The San Francisco call., 1899-10-08

Three efforts at a decision in this cup
keeping or cup-losing matter and the tale
is yet to run. Three attempts at racing
and three resultant flukes, and all that is
known of the ability of either yacht to
beat the other is that on the first occasion
the Columbia had a Slight advantage at
the inconclusive ending of the contest:
that on the second trial the two finished
on even terms and in yesterdays unsat-
iSfaCtory bout the American boat quit
with a slight lead. The averaged-up prob
lem stands where 1t rested before the con-
testants met.
But it is not so much a question as to
which yacht is the speeder in a race. 1t
is when there is going to be one. That 8
it. That's the problem which overshad-
ows that other one regarding relative
merits. What the people are asking now
is: When is the wind going to blow long
enough for one to see which of these
yachts is the better boat?"
white folks and women the Southern
darky says, g is mighty onsartin'." The
same may be said of the New York
weather. The Weather Bureau promised
wind that would send the yachts kittng
over the course, and during the early
morning and forenoon there was every
sign that the promise would be fulfilled.
But change came as the day wore on.
The wind weakened as the hours went
by, and the heavy sea, which had been
rolled up by the gale of Friday and Fri
day night, moderated to a long rhythmic
swell.
1t was blowing a good twelve to fifteen
miles an hour breeze when the yachts
stood out to the starting line. 1t was
from the north-northeast and the course
was laid south-southeast to the turning
mark, anchored fifteen miles down the
coast. The sea was rolling in a heavy
so heavy that the yachts would frequently
disappear to their main booms behind the
bulky rollers.
There was but little maneuvering for
position before the start and the starting
gun found both yachts near the line. To
observers it seemed that they crossed it
in company, the Columbia setting her bal
loon jib as she went over it, the Sham
rock luffing up under baby iib and jib top
sail, seeking to gain the weather berth
To prevent that the Columbia also stood
away to the westward and the first part
of the race was merely a luffing match
for windward position.
Neither gaining any advantage in that
direction, the Shamrock took in her baby
jib topsail set q lug foresail in place of
the staysail, and breaking out her bal
loon tb as the Columbia set her spinnaker
aloft, the two settled down to plain sail
ing. Meanwhile the wind was gradually
dying out, and before the first hour went
by both yachts were dipping their balloon
jibs aback with every pitch of the sea-
They had plenty Of room on that race
down the wind, the lane they Travelled be-
ing a full four miles in width. On their
starboard hand was a line Of torpedo
boats, under command of Lieutenant Com
mander John c. Fremont, which kept the
excursion fleet on that side we'll clear Of
the course of the racing yachts. On the
port hand was a line of revenue cutters.
commanded by Captain Robley D. Evans,
guarding the seaward side of the pre-
scribed course.
AS the yachts were midway in the run
to the turning point, a nomadic freighter
came laundering up the lane from the
southern end. The cutters footed warn
ing signals, but the stranger kept on, and
not until the auxiliary yacht Allen had
fired two shots did the vessel sheer out
of the course of the racers
The spectacular feature Of the race lay
at the outer mark and at a time when
the yachts were rounding it. That was
the turning point of the race, but 1t was
no turning point in the fortunes of the
contestants.
One may live long and never again see
such a spectacle as was presented when
the two yachts swung around the stake
in company and SO close together that
one was sailing in the others shadow.