The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-21
THE COLUMBIA
TR|UMPHS AGAIN
Defeats the Shamrock by
Over Six Minutes
THE AMERICAS CUP SAFE
A RACE THROUGH WILD AND
FOAMING SEAS.
A CRU HlNG BLOW TO SIR JOHN Upton
His Hopes had been High, but There is no Bit
terness in his Heart in the Hour of
Defeat. He Will Come
Again.

New York, Oct. 20.-Through wild and
hoary seas, in Il breeze that approach
ed the dignity of gale, the gallant
sloop Columbia today vanquished the
hritish challenger Shamrock by six min
utes and eighteen seconds actual time
and six minutes and thirty four seconds
corrected time, thus completing the Sc
iies for the Americas cup with mag
nificent rough weather duel and glori-
Gus Yankee victory.
For the eleventh time the attempt OF
n foreigner to wreSt from America the
yachting supremacy of the world has
failed.
The intrinsic value of the reward
which hundreds of thousands of dollars
were expended to secure is small-sinf
ply an antiquated piece of silverware
which Queen Victoria offered to the best
sailing ship in the world in the early
days of her reign, but around it cluster
the precious memories of umbroken Am
erican triumph and the honor of mastery
in the noblest of sports.
To Sir Thomas Upton, whose name is
now added to the hist of defeated aSpir
ants for the honor of carrying the cur
back across the Atlantic. the failure was
a crushing blow His hope had beer
high. But, like the true sportsman tina
he is, the sting of defeat has left NJ
bitterness and with undauned courage
he intimates that he may be back witt
a better boat to try again. During his
stay here, Sir Thomas has made himself
more popular than any previous challeng
er and the yachtsmen of this country vii
he glad to welcome him back.
ExceYt for ire repeated finkes and
the unfortunate accident to the challen
ger on Tuesday this series of races has
been unmarried by single untoward in.
cident The boats have had TWO fair
and square races, one in light airs, and
the other in a heavy blow, and Sir
Thomas is perfectly satisfied that he
was beaten by the better boat.
Today's race was a glorious test ID
the rough weather qualities of the tw6
yachts There was too much frostinesS
in the air for comfort. and it was fal
too rough for landlubbers. The sky was
overcast with cold gray clouds, and the
fierce flaws of a chilling blast out OF
the northeast whipped the foam out OF
the racing waves until they whitened the
face of the sea. Outside the ocean was
a riot of white caps. Some of the holi-
day fleet declined to brave the perils OF
the harpies riding down on the north
easter, and those that did rolled and
plunged in the tumbling pillows, sending
all but the old salts below. The prayer
of Sir Thomas for wind was answered
1t was blowing % miles an hour at the
lightship, enough wind and enough sea
to make any racing machine stagger.
The course fifteen miles before the
wind, south by west, carried the yachts
straight down the Jersey coast to poin
o. Long Branch, so that the race was
sailed in plain view of the thousands
perched upon the heights Of Nayesina
and stretched along the shore from Sea
bright to Asbury Park.
Both yachts fed across the starting
line before the 25-knot breeze, wing ant
wing, their spinnakers breaking out lik
puffs of white smoke and setting hare
as plaster. The Shamrock was over
minute and one second before the de
fender But this was not due to gtrperio
seamaIship. Captain Barr held off TO
that length of time after the green boa
crossed in order that ihe might get TIN
position astern, whore he could have al
opportunity to blanket his rival. Tn
yachts made a beautiful picture as the.
sped with outstretched pinions. The Co
lumbia carried her spinnaler boom at an
angle of almost 45 degrees. This allow
cd the big sail to belly far out forward
and draw like a locomotive. But 1t wa
rather dangerous. and twice an eXtr;
puff of wind carried the sail forward AM
up until it tlrmIbled over the stay Bu
the Deer Isle sailors each time had i
back in place in a jiffy. The Shamrocl
had no such uishap, as Hogarth carries
his boom mach lower The Yankee trick
however, did its work. lifting the hea'
of Columbia ont Of the water until sht
seemed to he skimming over the surface
When Columbia had caught up to with
in striking distance, the green boa
crowded ON a little more canvas, settint
a baby iib topsail and for ten minute
she seemed to hold the American even
Both were going like scared deef's z
stern chase is a long one, but as tn
yachts approached the cutter mark th
patriots with high bounding pulses say
that the Columbia was again picking II
ON the enemy.
At 1910 O'Clock, half mile from tn
mark. the Bristol boat got alongside tn
challenger and neck and neck, hike
span of race horses. they bowled dow
for the float. Three minutes later, wine
they took in their spinnakers prepare
tory to gyhing. Columbia was lengt
in the lead, and footing like mad. Ih
yachts swept around the mark, Columbi
II seconds ahead. but SO close that on
chorus from the fleet answered for bot
Columbia had gained minute and elgi
teen seconds in the fifteen mile run.
As they leaned away ON the starboal
tack for the beat home the white nyt
was to windward and about lengt
ahead. With their sheets trimmed III
& aft, they surged into the head seas, SEM
ing the brine smoking as high ms TIL
spreaders. They carcened until their L
rails were awash in the swirling, driyin
waves Oceans of spray came owe