The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-17

hour to get her sails set and before
she got fully started for the Hghtsh1p
the Columbia was taken in tow by her
tug and slipped out ahead Of the green
boat The Shamrock followed her but
although she had her jib broken out
she signalled her tug TO come along
side and also left for the hghtShip in
tow.
The procession of tugs and yachts
with the newspaper fleet passed out by
the Hook shortly after o'clock max
ing straight for the starting line. In the
meantime the sun was coming out
strong. At O'Clock the wind off shore
had fallen considerably and was not
blowing much over five or six knots an
hour The failing conditions began to
assume the same eXasperating form as
on race days last week but the yachts
made their way out toward the start
with the hope that the breeze might
hold good and that they would have
another decisive contest.
Guests of Sir Thomas Upton boarded
the Blackbird at the Battery and when
she left for the Horse Shoe the steam
er had about 80 passengers on board.
David Barrie, the representative of
the ShamrOck's owner, expressed his
belief that the Shamrock would do her
self justice today if there was a race
This may be the last race witnessed by
the guests of Sir Thomas, as most of
them have arranged to sail for Eng
land on the White Star liner Oceanic
tomorrow.
Among Sir Thomas Lipton's guests
today We're Rear Admiral Lord Charles
BereSfOrd. Lady BeresfOrd Sir Henry
Burdett, K. c. B., VIM. Gibson, r. ].
Gibson, J. w. Gladstone. G. Lawson
Johnston, E. A. Lawson Johnston. Ken
meth Wilson and c. H. Wyndham, Mrs.
Wilson of TranbycrOft, Yorkshire and
Miss NIuriel Wilson.
PrOfting by yesterdays variable con-
ditiOnS and the fact that contrary to
expectations there was race the point
OF starting OF the international yacht
races was a much more lively scene
this morning and the conditions were
somewhat different also.
The fog cleared away early so that
there was a good line of observation
and the sun who has been a stranger
for several days cOndescended to show
his face at intervals during the earlier
hours with promise that before the day
grew older he would blaze forth in
heated glory of Indian summer Sir
Thomas LiptOn's guests did not pro-
pose to get left again. They made an
early start and came down to the start
ing line following closely the yachts
and the committee boats. The breeze
and the clearing atmosphere We're
things of joy to the enthusiasts and
crews of the competitors.
At o'clock a steady 91a or 10 knot
breeze was blowing giving promise of
a rattling good race.
1t did not take the competing yachts
long to appreciate the decidedly favor
able conditions and by o'clock they
were both outside of the Hook under
tow, proceeding to the starting point.
Shamrock as soon as she got outside
raised her nainsail and jib, but COlum-
bia. while having her mainsail in stops,
did not break it out for some time after.
At 9:21 the Shamrock then about four
miles from the start dropped her tow
boat and went along at a nice clip, un-
der her mainsai, jib and forestay sail.
At 1926 Columbia, which was slightly
ahead put up her mainsail and when
it had filed broke out her jib. Both
yachts dug their noses into the heavy
swells and shed the water like ducks,
presenting a beautiful marine picture,
eSpeci&ly the Shamrock as her emerald
line rose out of the mass of broken
foam. Shamrock tacking to starboard,
ran far in towards the Highlands but
COIum D1a still held to her tow and kept
straight for the starting point The
committee boats were just ahead of the
two racers, hurrying to get the course
set SO as to have the start promptly at
IL o'clock.
The Columbia dropped her boat Just
as she got near the line and raising her
club topsan cut through the heavy seas
IN good shape. She arrived off starting
at exactly 9:55. Ten minutes later
Shamrock got down the line sailing un-
der mainsail and club tOpsail. The sun
had come out, and the breeze was blow
ing fully ten miles from the east and
the conditions were excellent.
At the time the preparatory gun was
fired, 1O;45, both boats were to the
south of the hghtship, but running for
It Shamrock was the first to spin
around, but before she could gather
headWay Columbia had run dow on
top of her and obtained a nice bzrth to
the W1ndWard. Then came some iOclxev-
ing for position and during the first FIVE
minutes after the preliminary gun
Capt. Barr held a good position to the
Windward of his rival.
Columbia held her WindWard position
and her fine place on top of Shamrock
until within five minutes of the start
Wnen IN making one of her turns she
did not gain headway quite as quick as
Capt. Barr anticipated and Shamrock
ran up and took the windward berth
Despite every effort of Capt. Barr he
could not get Columbia from under
shamrock, and when the starting gun
was fired he was forced across the line
in the leeward position.
BOth boats went across the line on
the starbOard tack, under mainsaiIs
CLUB tOpsails and two top headsails and
Just as she crossed Columbia broke out
her baby jib tOpSail
Shamrock, however, after Yesterdays
experience kept to her two lower head
sails. A minute after the boats had
started Shamrock tackled to port and
COlumbi followed a minute after The
latter however stood on just far enough
50 that when she came around she was
to the windward of Shamrock Five
minutes after the start the boats were
still holding the port tack and Sham
rock seemed to pull out a bit on Col
umbia.
The starting gun was fired at II a.
m. Time of start estimated: Sham
rock, 11:0O:40; Columbia, 11:OO:5O.
At 11:05 a. m. the Shamrock's slight
lead had not been increased.
At 11:29 the Shamrock's topmast
broke and her club tOpsaiI came down.
shamrock was to leeward of Columbia
and some lengths astern about three
miles down the course when the i'm
mense stretch of canvas was seen to
collapse. The club had apparently
broken in the center and where it hung
over beat against the mainsail. The
boat was at once put into the wind
while men scrambled aIoft into the rig
boat and she at once blew her whistle
and lowered her ensign. There was no
of