The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-09-03
CONSTITUTION SAVED
BY FAILING WIND.
Continued From Page One.

dition to his immediate party. among whom
were Mr.. and Mrs. W. c. Jameson, Mr.
George L. Watson. Mr.. Ratsey and Captain
Sycamore. were Mr.. and Mrs. George
keppel, Mrs. Burke-ROche. Mrs. John X.
Drexel and a dozen or SO other cottagers.
UnfavOra BILE Racing Conditions.
The early morning was not promising In
the least. The sky was soft and gray, the
horizon dim and dusty, and the clouds told
the story OF the imprisoned sun. The steam
yacht ConQueror. with the Regatta Conf
mittee on board. postponed the start upon
arrival out, not believing the north-north-
east breeze then blowing would hold. AT
half past Il o'clock it had hauled east by
south and seeming the permanent wind OF
the afternoon. code letters were set Tor the
course.
The first leg vas east by south, the sec
ond southwest one-half south, and that
home north by northwest. The starting
time was / o'clock. Five minutes before
the vessels came together in their maneu-
vers for the better position over the line
result being. and that for the first time on
record in q similar battle royal. they
crossed six seconds after the gun and as
one yacht.
Columbia Prettily Handled.
Rhodes held the weather berth with the
Constitution and deserves credit for the
clever handling Of his boat. Baby jib top.
sails were broken out for the windward
work of ten miles. Two minutes later the
Columbia began to stretch herself out under
the lee Of the new boat and becoming trOu-
blesome the Constitution went about to port
and the Columbia, holding her starboard
board for a few seconds longer. went In
stays and was on the weather quarter OF
her rival Soon she was on her weather
beam and then on her weather bow In a
jify and yard by yard she assumed the
place of honor in the struggle.
Somebody cried. why, Barr Is already
doing him." meaning the Constitution
skipper. Got her done already" was the
response, and such was the situation. From
that leeward position the Constitution
rever escaped through the long. weary beat
From the Erin's bridge Sir Thomas Lip
ton. Mr.. Watson, Mr.. Jameson. Mr.. Rat
sey and Sycamore watched the racers close
w. Marine glasses were in the hands Oi
| each After long. lingering looks. they con-
ferred together. The sails Of the Consti-
| tuition may have interested them. For 8
| while her mainsail looked well. but when
! the atmosphere became dryer 1t wrinkled
4 both at the head and foot TO the exent tha
| some one apt]y described 1t as havin,
I undergone the process OF accordion pleat'
| ing. The Columbia's sails. though not fault
less. were better than her rivals
| New Boat Led Once.
/ The constitution lOOh tHe fulildtlNc IL
| making the second hoard. going to star
| hoard at one hour and twenty-five minutes
| with the Columbia following. Five minute!
| later they flung around to port. The wint
| then began its tricks. Gradually hauling t
| the southwark. 1t became troublesome ant
| the Columbia never lost her place and tool
advantage of all the flaws and the weight!
| puffs that were going. The Constitution
| was falling tn leeward and losing second
| f{pno She went in StayI
| The mark was rounded in this wise: Co
| lumbia all: :oS; Constitution 3:16:03. Showing
| that the beat Of ten miles took the Colum
bia two hours, eleven minutes and second:
and the Constitution two hours. fifteen min
utes and fifty-seven seconds. matter Q
four minutes and f1fty-hve seconds 10 IN
old champions credit.
| They will race again tomorrow. III
start being in the afternoon. The Ga
proves that in Il light breeze the Colum
bia Is more than a match for the Const
tuition. In a blow. everybody knows tina
she is her equal. IL not her superior.
Columbia for Defender.
The Constitutions friends are becom II
disheartened. Five prominent yachtsme
have each contributed $4,000 for her cor
| structiou and preparation. 1t takes pots Q
money to put a big beauty like she is
shape-that is. try TO put her in shape
| to say nothing about the sleepless nigh,
| and weeks and months Of bother.
New boats heretofore in the history c
| ,he Gun defense have always been seleete
to meet the challenger. 1t is a serious bio,
| TO owners designer, manager and crew an
advisers Of the Constitution. but II mus
he said that the old rule will hardly be fol
| lowed in this International match.
In other words. and 1t is said as plainl
| as uossfble the opinion Il; that unless ther
!. js some miraculous change in the form @
the Constitution. and that speedily. she wi
mt be the boat selected to defend the GU
against the Shamrock II. And It may b
| added, further. that II the vote were take
Tonight the Columbia would be chosen fc
that honor She has shown herself to b
the better vesse, of the two beyond a
question and 1t looks as IL she has III
: iigh. to defend the cup for the second tim
ona that without cayil