The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-05

tow line she started on a long run to
the southwest, going off in that direc-
tion from the lightship for over a mile
evidently for the purpose of stretching
her sails.
The Columbia on the other hand hung
around near the lightship and at 10
o'clock took down her club topsaiI.
The big sail was on the deck about
five minutes when it was again hOisted,
the crew sending it up on the starboard
By 1915 the first of the excursion fleet
had reached the ightship, and
the rest of these vessels were
strung out behind making a procession
ten miles in length and including every
conceivable kind of steam craft. In
the lead were a number of revenue cut
ters. The torpedo boats did not ar
rive at the hghtship until after 1890
a. m. The weather half an hour before
the start began to cloud up, but gave
no indication of rain.
At 1920 the Columbia was again sail
ing about to the southeast of the light
ship, waiting for the start but she ap-
peared to be jogging slowly, while the
Shamrock was scurrying about like
scared deer.
over towards Rockaway there seem
ed to be very little wind while farther
out to sea it also appeared quite calm
The wind at the ightship, however,
appeared to be strong enough to give
the Shamrock a good move.
The committee and stake boats are
now off the lightship. The commodore's
Hook.
The tug which is to set the mark
has just left the lightship and is steam
ing straight out to sea in a southeast
erly direction. The wind at the light
ship apparently has hauled to the
northwest and the boats will go off be-
fore the wind Is miles. The yachts are
within short distance of each other
and quite close to the lightship.
The Western Union cable boat with
the committee, at 1888 set the signal
,erF =
At 1850 the preliminary whistle has
been blown and the two yachts are
headed in the direction of the Jersey
shore on the StarbOard tack. The Co
lumbia is about quarter of mile TO
the Windward of the Shamrock.
It was just one minute before II
o'clock when the boats ranged up al
most side by side, the Shamrock being
Just a few feet in the van ana her rival
holding a position that enabled her to
get the best of the breeze.
At 1O:59:3O the Shamrocll's big spin
maker was broken out, balloon jibS on
each having been set a few second pre-
viOusIy. The big spinnaker on the
challenger began to pull the moment it
was in place and helped move her down
across the line.
At HOO the preparatory signal was
blown and by this time the two racers
We're weather of the line. Then they
both came drifting up close TO the light
ship, Columbia coming down across the
line close to the lightship and coming
about, sailed slowly back, leaving the
light ship to port shamrock also
headed towards the line, but did not
cross. Captain HOgarth went about
and ran back to where he started from,
breaking his balloon fOrestay sail as
he did so. He was not quick enough,
for the Columbia, had come down with
a good move on and gybing on her boom
to starboard was to weather of the
green boat.
The last bit Of work was rather tame,
.1i 4 1cfT
the racers along at much more than a
snaiPS pace. When the starting signal
was given at IL o'clock, both boats were
within a short distance of the line, but
the air was so light that they did not
have much way on. The Columbia s
spinnaker was broken out after the
starting signal had been given and so
close together were the tWa racers that
the CoIumbia's mainsaiI Tapped over
the ShamrOck's spinnaker and prevent
ed it from drawing we'll.
The boats were only a few seconds
apart when they crossed the line.
The smoke of the gun fire that had
given them the signals hung in the air
and the two boats broke through, the
Shamrock with the squirt which had
given her first place over the line, miss
ing all but a few rings of it, the Co
lumbia, which was just off the mark
boat catching nearly all Of it. So they
were off.
1t was difficult to distinctly see the
racers. The course set, took the boats
practically to sea.
The racers were carrying their sails
alike. Forward the big balloOners fill
ed and sagged with the tickle breeze,
while the spinnaxers seemed to draw
but little.
The first five minutes We're not cheer
ing for the Columbia.
The half length lead of the Sham
rock at the start was heightened out
until clear water showed. The Co
lumbia's sail filed and then she went on
and caught her opponent. Inch by inch
she crept up until she had a lead of
one length and a half Captain HO-
garth had practically all his men aft,
but a few green caps could be seen for
ward, and it almost seemed as if the
head of the Shamrock lifted. Her
spinnaker pole seemed to be set for
ward further and the squirt was on.
clear water went by, the Shamrock
nipped the stern of the Columbia and
was making good headway.
The sailing maneuvers were now on
for good. Capt. Hogarth eased his
sheets still further off, While Capt.
Barr, perhaps with the wind caroming
idea in mind, began to get more of his
sheet aboard. Whatever the exact idea