Evening star., 1901-09-21


against the Shamrock. To be sure. trouble
would have come equally IL the Constitu-
tion had been chosen, but in that case 1t
would have been mainly In the form of out
side criticism, to which the New York
Yacht Club has always profesSed ITSELF
loftiiy superior. AS matters stand. society
Is likely to take up the matter. and 1t Is
whispered that certain members OF the
committee which turned down the Constf-
tuition will be made to feel the conse-
quences of their act in the coming winter.
That Butler Duncan. owner Of the defeat ed
boat. will countenance any such thing no
body believes. While there Is no doubt OF
his bitter disappointment, he has accepted
the result with the equanimfty OF a
thorough sportsman and the dignity of a
gentleman. Unfortunately, he has not in-
spired his friends with a similar spirit.
Indeed. it is not improbable that their Ill
advised cecksureness before the trial races
were over had part in the selection OF the
old defender. Less than a week before the
selection one of these men, who Is a rela-
tive of Mr. Duncan, made this statement In
the hearing of the writer, to number OF
men who were discussing the chances of
the boats:
Don't make any mistake about the Co
1umbia's chances. She hasn't any charIe
outcome Of the trial races may be. The
committee is going to select the Constitu-
tion. They believe that she is the better
boat, and she will be the defender, no mat
trial races are only for the purpose Of tun-
ing her up, anyway.
This was the prevailing impression among
those who were 'in the know The out
come was tremendous surprise, not to say
shock. Should the Shamrock win from the
Columbia row is predicted in the New
York Yacht Club that will shake that or
ganizatiOn to its foundations.
Apathy Over Presidents Death.
Never has news Of national import been
received with such apathy as were the re-
ports of President McKinleys last hours Of
life by the New York public. By o'clock
In the afternoon the bulletin boards were
displaying telegrams that showed the case
to be practically hopeless; yet the surround
ing crowds did not number one-tenth as
many people collect to watch the scores
of an important foot ball game. The fact
was, the public had made up its mind that
the President was going to recover, and,
having reached that belief. paid little at
tention to any report indicating the con-
trary. Even the copies of official bulletins
and kilograms in the evening newspapers
were discounted. Apparently it was not
until late in the evening that New YORK
awoke to the fact that the chief executive
was actually dying. Then there was no ex-
element; the city was literally stunned.
After the theaterS were out the people be-
gan to gather around the bulletin boards
Men and women in evening dress made up
large part of the gathering. Cabs drove
up to the curb and stood until the final
news came, their occupants leaning out to
scan each fresh bulletin as 1t was chalked
up. The crowds were preternaturally. i'm
pressively quiet. Policemen were every
where expecting some outbreak of emotion
al excitement; they might as well have
been in bed. When the last brief bulletins
went up. President Mckinley died at 2:15
O'Clock" the crowds melted away with a
subdued murmur The post-midnight bus
mess at the restaurants was at low water
mark After the news was received the
people went directly to their homes.
AnecdOte Of Late President.
OF the many anecdotes told and retold
about the late President. one of those best
illustrating the universal respect and es-
TEEN in which he was held personally comes
from the politicians corner of the 9th Ave-
nue. Hotel. For some years a periodical
guest at. the hotel has been a man from
Canton, known the most inveterate
'kEOcker" alive. Let any persons name be
mentioned and the Ohioan had a roast
ready. One day last winter when he had
been abusing with particular virulence a
number Of public men. about each Of whom
he knew something discreditable. some one
said to him:
IF you come from Canton suppose you
know Mr.. Mckinley"
scornful accent Of long habit. do know
him? That - he paused, looked undecid-
ed and scratched his head in a puzzled
manner ''Oh, Mckinley" he said slowly.
Hes a pretty decent sort of man."
Cant you think Of anything worse than
that to say of him?" asked one of the 9TH
ers. SarcaStically.
NO, 1 can't snapped the "knocker."
and departed amid the laughter Of the
crowd.