St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-10-18
THE YACHT RACE.

New York, Oct. 17.-Columbia defeated
Shamrock In the first race for the
Americas cup, beating the challenger at
every point in the wlndward work, and
holding her advantage in the run to the
finish mark. 1t was the eighth attempt,
and the conditions at the start were more
promising for finish race than at any
time for week. In the early morning
the wind while light, showed evidences
or increasing. At the time Of the start
1t was blowing about 10 miles an hour.
The weather was thick, but showed signs
of clearing.
Columbia bounded across the finish
line fully mile and half ahead Of the
challenger, defeating her by 10 minutes
and IA seconds actual time, or 10 minutes
and seconds corrected time, after al
lowing the six seconds handicap, which
Columbia must concede to the challenger
on account Of her longer water-line. 1t
was a magnificent race, skilfully sailed
and decislvely won. Opinion as TO the
merits Of the two boats had been some
what divided, as a result Of the hukes
during the past two weeks. but no nau-
tical sharp expected that Shamrock
would be so overwhelmingly vanquished
as she was in Mondays contest. The
Yankee boat outgeneralled her at the
start, beat her hopelessly in windward
work to the outer mark, and gained %
seconds in the run home before the
wind.
No excuse can be offered for Sham
rocks defeat. There was good strong
10 to 12-knot breeze, and it held through
out the race, true as the needle to the
pole. The regatta committee, as
result of the showing made by the de-
fender, are convinced that the cup is
safe. Blow high, blow low, Columbia,
1t is believed by her manager, can take
the measure Of her rival. Sir Thomas
Upton admitted after the race that he
had been fairly and squarely beaten.
He had no apologies to make, saying that
he would die game, and race the series.
No large assemblage was on hand to
witness the start Many, however, got
out in time to see the finish. Promptly
at 10 o'clock the committee boat signalled
the course, Is miles dead into the eye Of
the wind, to the eastward and return.
| Immediately tug steamed out parallel
with the Long Island shore. to set the
outer mark. Both yachts set No. club
topsail. Just as the warning gun
doomed, driving mist swept in from the
east beating into the faces Of the ex-
cursionists. and adding to their dis
comfort. There was some lively jockey
ing behind the line. before the start, and
the Yankee boat got the better of it.
She out unanswered her rival, even to
forcing her over the line first by halt
a length, but leaving Columbia in the
weather position.
Close hauled on the starboard tack the
yachts plunged seward. heeling to the
12-knot breeze. The first few minutes
of the race were the most interesting
The yachts made a beautiful picture as
they raced away. Their sails, to the
nautical eye, were perfection in fit. The
crews were piled up on the weather raj
as the yachts smashed into the head seas
pounding the spray from their bows
Plenty of smother came over, but neither
shipped crests forward.
1t was soon apparent that Columbia
was forging ahead. The clear water be
gan to show between them. Columbia
not only seemed to ontfoot the challenger
but also pointed higher 1t was astonish
ing how she sliced her way up into the
wind. Within Is minutes she had estab
lished lead Of five length, and from tina
time on the race was hers. The patriots
were jubilant. and the bands began play
ing.
| l.; ,oJ 70 dnr !, h.
foreigner showing yards of her bronz
underbody as she leaned away with he
lee rail almost awaSh. Steadily she con
tinued to draw ahead until within hal
an hour, having demonstrated her su
periority in windward work, it became
only a question of how much Columbia
would beat Shamrock to the outer mark
AS the yachts got farther out the sea
grew more turbulent and the spra,
spurted higher from their bows. Man
, excursionists came to grief, and some o
the tugboats were flooded from stem t
stern. The work Of the patrol fleet we
perfect.
Shamrock footed valiantly, but neithe
in speed nor in pointing could she com
pare with Columbia. Then the thre
, shippers on the challenger tried neN
tactics. Shamrock made dozen shoI
boards. But Columbia proved quite a
nimble as Shamrock. Timed by sto
watch both boats were Is seconds 1
stays, and the defender was fully a
clever as the challenger at fore reaching
, When Shamrock got through with thi
line Of tactics Columbia had increased he
lead until she was half a mile ahead. A
, the end of another half hour, as the win
continued to freshen, Shamrock took |
, her baby jib topsail. Columbia held o
to hers, and as Shamrock did not i'm
prove her position at the end of 10 mir
utes her shippers again set this sail. b
/ o'clock Shamrock was fully mile an
a half astern and Columbia was win
ner all over 1t was not close enough
be exciting.
Andrade MAY Be Forced 10 Retire.
= Caracas, Venezuela, Oct. 1Z-Advice
r,ota,o IN villas fror, 10 rooo, .o