The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-06
COLUMBIA TO DEFEND CUP
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE
 COMMITTEE,S DECISION.

-
 COMMITTEE'S DECISION
 Erratic Performances of the Constitu-
 ton Throw Her Out-GeneraI satis.
 faction Over the Choice.
 Newport, Sept. 5.--The yacht Colum-
 bia, champion of 1899, has been chosen
 to race against the Shamrock II. in de- fense of the Americas cup. This de- cision was reached at noon to-day af- ter conference of two hours between the members of the challenge commit tee of the New York Yacht club on board the schooner Corona, flagship of the club All the committee were pres ent. Commodore Lewis Cass Ledyard presided. Rear Commodore Robinson, ex- Commodore B. M. Brown, c. Oliver Iselin, Archibald Rogers. Secretary J. V. s. Oddie and J. Malcolm Forbes were the other members present.
 The discussion was exhaustive. The performances of the two boats were gone over systema tically and critically compared The conclusion was that the behavior of the Columbia was far more consistent than that of the Constitu- tion, and, under the circumstances, there was no other alternative than to name her as the defender of the cup. It was held that, while the decision might be disappointing to the syndicate head ed by August Belmont, which owns the Constitution, the committee, with all conditions in mind, expressed the feel ing that they were compelled to choose the Columbia, whose races have shown none of the cratic form manifested by her rival.
 The formal notice announcing the se- lection of the Columbia was posted at the yacht club station soon after l2 o'clock. It read as follows:
 "At a meeting of the committee on challenge of the Royal Ulster Yacht club, held on the flagship at 11:3O a. rn., the Columbia was selected to represent the New York Yacht club.
 U. V. s. ODDIE, Secretary"
 w. Butler Duncan, jr., manager of the Constitution, expressed disappoint- ment that his boat was not selected as the cup defender. He said that every thing possible had been done to get the best speed out of her. He had no fault to find with the officers or crew. He said that Captain Rhodes had been both skilful and faithful, and he had nothing but praise for the Constitutions skipper. MT Duncan laid much blame on the sails of the boat for her cratic racing. He said that it was a mistake to change the first mainsail, with which she was doing such good work in her early performances
 The announcement of the selection of the Columbia was received here with expressions of approval among yachts men. She has shown herself such a reliable all-around yacht that the de- cision of the challenge committee Is held to be strictly just and impartial. As interested yachtsmen view the sit uation, the Columbia has been tuned up to the point of perfection. Her crew are enthusiastic believers in her capa- bilities. Their drill and discipline are beyond praise, and nobody who has watched them has any doubt that they will make gallant denfense of the cup. Her skipper handles the Columbia as if l she were small catboat and thorough ly understands her. Her mate Lemuel Miller Is smart at handling her sails, | and officers and crew are in harmonious accord. Barr, her sailing master, is not | at all likely to get "rattled" by any kind of sea -jockeying Thus it is held ! that the Columbia has shown herself | such a reliable all-around yacht that her claims to defend the cup were too | strong to be resisted
 At the same time 1t Is pointed out that MT. Duncan, who has so ably man. aged the Constitution, has had a good Heal to contend with. It is the opinion of many of his friends that if Nat Herreshoff had not been confined to his room by illness he could have remedied the faults of the Constitution and brought her out winner.
 After the challenge committees meet ng to-day 1t was learned that there would be no more racing of the ninety 'ooters at Newport. The time between now and the international cup race at Sandy Hook on September 21 will be ,pent in putting the Columbia in the Jest possible condition to defend the up.
 When he was informed that the Co., umbia had been officially selected to Upton said: T thank you for the in ormation. am sure they have select d the best boat and the best boat Is he one I want to sail against"