The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1901-09-15

New York, Sept. 10, 19oi.-The choice Of
the Columbia to defend the Americas
cup against the Shamrock, was resolved
upon, no doubt after due consideration
and calm elaboration The committees
by unanimous decision, decided upon tho
Columbia as being the best all around
boat in all kinds of weather. Apart from
the committees verdict there is a large
portion of the yachting fraternity and
many naval experts who believe that the
Columbia is the better boat of the two.
Opposed to them there is quite as large
a proportion who consider the Consttu-
ton the superior boat, but for some reas-
on or other she has not been able to do
herself justice. Nat Herreshoff, the de-
signer and constructor of both boats,
thinks the Challenge Committee has
chosen the slower boat. e. D. Morgan,
who is or was, manager OF the Columbia,
regrets that she has been chosen. He
thinks that the Constitution, in proper
trim, can beat the Columbia William
Butler Duncan, Jr., manager of the Con-
stitution, believes that if two more races
had been sailed the Constitution would
have demonstrated that she is the faster
boat of the two There is no use in cry
ing over split milk, or becoming disheart-
ened because of the result. The Columbia
Is the choice. She is in every way
worthy defender. We remember what she
has done in the past; we know what she
can do at present; what the future has
In store for her it is idle to speculate
upon. That she will be well handled there
is no doubt. She has in Charley Barr
as good a skipper as ever took trick at
the wheel; he has well disciplined and
active crew; and he and his sailors know
the Columbia like book and will get all
they can out of the famous two-year-old
champion. Moreover the Columbia was
never in such sailing trim as she Is at
present. If she is beaten she will only
lower her racing flag to the best yacht
afloat, that we know of-Liptons Irish
Shamrock II.
All things considered it is to be re-
GREETED that the Constitution-the latest
creation of the Herreshoffs-has to take
a back seat and has had to give place to
the craft upon whose model she was sup
posed to be an improvement. In the early
day s, after she was out of the shipyard,
she gave evidence that she would realize
the expectations of all interested in her
construction. Herreshoff. 1t was thought,
had improved on his previous creations
and supplied boat that was not only
good ship in blow or against heavy
sea, but. in addition, was a wonder IN
zephyr when there was scarcely a cup
full of wind to fill the sails. All felt hap
py. The line that many thought had
been reached in the construction of these
racing machines had not been reached.
Still the knowing ones shook their heads
and said wait awhlle;l don't be too hasty
-. fttdt MT Lei
on until the boat is whipped into shape'
Then came the trial races with the Col
umbia. We know now with what result.
The two American yachts have sailed In
all twenty-five races. Eighteen OF these
have been sailed to finish. the re-
naming four were uncompleted, 30 we
can dismiss them with this BRIEF refer-
ence to the existence. AS the RECORDS
stand nine victories are credited TO eacn'
So far as time Is concerned the Constltu-
ton in her victories. has beaten the Co
tlun1bia. ,bV something in the neighbor-
hood of an hour and a quarter while tho
Columbia has beaten the Constitution in
her trials by about thirty odd seconds
At a glance, therefore, 1t may be readily
seen how closely these boats are matcneh
how nearly alike they are. Perhaps II
might be as we'll to state that most or
the Constitutions victories We're In lght
winds and f1uky weather. 1t shouid also
be borne in mind that the Columbia is
now tuned up to such aspltch as she has
never been before. She is a better boat
than ever. She is handled superhly.. by
her skipper and his sailor men. On the
other hand the Constitution Is not in any,
thing like the trim she should be IN Her
sails are as miserable a set of dry goods
as ever came out of a sail loft. Instead
of improving in the process of tuning
up. she has gone back. In her last trial
race with the rejected main sail of early
trials she did much better than with the
sail which replaced it. 1t was unfortun-
ate that Nat Herreshoff should have been
taken seriously i'll at critical time in the
Constitutions early stages of preparation.
1t might have made a difference had he