The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-04

feet clear of the winged giants
Everything in the fleet had to crowd
on steam to keep the racers in sight
and the gait at which they were 60.
ing left the tug boats and some OF
the steam yachts astern. The guide
boat which started Is minutes before
the racers, dug out at full speed, but
she was hardly able to log off the dis.
lance and get the float overheard be-
fore the racers e upon her.
While going out the big North Ger.
man Lloyd liner Deutchland, outward
bound to Bhesbourgh, went through
the edge of the excursion craft at
half a mile to the southwark. The
fleet seemed anchored, 81 fast did
she go, looking like a swiftly moving
summer hotel. In 20 minutes she was
hull down on the horizon.
AS the yachts approached the out
err mark, a stream of signal flags
were set on the revenue cutter Ores
LOl11, CAO AoSoA1p VI IAO poC1O1 lCCI,
instructing them in the universal
language of the sea to change direc.
ton by the right flank. The patrol
boats swung around to line of west
and charged down upon the excur-
sion fleet. The latter, with bells
changing in the engine rooms for
more speed, turned tail and the whole
fleet rushed madly to leeward of the
last leg of the course.
Leaving the first mark on the star
board hand, the racers gibed 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 a lit
tie over so minutes. When they
swung around the stake they took in
their baby jib topsails and hauled
wide for the beat home. Both yachts
heeled until their under bodies were
lifted high over the water and their
lee rails dipped a foot into the swirl
ing pillows.
In five minutes after rounding the
second mark it was apparent that Co.
lumbia was footing faster and point
ing higher than her rival. She went
through Shamrock's lee like a quar-
ter horse. The rush of the leviathans
on the final task was magnificent.
The excursion boats crowded black
with people from gunwale to pilot
house, gathered about the finish in a
great horseshoe. AS the white flyer
came on with a big bone in her teeth,
well. in the lead, the patriotic skip
pers with their hands on their whis-
tie cords could hardly restrain them
selves. AS she swept across the fin
ish the din was d%eafening. Whistles
split the ear and steam sirens walled,
drowning the crash of the bands and
the cheers of the people.
The concerto of band was terrific. I'm
til after the gallant Shamrock, beat
en- but not disgraced, crossed a min
ute and 10 seconds later, whistles and
sirens were kept going. When they
drew away the bands could be heard
playing, columbia, Gem of the
Ocean," yankee Doodle" and other
patriotic airs. The steam yacht Cor
sair was the first of the fleet to sig
nalize the American victory by set
ting the starry banner at her mast
head. BY this time all the shippers
had had ample time to ransack their
lockers and within a minute after
wards every vessel in the fleet was
alive with American flags.
Sir Thomas, in the Erin, did not
approach 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
. gentleman and sportsman, after Co.
went over the line, he ran the
flag up to the forepeak and
fired a salute in it's honor. The rival
cheered each other, as they
were towed home escorted by the
excursion fleet.
Another race will be sailed tomor-
row.
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