The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-07
THE INTERNATIONAL YACHT RACE.

1
ica's cup, which contains 100 ounces OF
pure silver. The contestants care but
little for the intrinsic value OF the trophy
wrestcd from England many years ago.
Lord Dunraven with his Valkyrie ig-
ANONYMOUSLY failed to bring it back to
England, and accepted his defeat in an
unsportsmanlikc manner. Sir Thomas
Upton may also fail, but he will leave
better impression upon Americans
than his titled predecessor. His yacht
is said to be the most dangerous cup
racer that has come to America ior
many years, and though it gives evil
dence OF tremendous sail power it has
an ugly and unattractive appearance
The Erin, which accompanies it, is a
handsome boat
Notwithstanding the fact that Irish
Americans love the name OF his yacht,
they do not love it half so much as
that Of the Columbia. To all intcnts
and purposes the Shamrock is British
boat and therefore it is that the sons Of
| Erin hope to see her beaten. Upton
himself is pretty good kind OF an Irish
man in his way, but the title attached
to his name shows him to be loyal
| Briton.
Yachting experts say the Shamrock
will not get the cup. In the race on
Tuesday neither boat made the required
thirty miles in the specified time limit
for lack OF wind; but the details of the
trial showed that when the breeze came
alike to both. the Columbia easily out
ran. outreached and outpointed the
Shamrock. The bets were in favor OF
the American yacht. The Shamrock
was first over the line, few seconds
| ahead OF Columbia, and sped away on
its course at rate of speed which gave
Americans good reason for apprehen-
sion. In spite of the stringent rules
which had been laid down by Captain
Bob" Evans. and in spite OF the tor
pedo boats and revenue cutters which
constituted his police navy to keep the
course clear, the big excursion boats
violated the regulations and crowded
into the windward of Columbia SO as
to interfere with its handling, and at one
time nearly to becalm it, while Sham
rock, more fortunate, had all the breeze
there was and improved it. 1t pulled
rapidly away from its competitor and
at 1905, when six miles had been sailed,
was half mile ahead
Shortly after this the skipper OF Co.
lumbia changed his sailing tactics and
jibcd. BY this time the excursion boats
were out OF the way and Columbia be-
gan overllauling Shamrock, and at 1857
was reported ten lengths ahead. 1t kept
its lead past the mark, rounding the
stake boat about two minutes ahead and
increasing it's lead From this time on
the wind was freaky, Upton, with his
USUAL good luck, getting the most OF it,
and Shamrock rapidly ovcrhauling Co.
lumbia. Both yachts tackled regularly
and it became an exciting question
whether Columbia could hold its lead
AS the time wore on and the
wind grew lighter and more
uncertain favorable slants would
increase or decrease the distance be-
tween them, but Columbia did not gain
as much as Shamrock, and at $3.50 Sham
rock was leading. The wind again took
a favoring slant for the challenger, but
few minutes later Columbia had a
similar slant and crawled tip on its rival,
though it did not keep its advantage.
AT 4 p. M. the yachts we're good five
miles from the finish line, with less than
andlour to cover the distance. Columbia
still further lessened the distance, but
the time limit expired at 4:45 and at that
time the two yachts were three miles
from the line The race was called off,
Shamrock and Columbia virtually be-
Gained and only about 200 yards apart
We hope to be able to announce next
week that Yankee skill and ingenuity
will prevail, and that the cup will re-
main on this side of the Atlantic. Sir
Thomas is sure to take his defeat plilo-
sophically, and, win or lose, the Ameri-
can people will pronounce him "a jolly
good fellow" and true sportsman. The
reputation OF the American and British
shipbuiders who constructed the boats
is at stake as much, if not more, than
the seamanship OF the respective crews
The result is awaited with anxiety by
two continents.