The San Francisco call., 1899-10-18

n T EW YORK, Oct 17-Another vic
IN tory for Columbia, But public in
| vi terest will hardly survive another
Y triumph of the sort. II lapsed
with the fall of the challenger s
topmast, and though part of the excur-
sion fleet followed the Columbia in her
solitary ramble around the triangular
course there were few to grow enthus-
iasttc over victory which accident had
rendered certain. Nor was there any ap-
plause for the Columbia when after that
mishap to the Shamrock the defender con-
unued upon her course. Magnificent, but
1t Is not war" was a soldiers comment
on Balaklava Mr.. Iselin was plainly
within his rights when he rounded out
the run and claimed the victory for Sir
Thomas Upton is signatory to an agree
ment wherein it is stipulated that in case
of accident to either yacht the other
shall continue on her course and be cred
tied with a race should she finish. There
is deep-seated instinct which protests
against the acceptance of victory through
the unsuSpeCted weakness of a piece of
rigging worn by rival craft. The hope
was freely expressed that the Columbia
would not claim and would not take her
rights But when 1t was seen that there
was no intent of relinquishing the ad-
vantage gained there was a fervent hope,
and one freely and frequently expressed,
that the wind would die out and thus
prevent the winning of a race through
the mishap to a rival.
To every one who went out the disap-
pointmen- was keen. A fairer yachting
day could hardly be imagined Moreover,
1t was the sort Of day that the Shamrock
people have been wishing for, a fresh
wind blowing true and a lively sea run
ming before it. The race itself over the
triangular course was another feature
which attracted many All previous ef-
forts in this series have been fifteen miles
to the windward or leeward route, but the
course of to-day was to be over the tri-
angular run, and in the fresh winds and
tumbling seas the contest promised to be
as thrilling as any ever witnessed in these
waters.
In pure gayety of spirit the excursion
lists cheered and shouted and waved
handkerchiefs and hats when the two
racers, with boom and spar buckling to
the strain of swollen canvas, went storm
ing across the starting line. A more ami
mated yachting picture was never wit
messed than that presented by these splen-
did yachts dashing along the course, the
foam dancing in brilliant rainbows about
their weather bows, while to leeward the
water swept in CLASSY curves from the
clear knife-like stems. Under mainsail,
CiuD lOpSdllS, JIU, DdDy JlD anu SlaySdllS
the two clipped it along, both pointing
high and footing so fast that some of the
excursion boats had difficulty in keeping
pace. But all set out in pursuit of the
winged racers, and all were rejoicing in
the prospect of a glorious struggle, when
hopes were dashed by the accident to the
Shamrock. She was then the focus for
all eyes, for to the many 1t seemed that
she was outfooting the cup defender, and
1t appeared also that she had reached out
far enough to cross the Columbia's bow
A number were expecting that she would
attempt that maneuver and were watch
ing the challenger with intense interest
when cry of dismay arose. Bending to
the weight of the club topsail the Sham
rocks topmast suddenly snapped and fell
precipitating the sails spar into a mass
of wreckage, which, suspended by its
wire rigging, swung to and fro with the
movement of the yacht.