The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-01
LlPTON'S HARD LUCK CON-
TINUED BY A DYING BREEZE
WITH SHAMROCK IN GOOD
LEAD.
IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE THE Time
LIMIT, RACE DECLARED OFF
At $40 SHAMROCK HALF
MILE AHEAD.
(By Associated Press.)


NJ Ew YORK, Oct. IA fifteen
III knot breeze from the north
northeast was ruffing the
ocean when the crews of the
Columbia and the British challenger
turned out with the sun this morning.
There was snap of early autumn in
the air and overhead a spotted blue sky
gave promise of an ideal day for the
second race between the big flyers.
All night the wind blew strongly from
the northwest, but 1T began to subside
at sunrise and the weather sharps shook
their heads obviously and predicted that
the beautiful fifteen-knot wind would
not hold long enough to get the race
fairly started.
Wind from Northeast.
The wind shifted around to the north
northeast, but the sea, owing to the
offshore wind Of the past day or two.
seemed to have subsided and there was
very little surf on the Jersey coast.
The committee stated that 1t was their
desire to send the yachts to the wind
ward on the first leg, so that If the wind
shifted the first portion of the ten miles
from the Sandy Hook lightship would
have brought the yachts up on the Long
Island shore, and in order to give them
a beat of ten miles in that direction It
locked this morning as If the committee
would have to shift the starting point
to very close to the Jersey shore, near
Seabright. Columbia was the first to
start for the lightship. She was in tow
and was followed a few minutes later
by Shamrock.
Bay Dotted With Sails.
At 9 O'Clock the lower bay presented a
prettier and more animated sight than 1t
had on either Of the previous race days.
There was a large fleet of pleasure craft
lowering about and a noticeable increase
In the number of sailing yachts. Lewis
Nixon's house boat, the Loudin, was
enchored near Sir Thomas Lipion's big
yacht, the Erin, while nearby was the
old schooner yacht America, which, 80
years ago, brought to these shores the
silver trophy for which the Columbia
and Shamrock are struggling:
AS the yachts drew down toward the
starting line the wind was decreasing
perceptlbly. When they were about three
miles from the lightship the vanguard or
the patrol boats and the committee boat
hove in sight, and away up the narrows
a growing cloud Of black smoke heralded
the coming of the great excursion fleet
beautiful weather which prevailed in the
early morning drew an attendance con-
siderably in excess of either preceding
day
Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht
Erin was we'll to the front of the excur-
sion fleet with a distinguished party OF
board Meantime both Columbia ana
Shamrock were making sail. The sails
filled faily well as they came about to
the wind, but the breeze appeared to be
rather ftful. Then both dropped their
tow lines and stood off while the judges
boat took position somewhat to the
north of the lightship. After confer
ence on board the committee boat, Sig
nails were set for course as follows:
Course Mapped Out.
The first leg due east, beat; the
second, south southwest one-half west,
n broad reach on the port tack and the
third north northwest. a close fetch to
the finish ON the starboard tack.
Meanwhile the wind had fallen so
light that the two big yachts stood up
like churches, the breeze not being
strong enough to give them any heel.
BY the time the preparatory gun was
0red the yachts scarcely had steerage
way, the flags on the committee boat
barely icing lifted out from the mast.
In order to facilitate her maneuvering.
Shamrock broke out her baby jib top