The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-10-09


his object. There was much jubilation,
but it was premature, as it was soon
seen that the Columbia was still on the
lee bow. but very close aboard the
shamrock
1uls encouraging revelation came to
the throug astern by the shadow on the
maiusail of the Columbia. II was
silhouette of the ShamrOck's club-top-
sail, ana 10 appeared and vanished in "a
manner that told palmer than expert
opinion that the Columbia was to the
leeward. At first "a mere patch of shad-
Ow showed on the Yankees white sail.
II travelled from the leech almost to
the huff and back again. Then il Went
and then came abain. Captain Syca-
more saw, the experts surmised, that
he was so close that he might be back
winded If he didn't get out so he sent
the Shamrock on the port tack.
Captain Barr kept his course only
fifteen seconds and put the Columbia
around on the port The wind was
freshening a bit-prObably il was about
ten or eleven knots nOw-and the
shamrock was Logging it in a way that
doubtless pleased the folk aboard the
Erin.
The American liner Philadelphia
passed TO the windWard Of the racers
far enough away not to affect them,
and dipped her ensign while her pas
sengers crowded to her rails TO see the
glorious fray. The Columbia went on
the starbOard tack, making short
broad. Less than two minutes later
the shamrock also tackled. Then the
white slOOp put about and again head
ed across the ShamrOcks course on the
port tack. in another effort to cross
the bows Of her bronze rival Again
she failed. bringing up on the starbOard
tack on the lee bow Of the Irish racer.
The Shamrock went about on the port
tack and the Columbia followed, both
standing for the outer fifteen-mile
mark.
II was seen as she eased her sheet
a bit and headed for the mark boat that
the Shamrock was going TO beat the
Yankee by seconds only. As she round
ed the mark and let her boom swing
out TO port her alert sailormen began
TO lower her spinnaker poe and sent
the yOluminOus sail up ~ stops. NO
.half-hearted applause b.eeted her per
Torrance. There was an Outburst Of
cheers, jingle Of bells, neird shrieks "a
sirens ana roaring 90 scam that ousht
to have scared the nsnes latnoma De-
low.
me shamrock WAS forty-one seconds
ahead Of her rival around the mark,
and anxious Americans VINO knew the
greater sail spread Of the Briton,
Thought for a rev moments that the
cherished mug would surely go aboard.
They were soon treasured. The Col
umDla rounded the mark 10 a discOrd
not less yocI1erous than that which
made the heart OF Captain Sycamore
beat high WIN hope. The Columbia
was little quicker with her spinnaKer
pole and had ner sail run up IN stops
in Jitty.
Inen came "A spectacle that set most
Of the attending thousands wondering.
Neither Skipper would break out his
spinnakeT. Captain Barr broke out
mere triangle Of his, and Captain Syca-
more pulled out about as much Of his.
Then they waited and eyed each other,
as wrestlers preparing for tussle.
Captain Sycamore didn't want TO risk
blanketing by being the first TO set his
great sail, for then, as the retired skip
per on the press boat Walter A. Luck
enbach, said, the Columbia, without
her side sail, could more readily bear
down on him. The result was that
spinnaker blOssomed almost simulta-
neously and the yachts bOwled on their
course. The Columbia headed to port
Of the Brton, setting her balloon tib-
tOpsail about a minute before the Irish
yacht. This may have given the Yam
kee few seconds more speed, but 1t is
more likely that her slick model chiefly
contributed to her superior running.
When the yachts were well on their
way home the Shamrock's tars We're
massed on her after deck to keep her
nose up to the sea. Aboard the Co
'lumbia all hands were strung along the
starboard side to keep the end of the
boom from dipping. But 1t did dip,
though not more than that of the
Shamrock. Frequently they speared
for whales and came up dripping. The
race had now become a grand spec
tacle. Thanked by long line of yachts,
excursion boats and tugs, the billOwy
balloons and spinnakers, sometimes
.tremulous as the yachts slipped down
"a swell, and again rounded in enOr-
nous and symmetrical curves, made a
beautiful picture.
Gradually the white sloop began to
draw away from the Shamrock and
gradually the hopes of the Yankees
rose. The wind fell to four knots or
whereabouts, and the slOwest Of the
steam fleet had no trouble in keeping
up. Within three miles Of the yellow
In-nt snip the sharps saw that the race
was surely the Columbia's, but by sec
onds only, measuring ship by ship. The
wind freshened mile or so when the
white boat was within an eighth OF "A
mile from home, and the Shamrock
was slightly benefited, being the first
to feel It's influence.
| The magnificent fleet massed back Of
and to the sides of the finish line gave
| the victor as she swept majestically
across the most delirious greeting ever
! accorded a cup defender. Even the
pandemOnium Of steam, prolonged as
never before, could not drown the shrill
cheers of happy Americans From
every packed tier of ocean, sound and
Irlyer steamer thousands of men and