Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-04
KEEN INTEREST IN LONDON.
With People Seeking News
of the Race,

LONDON. Oct. 3-If there has been some
lukewarmness OF interest hitherto, London
has amply atoned. No event IL the annals
of sport ever created such intense and uni
versai excitement as has been displayed
over the result of the race between the
Shamrock and Columbia for the America g
cup. The eliminating point was reached
to-day when the center of the newspaper
world of Great Britain was literally packed
with huge multitude of cheering and en-
thusiastic partisans.
1t is calculated that, at 10:3O, something
like 10000 people were within the area be-
tween Fleet street and the Thames en-
bankment. Trade was impossible. The po-
lice authorities were completely taken by
surprise and no provision had been made
for dealing with the vast crowds that
thronged Fleet street and the adjacent
thoroughfare from St. Paul's to the Plea
dilly circus.
At midnight, the main arteries were
thronged with people eAcitedly discussing
the result OF the contest with an inten-
sity that no Derby or Varsity boat race
ever equaled, and which more nearly ap-
preached the scenes incident to an Amer
ican presidential campaign than anything
England has heretofore known. Notwith-
standing the fact that the country Is on
| the verge of war, the result OF the race
obliterated from the public mind every
question of political moment.
A representative of the Associated Press
| rode tonight from the office of the Daily
Mail, where the first attempt at an eiec-
| trical display of the movements OF the COM
peting yachts was made, to the West End
with one of the oldest journalists III Eng
| land, who declared that the enthusiasm
shown surpassed anything since the mem
| orable night when the Gladstone home
rule bill hung in the balance. The the
aters were practically empty and the news
boys reaped a rich harvest. Until a very
late hour the halfpenny papers sold fol
sixpence, and even at that price the de
mand exceeded the supply.
The fact that the Shamrock was leadipt
| at the expiration of the time limit created
| unbourded enthusiasm, and the only dis
| appointment expressed Is that the race wa
not completed. The general opinion is tina
the Shamrock would have won a hare
| fought race.
At the leading West end clubs the opin
| ion prevails that the two finest products
| of the worlds yaching contractors met il
| a struggle for the most coveted trophy 0
| the nautical world and the sportsmanlik
| spirit in which the race was contested con
| centrates upon it the interest not only O
| England, but Of the whole of Europe
| The Pail Mall Gazette, voicing the gen
| eral sentiment, saying:
| From first to last this years contest ha
brought but the sportsmanlike qualities o
both sides. The methods of measurement
have been marked by scrupulous care. W.
shall have a far race and no favor. 1t i
| a happy omen that. the former race wa
not long after Presidents Clevelands Ven
ezuela message, the present race coincide
with the amcable settlement of that con
troversy."
The American contingent still linSerin
in London manifest intense interest n
other subject is discussed at their favorit
hotels, where bets were freely offered, bu
failed to find substantial takers.
a big green and yellow Shamrock rae
ing flag tloated over the principal office
of Sir Thomas Lipton to-day and the q
Scotch clerks employed there, discardn
all thought of their native thistles. wer
radiant in Shamrock neckties, scarf pin
and lapel buttons. reproducing the flag.
Mr.. McDiarmid, the managing director
after the board meeting yesterday, cable
Sir Thomas Upton Good wishes and goo
luck" on behalf of the staff.