The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-17
TECHNICAL Story

OF Yesterdays Contest Between tue
Columbia aud shamrock = Tho
American Boats Great Victory.
NEW YORK, oct. 1s.-The crews Of
both yachts had breakfast early this
morning and when they turned to-
soon after 8 o'clock, It was with a viii,
for in spite OF the rather hazy weather,
there was good breeze from the east
ward which promised to increase and
give the yachts a good race at last. Jibs
and stay sails were sent up in stops on
the stays. racing matches put on, boats
lashed and everything made snug be-
fore 9 o'clock. At s:15 the Columbia
cast of from her moorings and was tn
ken IN tow by tug. The Shamrock
started In tow few minutes later.
Covers were on the main sails and club
topSaiIs to keep them dry until the
last moment, as there was Just enough
fine rain to dampen them. At 10
o'clock both yachts had reached the
east endsaof Gedney's channel. and At
10:10 thelc columbia's crew began hoist
ing the main sail. It was set in fiye
minutes. The shanrock's main san
began to go up at the same time, bnt
It was fully fifteen minutes before the
sail was set.
At 1925 both yachts cast of their
tow llnea, broke out their tlbs and
mast headed their No. club top sails.
The Columbia also sent up her baby
ilb top sails on the stay. At the same
time the committee boat. Walter Lux
enbach, anchored due south Of the
Sandy Hook light ship and sent up the
course signal; II was east, making It a
beat dead to wlndward Of fifteen miles
and a run back II the wind held from
the same quarter.
The regatta committee meant busi-
ness this morning, for q few minutes
later they started the tug to leg of the
course and at 10:45 the preparatory slg-
nal was made. Both yachts then be-
gan manoeuvering for positions, and at
1856, when the warning slgnal,was giv-
en-. they were playing for O weather
berth to the northward of the line, the
Shamrock breaking out her stay sail at
this time.
Preliminary JOckeying.
When two minutes were left before
the starting signal. both yachts were
heading couple of lengths apart, to
the westward with booms to port. the
Columbia to wlndward. At one minute
the Shamrock began to keep of for the
COMMITTEES boat, which was lying at the
south end OF the line. Captain Ho=
garth's intention apparently being to
stop the Columbia, then length or SO
astern, from getting the weather berth.
When the starting gun was fired, the
Shamrock had run pafall let-swith the
hae to nearly the centre OF It, She atiH
held her course until nearly over to the
hglTtshlp before Ehe began to luif to
cross the line. Captain Barr, on the
Columbia, held his yacht well in hand.
being at this time good length astern.
with sheets fiat aft. He began to luff
the moment Hogarth did, and, shooting
the Columbia across the shamrock's
wake he sent her across the line more
than nifty yards to windwnrd Of the
challenger and with such good over
lap on her that, according to the ofii-
ciRl time, she was only three seconds
astern.
The Official time OF the start was;
Shamrock 11:0l:03; Columbia, i1:0l:06.
Both yachts were now close hauled
on the starboard tack and were carry
ing exactly the same sail-maln sail,
club top sail, tlb, fore sail and baby 1lb
top sail. As soon as sheets were trim
med, all hands except the men station
ed at the head sheets. jumped for the
weather side and huddled close down to
the stnrboard rail. while the skippers
watched each other like hawks.
There were not many yachts or eS-
cursion steamers out in time to see the
FHha9a m hnn ri fhn snail Hnnf
had a splendid view Of the start and the
first ten minutes after were anxious
ones for the friends OF both yachts.
After that time Il was all over, but the
shouting. In Ave minutes the Column
bia had widened the distance to wind
ward between herself and the Sham
rock fully length. She heeled more
than the latter boat, but her sails were
all full. and she was pointing higher
from the moment she started.
Desperate Tactics.
Captain Hogarth, think his boat
would be able to outfoOt Columbia sufH-
clently to tack across her bow. a little
later gave her good rap full. The
green boat responded nobly and to some
II appeared that she was passing the
Columbia very fast. So she was, but
she was losing outward ground every
When the Shamrock tackled to port
at H:i5 and the Columbia thirty sec
onds later, It was seen that Barr had so
placed his boat on the weather bow Of
the Shamrock ms to spill the back wind
into Shnmrocks sails. Hogarth was
obliged to keep broad of for about thlr-
~ seconds to get out from under the
COlumbla's lee. By ll:20 the Bristol boat
was quite an eighth OF mile to wind.
ward and outfootinE and out-pointing
her rival all the time. Captain Hogarth,
finding that the Shamrock would not
point as high as Columbia, flnttened
down his sheets as hard as he dared
and had to be contented with giving
her a good full and letting her go at
that The Shamrock went about to
starbonrd Ht ll:33:3O, and Columbia five
seconds later.
At il:45:3O, when the Shamrock again
tackled to port, Columbia wns fully n
quarter OF a mile to windward Of her.
The latter tackled Ave seconds later.
Captain Hogarth was getting desper-
ate now and he resorted to his short
tRekinB tactics In the hope that his boat
would fore reach sufficiently to make n
material gain So windwRFd. AZ the
conclusion Of the marine duel between
the two yachts Hogarth found himself
farther to leeward than ever, Columbia
having been, u anything, quicker In
stays and n better fore reHcher At
12:6O:l5 when the Shamrock settled
down 10 business again on the port
tack and Columbia after standing on
two minutes longer. came about to the
snme tack It was found that the Bris-
toi boat was half mile dead to wind
ward OF her rival. In three more tacks,
Columbia stu Increased her wlndward
lead. The Shamrock people at l2;25
took IN her baby jib top sail, hoping
that Rhc might point higher. but Il