The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-17


that one could discern things two miles to the
south and cast. The wind was from the east
and rs the fota moved further and further
down the bay little bits Of whItecaps began to
appear on the crests OF the waves.
TO DE RACE AT LAST.
The word was passed around that there would
| decks to size things M for themselves. A nasty
| drizzle blew in their faces. but thay didn't
| mind the moisture In the least. They were
| willing that the rain should fall in bucketsful
as long rs the wind was kind enough TO per-
| init the Yachts to cover the course. The sky
| was overcast and not a ray OF sunshine APP
psared to liven UP the scene. 1t was cold
| blooded. business like day. Just about the sort
| the true yachtsman revels in.
As the fleet steamed out to where the Swash
and Main channels llvsrge. part OF it headed
for tho Horseshoe for the purpose OF finding out
what the rival Yachts were going to do about
It, But the Columbia and Shamrock were
nowhere to be sesn. They had been taken In
tow by their tugs and gone out to the starting
point. The early birds Of the torpedo fleet. few
In number. shot past the excursion boats as
the point OF Sandy Hook was reached. The
vanguard Of the slower-goi revenue cutters
plugged along behind them in the vain en-
deavor to keen up with the pace set by the
grim little war vessels.
Finally the old Lightshp became discernible
through the haze. The Regatta Committee
boats. the Walter A.. Edgar f., and N. f.
Luck bach. and two newspaper tugs were
the only vessels OH the scene. with the eIcep
ton OF tho rival sloops and the boats that had
towsd them out. When the first OF the eXcur-
sion steamers got within view the Columbia
and shamrock had cast off their tow lines and
were cruising in mainsails. clubtopsails. and
ibis.
The sails resting above the gaffs OF both
sells were the largest they possessed. the
bia sporting tho sail that was made for
her after the first attempt to sail the race on
Oct 3. when for the first timo her handlers
saw the overwhelming topsail the Shamrock
carried. But the challenger had a still larger
sail than the one she displayed that day and
yesterday morning she had it up. inviting the
best breeze Boreas had to offer.
The fit OF the canvas on both boats was all
that could have been desired but possibly the
work Of Ratsey slightly overshadowed that Of
Herreshoff
CoLuMBIAs SAILS MUCH IMPROVED.
When the rival sloops faced the starting line
two weeks ago to-day. the green boat showed
such superiority in the ut OF her sails that Mr..
Isclin was forced to have the Colum bia' 8 canvas
trimmed. The work went on while the boats
were waiting for breeze until the sails were
made as nearly perfect as possible. so that
when the ninety hooters bowed and curtsied to
each other around the LiRhtship yesterday
morning there was little to choose between
them from the standpoint OF sails. Everything
was snug about the boats allow and aloft {:
every stay was taut: every rope cooled and
every sail that might be used in any emergency
was in its place ready for use when the order
should be given.
On board the Columbia were c. Oliver Iselin,
the managing owner. and Mrs Iselin Herbert
C.. Leeds OF Boston. who holds the watch and
keeps track OF tho passing minutes between
the time OF the preparatory gun and that ofthe
starting signal: Capt. Woodbury. Kane. for
merry OF the Rough Riders. whose duty il is to
keen his eye on the main sheet and affairs per-
taiHng to the after part Of the vessel: New
berry D. Thorne. who surpervises the setting
and hauling down of the headsails and
watches tho head sheets. and W Butler Dun
can. Jr.. one OF tho best amateur shippers In
the world. who with Mr.. Iseln. keeps an eye
over everything in general. Besides this set
OF clever amateurs. there were. OF course. Capt.
Charlie Barr. who handles the wheel: Mate
Frank Alden and the crew OF fifty Yankee sail
ors from Deer Isle Maine Mr.. Hugh c. Kelly.
OF the Royal Ulster Yacht Club. was also on
board representing Sir Thomas Lipton and
looking after the interest OF the challenging
club.
Tho Shamrock passengers included a more
imposing array OF professional talent. There
we're Capt Hogarth at the tiler. Capt. Wrngo
to boss the sails. Capt. Ben Parker OF the En-
peror Williams yacht Meteor. and the mate
and crew. The only amateur aboard who had
anything to do with sailing the boat was Jesse
Conncll. the famous Clyde yachtsman. who.
however. only acted in an advisory capacity to
Capts. IoRarth and Wringe. as did Capt. Ben
Parker. Tho representative Of the New York
Yacht Club was Mr.. II. F. Lippitt. who with
his brother. owns and sails the famous sloop
Queen Nab.
YACHTS STARTED PROMPTLY
The Regatta Committee OF the New York
Yacht Club. consisting o: s. Nicholson Kane.
Chester Grisvod and Irving Crime ell. who have
full charge OF the race. wasted no time when
they found the wind was kind and the yachts
were ready for the fray. They did not prop ose
to run the risk OF losing good breeze by waiting
for Commodore Morgan and his flagship Cor
sair. the excursion boats.revenus cutters,news-
paper tugs. or anything else. Hardly had they
arrived on the scene when they ran up the
course signals on the tratic stay and sent or Q
OF their tugs Off due eastward to log of a A.
teen mile course. Another tug was despatched
in the same direction for the PURPOSE OF acting
| as gudeboat for the racers as soon as the con-
| test was on.
In the meantime the tug. aboard which was
| the Regatta Committee. anchored about n fur
| long south OF the Lightship. Hardly had the
best bower struck bottom before gun doomed
| from her deck and rcd ball was hoisted
| simultaneously with the display Of the blue
| petcr on her staff. This was the preparatory
signal and it was given at exactly 10 AS 'clock.
| At that timo there was not a handful OF spec
| tators within mile or two Of the scene but
| excursion boats were looming up through the
| haze and as soon they saw the flags flying
| from the committee boats. they rushed ahead
| under full steam in order to reach the marine
| theatre in time for the start.
There were not many OF them. the fleet COM
prsing less than thirty craft OF all descriptions
| But the fortunate individuals who had braved
| the disappointment of two weeks saw Il race
| they will long remember ltwas race slngu-
| larry free from incident. but fine contest
nevertheless Not a rope parted not spar
carried away and not a sail was blown from its
| fasteninRs. There were no fouls. no crowdinR