Evening star., 1900-05-10
Personal Sketches Of the Boer Peace
Commissi ionegs'
PROSPECTIVE CUP DEFENDERS
Indications That the Next Races
Will Be Very interesting.
NAT1ONAL SPORTS

NEW YORK. May o. 1900.
1t may be interesting to know something
of the personnel of the Boer peace COM
mission which is on the steamship Maas-
dam of the HollandAmerican Line, bound
for this country. 1t Is composed of the en-
voys. J. NJ. A. Wolmerans. Abraham
Fischer and T. H. Vessels. These are all
men of about middle age and have reached
the zenith of their mental vigor. While
here they will be the guests of the National
Boer Relief Fund Association and will
make tour of the country under the aus
pices of the association.
Mr.. Wolmerans is a son Of one of the
representatives of the Transvaal state at
the convention in 1852, when the independ-
ence of the republic was recognized by
England. In 1881 Mr. Wolmerans was dis
trict commander of the burgher forces. At
the time of his appointment as peace envoy
he was a member of the executive council
of the South African republic and one OF
the republics prominent and able men.
Abraham Fischer was born in Cape Col
Ony. educated in England and graduated
there as a barrister-a -at-law. Subsequently,
he took a full course in Dutch law in Hol-
land. He practiced ibis profession in Cape
Colony and later he moved to Bloemfon-
tein, where he has been constant friend
confidence He was representative of one
of the election districts and was finally
elected member of the executive council
of the Orange Free State, and during the
administration of President Steyn was one
of the most trusted officers in matters rela-
tive to the present war having served with
MIR. Wolmerans on various commissions in
that connection.
c. H. Vessels was born in the Orange
Free State and was educated at Grey Col
lege, at Bloemfontein. lie for the last
sixteen years a representative in one of the
border election districts close to kimbcr
ley. He has served long a member of
the executive council until he was elected
chairman of the Orange Free State volks-
raad. which Office he has held for three
consecutive terms. He is one Of the direc-
tors of the National Bank of the Orange
Free State and has served on every impOr-
tant committee in the republic, including
the commission on war in the present con-
flict.
To Defend the America's Cup.
For the defense of the Americas cup in
1901 there is to be selected a yacht under
conditions that, in the event of victory, will
give the owner an honor six times multi
piled. That Sir Thomas Upton will be the
most conspicuous challenger is conceded by
American yachtsmen. Instead of two yachts
competing for the high privilege of defend
ing the cup against a foreign challenger,
there will be six and they are to begin this
summer. The owner or owners of the sue
cessful sloop will have extended to him by
the New York Yacht Club the courtesy of
buildni, the defender, and the shoulder
of HcIrschof is to rest a responsibility of
maintaining the supremacy o. the American
shipyard as the model for the shipyards of
the world. The six SeventyfOoterS that
to enter this great competitive test are to
be nearly alike in hull and sail plan as it
is possible to build them, and the seaman
ship displayed in their sailing is TO deter
mi, iah of ShI'I ,Sitr ha
lay the keel that is to plow against Upton
or the German emperor, or Harmsworth, or
all of them.
August Belmont, vice commodore of the
yacht Mineola.
Cornelius Vanderbilt will enter the sew
enty-footer Rainbow. which F: d. Morgan
built. but because Of the death of his son
Mr.. Morgan retired, and Mr. Vanderbilt
bought the yacht.
William X. Vanderbilt, jr,. will enter a
yacht of the same class, now on the stocks
and which will be chrstened Virginia.
Harry Payne Whitney will enter his yacht
yet unnamed. but which may be called a
twin sister to any of the others
II. y. Duryea, owner of the crack Naquero
III. will enter seventy footer, as yet un-
named, which will be ready for launching
about the same time as the Whitney yacht.
One other single-sticker. the name and the
owner Of which are withheld for private
reasons. viii be entered also.
The winner OF the preliminary trials will
nave 10 Spend almost as much 1t cost
him to g-t first place, to go into the real
work of defending the cup From a mon
etary point of view the races for the Amer
tca's cup in 1901 will be more costly than
any three previous contests put together
and that without taking into consideration
the expenditures of the challenger.
International Sports.
international foot ball and cricket may be
witnessed this fall between teams Of Amer
lean and English college players N L.
Jackson, vice president of the Foot Ball
Association of Great Britain, has written to
this city In regard to arrangements. and IL
satisfactory conditions prevail the English
players will make the trip across In August
remaining until October. The team would
be composed Of crcketers and foot ball men
alike, and the first half of their stay in
America would be devoted to the former
game. Canadian clubs and associations are
anxious to arrange for matches and the
majority of the games would probably be
played in that country, where the English
| ,s,,1.