New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-24
THE LOSSES OF VICTORY.

THE LOSSES Or VII IVRis
The Americas Cup seems further away than
ever from the English. OF course, 1t always
does after defeat: hut in the case Of the SHAH
rock an effort was made that seemed absolutely
to exhaust every resource in the mother coun-
nv Watson had nothing to teach Fire except
IN show him how the Nalkyrie III lost so that
unless the young and successful Arthur Payne
might have done better. IT may be said that
Sir Thomas Upton got as good designing rs MS
money could buy. In taking. too the shamrock
10 the Thornycrofts on the excellent and SELF
DENYING advice OF Mr.. Pirrie, who represented
the Harand & Woln Company, Sir Thomas got
the finest torpedo boat construction put into MS
racer. But in the experiments for certain al
lows and the preparation Of expensive combina-
tions Of metals together with the framing ana
rutting together of the boat In special way by
evnert vorkmen. the cost has been something
to frichten away all yachtsmen except those
nf olmost fabulous wealth. Sir Thomas has
hoon careful 10 avoid all discussion Of the
amount the Shamrock cost him, but In an IN
onorded moment he admitted some time ago
that tho estimates had been below the mark,
and that the present challenger had cost more
than six times as much as the last Nalkyrle.
The boat referred to cost 100000, so that ii may
be safe 10 say on the suggestion Of the owner
himself that the Shamrock cost nearly 100000.
And this item has nothing 10 do with the cost
Of running the boat and the chartering Of a
small fleet Of assistant vessels from the middle
of August TO the present time.
This estimate goes far to suggest that chal-
longing for the Americas Cup Is not for every
body, and that the cost may we'll deter men
from attempting It who are in the same class
1ecuniarlly ms Lord Dunraven, Lieutenant
Hem. sir Richard Sutton Mr.. Asbury and
others who have challenged previously. II Sir
Thomas Lipton's expenses are to be taken as a
guide for those who face the music again. It
must be admitted that large number of com
paratively wealthy men are shut out from the
game for the future. But after all 1t Is not
wholly a question Of money that Will interfere
with future challenges In some few quarters
the money is ready, even If the undertaking
should cost Nv ice much. At the present mo-
ment the real obstacle Is the utter hopelessness
Of taclllinc Herrcshoff As Sir Thomas care
fully said within the last few days Il must feel
that have a designer who can give me fair
"hope Of winning before put in another chal-
'1cnge" That remark speaks for the whole OF
England as well rs for Sir Thomas himself.
! The dlinc0llN OF getting II ufNlEHtI WIN tdli
build a boat against Herrcshoff Is one that has
10 be considered. Sir Thomas has been said 10
be thinking OF a race 10 hc sailed in 1901. But
! 1901 Is a long way off. and promising designers
are not turned out every day.
For the sake OF the sport 1t may be regretted
that this is the real situation. Apart from the
oatural pride in American supremacy, It must
be admitted that the races for the great Cup
have lately had other values than those of an
Interesting pastime When Englishmen and
Americans don't compete In race for the Amer
teas CUP. surely the millennium must be close
nj hand. Never has there been such manly and
difficult resignation in the presence OF keen dis
appointment as has been shown by Sir Thomas.
md never have the feelings Of the vanquished
been so generously and sympathetically re-
spected II was crushing defeat Roseate
homes vanished in the space of quarter Of an
hour. and the meeting 81 the two most prom
| ineut men after the last race VIII not soon be-
| forgotten NIr Isc.in was bitterly attacked
" hen the Shamrock was feared but Mr. Iselin
never stood so well in the opinion Of the Amer
lean people when showing strong feeling on
meeting the man who had lost so much. A
| great deal Of unkind history seemed then