The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-04

In a glorious breeze which heeled the big cup contestants down until tnelr lee-rails were awash, Herreshoff's white wonder, Columbia, today beat watson British creation over triangular course of 30 miles by two minutes and 52 seconds actual time With the 43 seconds which the Irish sloop must allow the Ameri- can boat on account of her larger sail plan, the Columbia won the second race of the series by three minutes 3o se- conds.
 The fastest race ever sailed in cup contest, 1t was not only royal struggle from a spectacular point of view, but It was absolutely decisive as to the merits of the two racing machines. There is not yachting sharp who witnessed the race today who is not firmly convinced that the defender Is the abler boat. blow high or blow low, beating, reaching or running, and that Sir Thomas and his merry British tars are doomed to return home empty-handed.
 Again the ancient piece of silverware brought across the western ocean fifty years ago is safe. Again American supremacy in marine architecture has been vindicated. Sir Thomas has been wishing for a breeze that would bury Shamrock's lee-rail and today he had 1t, just as he had similar breeze in the concluding race two years ago when Columbia in a driving finish beat the first Shamrock over six minutes.
 The wind today was strong and true blowing around IS knots out of the north west and at every point of sailing, ex- cept perhaps running before the wind in which the defender has already taken the measure of the challenger, the Yam kee sloop proved herself better than the Watson model From the time she cross. ed the starting line, one minute and tbirty-four seconds behind the cup hunter, until she picked up and passed the Irish boat, three miles after rounding the second mark, CoIumbia's pace was faster and she behaved better than her rival
 Reaching for the first mark ten miles down the Long Island shore with the wind abaft the beam, she gained 22 seconds In the closer reach for the second stake she gained 30 seconds and in the thresh to windward on the leg home she gained exactly two minutes.
 Victory Began With the Start.
 The Yankee victory began with the start when the crafty Barr, by system of manouvering convinced his adversary that he was trying to cross the line first. Captain Sycamore promptly took the bait and rushing his boat into position sent her away almost in the smoke or the gun. Thereupon Captan Barr. who had accomplished his purpose, tacked about hack of the line and held off Tor more than a minute Then with flying start he went over just before the handicap gun was fired. Some of the patriots were disappointed until the experts explained that there was no windward berth in reach where the boats could lay their course straight for the mark and that the position astern where Barr could keep his eye on every move of his rival was the commanding one
 For the first fifteen miles no human eye could tell which ship, if either. was gaining, so closely were they matched. But gradually it became apparent that the Columbia was overhauling the flying challenger. Slowly, inch by inch and foot by foot the white boat gained Both were going at a terrific pace. The patrol fleet to leeward steaming line ahead at intervals of four hundred yards, had no difficulty in keeping the excursion fleet clear of the winged flyer. Everything in the feet had to crowd on steam to keep the racers in sight and the gait at which they were going left the tug boats and some of the steam yachts astern.
 Leaving the first mark on the starboard hand, the racers gybed over their big booms and went careening for the second mark, the Columbia gaining slowly, but surely They had covered the first ten miles In little over fifty minutes. When they swung around the second stake they took in their baby jib topsails and hauled their wind for the beat home. Both yachts heeled until their underbodies were lifted high over the water and their lee rails dipped a foot into the swirling pillows.
 Columbia Footing Home.
 In five minutes after rounding the sec ond mark, it was apparent that the Co., lumbia was footing faster and pointing higher. She went through the Shamrocks s lee like a quarter horse. The rush of the Levitathans on the final task was mag nifcent. The excursion boats. black with people from gunwale to pilot-house, gath cred about the finish in a great horse shoe. As the white flyer came on with a big bone in her teeth we'll in the lead the patriotic shippers, with their hands on their whistle cords, could hardly re- strain themselves. As she swept across the finish the din was deafening. Whis- ties split the ear and steam sirens walled. drowning the crash of the bands and the cheers of the people. The concert of sound was terrific. Until after the gal lant Shamrock, beaten, but not disgraced. crossed a minute and eighteen seconds later, whistles and sirens were kept go- ing. When they died away the bands could be heard playing, Columbia, Gem of tho Ocean" Yankee Doodle" and other patriotic airs.
 Sir Thomas, in the Erin, did not ap- proach within half a mile of the finish line. He had seen his high hopes blasted and presumably did not care to be in at the jubilation over the defeat of his champion. But like good game sports man, after the Columbia went over the line, he ran the American flag to the forepeak and fired salute in it's honor.
 Within a half hour after the conclu- sion of the race the committee boat, in accordance with the agreement to race daily from now on, set a signal for to- morrow. Sir Thomas. plainly depressed at the result of the race. stood bravely at the gangway of the Erin and bade cor Ss1aI adieu to his guests.