The Minneapolis journal., 1901-10-04

official timing put the Shamrock around
the mark As seconds ahead. After round
/; ing, Shamrock held off toward the Jersey
shore on the starboard tack while Colum-
bia went off shore on the port tack.
~. 20
But Barr held this only for an In I:
stant before he swung Columbia !:
around on the starboard tack and the :
racers began the thresh to windward ::
for the run that might decide the con- !:
test. !:
o.. ~
The foreigner had evidently made up
her time allowance on the run before the
wind and it remained to Sc If she could
hold it in the beat home.
Crossed COlumbia's Bow.
At 1:05 Sycamore put Shamrock on the
port tack and crossed Columbia's bow
She held this tack for about two minutes,
then again swung about on the starDoard
tack and both boats were headed dead IN
shore toward Long Branch. For five min
utes more they had it nip and tuck and
then Sycamore again laid Shamrock on
the port tack followed closely by his rival.
1t was then that the patriots tok new
hope, for the white flyer seemed to be
pointing higher and footing faster than her
opponent When they had been on the
port tack long enough to draw compar1-.
son. it was plain the American boat was
slowly forging to the front.
By this time the official turning time
had been worked out and posted, showing
that at the turning the foreigner was 40
Seconds ahead which left the Columbia
only six seconds to make up to get within
the time she was allowed. If she could do
1t, and 1t looked then as if she had,
the race was hers.
AS they held along on the port tack
both yachts heeled beautifully to the
breeze, which though somewhat lighter
still held plenty of strength to send them
home within the time limit.
o...-...-.-s......... ..............-....o
n: It was just 1:12 o'clock when
beyond question of doubt it was
/: seen that the American had turned
: her old trick to windward work
and was ahead.
O''..-.'..'.. Observation-Disclosures.
With mastery seamanship Barr had
stolen the windward berth into which the
nose Of the Columbia was gradually eat
ing.
The willy Yankee skipper had 4:
turned what looked like defeat :
into promise of victory. :
O"...'.''. ........... ....-...-...O
1t was not all seamanship, however for
he had been aided by an unfortunate puff
OF wind catching, the Shamrock and lay
ing her over, but his keen eye saw it and
he took instant advantage of the Sham
rocks misfortune.
Both yachts held the long port tack for
almost an hour, and the race at this time
was slow when compared to the speed of
the first leg. The wind had fallen con-
siderably. The sky became overcast with
light, feecy clouds, which sent patches
Ct shadows sweeping across the water.
Now and then the yachts would fall into
a patch Of shadow and show dull and gray.
Then, caught by a CLEAN Of sunshine,
their sails stood out glistening white. The
excursion fleet kept well astern and the
sea was very smooth.
1t was just :23 when Captain Barr put
the Columbia on the starboard tack and
headed in for the New Jersey shore. A
moment later Captain Sycamore put Sham
rock around on the same tack, and as they
sped shoreward it was seen that Colum-
bia was still ahead and well to wind
ward.
Columbia on StarbOard Tack.
After ten minutes of sailing both boats
went about again Columbia, as usual,
took the lead in the maneuver But Cap
tain Barr held this course for only a few
moments before he put Columbia around
on the starboard tack. The wind was
getting light and inclined to be luky, and
the race was becoming slower. In less
than FIVE minutes Columbia was again
put on the port tack heading almost for
the hghtship, while Shamrock went about
on the starboard tack.
a o....t.........s.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
And now Shamrock seemed to be
= picking UP and had apparently
~. taken the lead!
o.''.'....-. .''.''..- ''.'..'''O
It was getting to be the closet kind
of a race. AT 2:15 it was evident that
the Ulster yacht had secured slight
lead. For the next 10 minutes the yachts
continually split tacks.
After a short while spent at this game
both yachts at 2:30 went about and stood
on the starboard tack for the Jersey
shore. In this game of tacking Sham
rock had crawled up to windward and was
ahead by narrow margin. The wind was
getting still lighter, but the finish mark
was then not more than five miles away.
At 2:40 p. m. Columbia went on a short
port tack and shortly afterward again
went on the starboard tack, holding the
same course as Shamrock. 1t looked as
If Shamrock had forced about but this
could not be determined definitely. 1t
was now very close race. At 2:45 Sham
rock went around on the port tack and
headed north.
AnybOdy's Race.
Columbia soon followed. 1t was devel-
oping into very exciting contest in spite
of the light wind and as the yachts stood
in toward the shore Shamrock seemed to
be able to hold her slight lead, her big
sail spread seeming to give her a slight
advantage At that time however, it did
not seem as if the Ulster boat was suffi-
ciently ahead to place her on the handicap
of her time allowance. Indeed, it was
anybody's race.
At 2:48 Columbia went on the starboard
tack, Immediately followed by Shamrock
On this tack the drop of wind was plainly
perceptible, and what had started as a
magnificent race bade fair to finish a
slow one and exciting only by reason of
the narrowness of the contest.
The tack to starboard was a short one
for within less than five minutes Barr
had swung Columbia to port tack again
and almost instantly the British skipper
followed his lead. The race had reached
point where the slightest favorable puff
of wind meant much and where seaman
ship Of the finest kind was required
At 3:O5 the yachts were still holding the
long port tack and the finish mark was
not more than three miles away A large
part of the excursion fleet had scurried
ahead and taken up positions around the
finish line
At 3:17 Shamrock went on the star
board tack, being then about mile and a
half from the lightship she held this tack