New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-04
LIPTON'S GOOD EFFORT.
HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO LIFT THE CUP"
A FAILURE
POSITION OF THE YACHTS WHEN THE TIME
LIMIT HAD PASSED CAUSES CHANGES
OF OPINION AMONG YACHTsMEN-
ENORMOUS FLEET AFLOAT

=
Sir Thomas Lipton's first effort to lift the
cup" resulted in a hzZle. because he had not
wind enough This is no reflection upon the
Irish sportsman's strength or endurance but
was solely the fault Of the weather which. after
promising to furnish whOlesan breeze pro-
vded only fuky zephyrs. by the aid Of which
neither Columbia nor Shamrock was able to
cover the thirty knot course within the allotted
period Of five hours and a half The contest
therefore declared no race" and must be
sailed over again tomorrow. This will throw
the close OF the contest into next week
Notwithstanding the disappointment which
generally felt over the negative result the
ardent hackers Of The Columbia were glad
enough to have it so, for the Shamrock was
slightly in the lead when the time expired. and
her chance Of winaing was therefore somewhat
the better. The result % Tho days work was
TO shake the belief. heretofore widely enter
tained in America. that the Shamrock need not
be feared in light winds. Nevertheless, many
yachtsmen were sticking to that opinion last
night and based their views on tine fact that
what wind there was yesterday came alCnS in
such erratlc streaks that luck played too large
a part in the performances Of both boats to
afford any just criterion Of their real merits.
That. Of course. IS question for experts 10
wrange over The ordinary observer viii care
fully note the fact that the weather was the
kind that Columbia IS supposed actually 10 reVei
in while heavy winds are generally conceded 10
be Shamrocks speciality. Yet after run Of al
most thirty knots with luck no more a factor
than It will be in future races. the Shamrock
led her competitor at the close; and rejecting
upon this. he will govern his betting accord
lngly.
To those who only wanted to see good sport
and cared not particularly which boat won' so
that she won fairly. the race was sadiening al
most maddenng Before them We're the two
fastest single stickers the world ever saw and
the contest between them ought TO have been
the sight II a lifetime. Yet there they We're,
sneaking along at "A snairs pace. with now
spurt and now a drag. but never enough wind to
let them cut loose and show their speed.
EXCURSION BOATS BEHAVED WELL.
But there was one alleviating circumstance.
Never did excursion boats behave better and
never did torpedo boats make so sure that they
behaved we'll The torpedo boats especially
looked waspish, and captains gave them wide
berth These with the revenue cutters kept
the big feet in lire as skilfuly as good coes
herd a flock of wayward sheep. 80 truant from
the ranks was actually sent home in disgrace,
though one steam yacht narrowly escaped that
fate. and Fighting Bob" Evans, who had
charge Of the Federal squadron. declared he
would have the licenses Of three steamer cap
tains revoked for persistent attempts to get too
near.
The attending feet must have numbered at
least three hundred vessels. Of all kinds, from
big Sound steamer to a tiny catboat.
The start Of the race was made with reasona-
bic promptness. and the run down the wind TO
the stakeboat began with a fair amount Of ex-
element. which was heightened by the Sham
rock getting across the line we'll ahead Of the
Yankee boat This was a feather in her cap
tain's cap at the first jump At once the fee'
split into two long columns and went trailing
out TO sea in a vast shape, that left the racers
ample scope TO manPuyre between the forks.
The yachts presented a charming picture.
Their slender hulls soon disappeared from the
view OF those who followed but the great white
sails were so transparent in the bright sunlight
that no matter at what angle they were viewed
the shadow OF those sails and sDars furthest
from the spectator was outlined so clearly upon
the surface Of the intervening canvas that all
OF them could be seen at cnce, in a sort Of X-ray