If it comes it will be a welcome wind
have come MANY miles to witness the
contest.
If this prediction is fulfilled the racers
Will be sent over the line to windward
down the Jersey coast, the course the
same ais Saturdays, but that the order
of sailing is reverSed-the first leg to
windward, with a run home. This win
be more satisfactory, as it gives a bet
ter chance for skill in meneuvering for
the weather berth ait the stanit.
The fog horn alt Sandy Hook emitted
it's doleful warming all today Through
the layers mist. Dreary> as the day
wals, it broke alt least the rule of a
good wind ON off days and calms on
racing days, and ON all sides there was
hope THAT the wind for C would be
good and true IN the day of the race.
VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT THE
COLUMBIA'S NEW SAILS.
AS SOON as HathaIway's saEl-makers
got Through with the alterations of the
Columbia's mainsail this morning, the
sail was hauled up from below, bent to
the mast, boom end-gaf and hoisted.
After inspection by Managing Owner
Islin and Captain Barr lit was decided
that the sail was not fit to do battle
tomorrow, so lit was lowered and after
some minIor alterations 1T was hoisted
again ait 8 o'clOsk D.. m, when it set all
most flat as a board, Xcept for the few
wrinkles up near the head under the
gaff.
A new club Itopsail was also bent, blu
not hoisted. 1t was made UP on the
yard and covered, Ito keep it dry, for
the air was full of what Old sailors call
Scotch mist" The mainsail was low
cred soon after 4 O'Clock, slowed On
the boom and covered for the night.
Colonel Oliver Islin arrived from the
city ON a tug just before noon. When
seen on board the sit. Michael's soon
after he said: I'VE are all hoping for
a breeze TOMORROW SO hat we may
finish at least n race. 1 should like
to the thousands of yachtSmen who
ITO get Through before Christmas"
Mr.. Islip did not care to make amy
comment on the last race, further than
to say that some OF the newspaper re-
ports crfticising the Columbia's tactics
were unfair and uncaQled for. The Co
lumbfa's crew,he said, were all eager for
the next race.'If We have a good steady
breeze, said he, Il nave every conf
ence in the yacht"
On both the Shamrock and the Erin.
an air of confidence is noticeable and
the men will be greatly surprised If
they do not capture the cup. Sir
Thomas himself is as certain of car
rying THE coveted silver cup over to
the Royal Yacht Club as he is that
there is to be at least three more races,
he does not care to win on a fiuke
of amy sort. His sole desire is for the
better boat to win and If he cannot win
with THE Shamrock it is more than
likely that he win come again next
year with another boat.
The owner of the challenger voiced
the of Those on the Erin
There would be no windLtomorr9w.
Thought that the fog which hung
heavily over the Horse Shoe today
would rot clear up for over twenty
four hours, but expressed the wish
times that King Eolus would ply
his below vigorously tomorrow. so
that the racers Gould have a chance at
a other in something besides a drift
match.
When asked what had been done
the Shamrock during the day,
Sir Thomas replied that the crew had
touched apiece of rigging or a Gail
since the gu craft came into her
mornings Saturday night, and nat his
boat was ready to sail another 1ece an
hour after that of Saturday was de-
off.
New York, October 10.-At 2 a. M
Hook -eporrs: Dense fog, no
"A Frfghuful Blunder