The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-06


sea refused the Shamrock and the Co.
lumbia field of conflict again to-day
the multitude which went over to watch
the contestants for the yachting cham
pionship of the world returned disap-
pointed and not little disguised. The
question OF supremacy Of the two great
yachts is still as much an open question
as before they first met, as the contest
to-day was in some respects more OF
a luke than that of Tuesday 1t was
drifting match almost from start to fin
lsh. The yachts crossed the line with a
breeze Of five knots and the wind never
blew more than six knots, most of the
time less than three and part of the
time not breath of air was stirring
After sailing four hours and t2 minutes,
the yachts having covered only, u miles
or the course to the outer mark the
regatta committee declared the race of,
as it was manifestly impossible with
the breeze then blowing for the boats
to round the stake before the time limit
expired, much less to get back home
again. During the -tme in which the
yachts We're al it the wind, which car
ried them in the dead before it, before
the line, had hauled around until at the
finish they were beating into it's teeth.
While the wind held astern the Co.
lumhia steadily outfooted her rival un-
til she was fully half mile ahead, but
in the shifting, battling winds that fol-
lowed during the last three hours with
the great single-stickers tacking and
beating and gybing to catch every
streak of wind, with fortune helping
one about as much as the other the
shamrock gradually worked her way
up until. when the race was declared
off, the two boats were about on even
terms, the Shamrock perhaps half a
length ahead. but so close was the Co
lumbia that Captain Barr could have
thrown a biscuit to the foreigner.
The only lesson learned by the nauti-
cal sharps from to-day'ss trial of the
abilities of the two poats is that in
light weather conditions the Columbia
is the superior in running and reach
ing and the Shamrock is slightly better
in beating. There has yet been no in
dication of what either boat can do in
piping, wholesale breeze.
The weather bureau had predicted
good, strong wind for to-day, but the
prophecy was most dismal failure. 1t
was just an ideal, lazy, hazy, Indian
summer day, day for white duck and
a novel under some tree, ashore rather
than an overcoat and yacht racing
ahoat A heavy haze hung over sea
and land.
The opaque curtain shut off the views
OF the thousands waiting on the high
lands OF Navesink and Long Island
shore. The sky was yelled by gossa-
lner OF Clouds through which the sun
slfted turning the sea into molten gold.
30 gentle were the crestless, pulsating
seas that any sort of harbor or river
craft. from steamer to a row boat,
couid venture out with impunity, and
vast colony or excursion boats, OCEAN
going steamers. yachts. tugs side
wheelers and sailing vessels gathered
around the red hulk of the Sandy Hook
lightship, seven miles from the entrance
to the lower bay, to watch the start.
The smoke from their stacks and the
steam from their exhausts, mingled
with the haze and formed an impene-
trable veil which transformed them in
the distance into vast fleet of phantom
ships.
Though the curtain shut out the view
of those ashore, it added to the pleas
ure of those afloat, for it made each one
feel himself personally a part of the
beautiful spectacle.
The torpedo boats guarding the course
threaded their way in and out through
the boats like needles their wakes
thread of foam warning the excursion
shippers to keep their distance. But lit
tie difficulty was experienced to-day,
as Captain Evans interviews threaten
ing dire consequences to offending skip
pers had a wholesome effect. Already
the crowd was disappointed. Each one
had come down praying for stiff
breeze and had found instead that there
was hardly wind enough TO keep the
flags fluttering. What there was was
from the northwest by north from over
the land. Outside of the ruck of the
steamers the old cup defender Vig,iant
made beautiful picture leaning away
through the mist and the old schooner
America, which had brought the blue
ribbon of the sea across the Western
ocean so years ago attracted univer-
sal attention as she sailed about to
see how her latest champion would de-
fend it.
Preparations were made aboard both
yachts for the lightest airs before the
start. The Columbia discarded her
heavy steel topsail yard for a lighter