The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-20
FOR THE AMERICAS CUP.
International Yacht Races Cost
Much Money and Worry.

Thc Trophy Said TO he in Danger
This Ycnr-The Shamrock II and
Columbia Comparcd-TroUbl in
selecting the Boat TO Defend It.
There is a feeling Of grave concern
throughout the country that the Cup.
which has so long remained on this side
OF the Atlantic. is in greater danger Of
removal than il has been at any time
since the signal victory Of the America in
the race in which there is no second
your Majesty" The supremacy Of the
country is now at stake despite the ef-
forts Of the New York Yacht Club 10 be
little the races into a series Of interclub
contests
The fact that there is every indication
Of the races this fall being closer and
more holly contested than any within the
last score Of years has also added TO the
interest, and while the shimmering green
streak that carries the hopes Of Sir Thorn
as Upton is acknowledged dangerous
foe. back Of all this is that feeling that
somehow Inc Columbia VIII win and the
supre macy Of the United States in yacht
building be maintained. This feeling. how
ever, is based more on the result Of past
performances than on the present COudi-
lions.
Coupled with the feeling Of diSquiet is
another which acts as a balm To the more
fearful. and that is. if it is down on the
cards that tie GRIP is TO be lost the peo-
pie OF the United States would rather
consign it to the hands Of Sir Thomas
Upton than any other man who has ever
challenged for the trophy
This has been appropriately called the
Upton era" in the Cup defence, and is
in marked contrast with the conditions
which existed when little Lord Dunraven
sailed his little tin boat across in 1885.
Never in the history Of the America
! Cup races has the work Of preparing for
the defence of the trophy been attended
! with many unfortunate incidents as
this summer. and. whether the Cup is lift
cd OF still remains on this side OF the At
lantiC. this seasons events are blot on
the yachting history of the United Stat, s
/ The old salts say a hOodOO has been
steadily at work since the challenge was
! received. Others more practical believe
| that the mistakes have been the result
/ Of shuTtsiEhtCdEcss on the part Of few
men who have attempted TO control
yachting. and particularly the Americas
/ Cup, and their blunders are responsible
1 for the present situation. JeaIousies and
an effort TO link yacht racing and social
! distinctions as observed in New York are
! the chief reasons for the present crisis
! The trouble on this side Of the Atlantic
/ really dates back TO the refusal Of c..
/ Oliver Iselin 10 assume the responsibility
| If defending the Cup. This was due il is
| claimed. To an UnWritten protest on the
part Of some Of the New York Yacht
| Club members. who claimed that some
! one else should be given chance. Mr..
& leo Ia
! was received a new syndicate was formed
| among the younger members of the New
/ York Yacht Club. ard defender ordered
/ from the Herreshon yards.
/ Shortly after this Thomas w. Lawson.
1 the Boston copper king, conceived the
1 idea Of also building Cup defender and
/ encouraging "a new designer uL racing
/ yachts, also a Boston man This was
| CrOWuInShleld- Mr. Lawson did not take
l this step until he had consulted a mem
! Der Of the America s Cup Committee as q
/ the eligibility Of his boat TO contest I'm the
/ trial races This member. acting on his
I own responsibility. said the entry would
/ be acceptable. The Independence was
I built. but the Cup Committee, after con
/ Slderlug the matter for some time de-
I cided that the America $ Cup belonged To
/ the New York Yacht Club, and could only
1 be defended by yachts entered by mem
/ bers Of the club.
/ Mr.. Lawson was NOT n member He Was
/ advised that the Independence would be
/ acceptable If ne would hand her over 10
] some member Of the New York Yacht
/ club. bind himself % have nothing 10 %
] with the boat except 20 pay bills and TT
/ her enter in the name OF this member.
! lie could not even tramp his own quarter
/ deck during the trial races Their sug-
! gtstlou Mr. Lawson considered uU-Ameri-
! can and declined To- enter the Iudepend-
! cUce on those conditions
/ The Boston Cup yacht did have the Oh
/ pOILuulty- however Of meeting the Con-
! rtitutiOn. which had meanwhile been built
/ for the syndicate by the HerreshOfs. and
! the Columbia. who successfully defer ded
I the Cup two years ago In a series Of races
! ia which she was badly beaten. She was
Z then in a crude state Later, after MIR.
/ Crowuinshield had rcmedied some Of the
i faults. but made the fatal bluudcr of cut
ting down her sail area, she again met
/ the Columbia and was defeated By less
I than "a minute.
The Columbia and Constitution INDUCED
/ IN sixteen preliminary races. and the new
! defender proved the biggest disapUoiut-
| meut ever built on this side Of the Allan
! Tic. The final test was the best three n
/ five races. The Constitution had been
thoroughly Oyerhauied before these races
/ but was fairly beaten IN two Of them an
I OUrUOiUted iU the third. In the matter o.
( sailing, Captain Barr and his crew show
Cd themselves 10 be superior 20 Captain
| Rhodes and his men In every race. and
the contrast was at times painful
| The Cup committee. after several meet
| iuRs. finally decided that the Columbia
had been the most consistent and better
y
( fgst time In the history Of the Cup races
the old boat was selected in preference e
the new creation. This was a sad blow tC
the Hcrreshoffs.
The selection Of the Columbia did not
/ meet with universal approval, and there
| are many who believe that the COustitU-
tiOu is the faster boat. and that she was
just rounding into form when the COM
/ mi'tee acted.
! Since then every effort has been made
10 III the Columbia FOR the task cut out
for her. but she viii enter the races with
a poorer outfit Of sails than any defender
I'm the last twenty years and. II she should
meet with an accident. which would de
strOy "a big sail, she would be out Of the
/ contests for the Cup.
/ While yaChtsmcU on the side Of the
water were having their troubles TN,
Shamrock II was finished under the direc
! tiOu Of Designer Watson. and began heI
| trial races Since her arrival iu these
| waters she has attracted much attention
I and I'm her trial spins of Sandy Hook has
! proved herself 20 be- by long odds. the
! strongest and fastest racing craft eveI
I sent over
! She has not only shown wonderful
I speed but she seems perfectly proportion
Columbia, and Is as dainty I'm responding
| TO her helm as dancing master That
! she is strong and seawOrthy was proved
I Thursday. when she withstOOd q wind
! with all sails set Of ffty-four miles an
I hour and underwent a test never bGfor,
/ asked Of racing yacht.
! No fault can be found with the Sham,
I rock H. her captain. or her crew. The
I Columbia Is no faster than she was two
years ago. when she met the Shamrock
} J. With captain and crew she Is as vel
OF as the Shamrock H. IN equipment she
| SIS not.
/ II is under these conditions that tn,
/ Two yachts are scheduled 10 meet