Evening star., 1901-09-28
But the Columbia Forged Ahead
on the Home Stretch.
LED In THE BEAT OUT
1t Was Neck-and-Neck Struc.
gle From the Start.
THE RACE IN DETAIL

NEW YORK, September 2s-Thtck fog
and no wind gave a most discouraging out
look at dawn for good racing conditions.
But the sun had not been above the horizon
many minutes before the fog began TO
melt. BY Z o'clock IT had lifted entirely.
while out of the northeast came a puff OF
wind full of promise and by o'clock 10
had increased to twelve knots AS the
morning wore the sky became slightly
overcast, some of the lower clouds seeming
to have considerable speed. and the
weatherwise predicted the coming OF
enough wind to suit either the Shamrock
or the Columbia. Captain Barr was early
aboard the Columbia. and he was among
those who cheerfully predicted a good sail
ing breeze.
Those things up there" he said. point~
ing 20 the feecy clouds in the northeast,
hold the wind. and you notice there are
lots of them today"
The crew of the Shamrock contentsd
themselves before breakfast with wIping
off deck and rails but on the Columbia
they were active, indeed, and by Z o'clock
had put the jib and staysail in stops Then
they took the cover off the mainsaIl and
opened that up to get the dampness out
of II.
After breakfast the Shamrock sailors
busted themselves with the work OF prep
aration. The Shamrock had a pretty SIX
flag her masthead today, the gift of the
aged mother of Designer Watson, which
Sir Thomas Upton ordered put in a place
of honor.
Preliminary Work Finished.
BY $50 o'clock both crews seemed satis-
fed with their work and loIled about the
decks OF their respective vessels, awaiting
the order to move.
Just before Q O'Clock Mr.. Jameson, sIr.
Watson and w Butler Duncan then went
on board the Shamrock The Columbia was
first taken in tow, and five minutes later
she was off the point OF the Hook. passing
out, the Shamrock following close behind
her.
On board the Columbia are f. D. Morgan,
H. c. McGildowney and Herbert Leeds.
The Columbia turned the Hook and went
down rapidly toward the starting place in
tow. On the Shamrock just as she got
clear of the Horseshoe the sailors began
hoisting the great mainsail. The challen-
ger. however, did not drop her tow and
she running against the wind.
The wind at the Hook was then blowing
steadily from the northeast at ten knots
an hour and with indications that II would
freshen.
Sir Thomas Upton did not go aboard the
Shamrock today. but stayed on board the
did not leave for the starting point until
e:30 O'Clock. 1t was still later than that
when the excursion fleet passed the Hook,
1t was equally as varied and picturesque
as on Thursday and in point Of number Of
boats somewhat larger.
Something of a Sea On.
AS the racing yachts moved down toward
the starting poirt 1t looked from the way
they dug into the rollers If the wind was
increasing. The haze, too, that had pre-
vailed about the starting point during the
morning broke away to some extent and
gave a much clearer view Of the lightship
and the beautiful stretch of sea beyond.
The Columbia went almost down to the
line without attempting to raise a sat-
The Shamrock had only her mainsail set
when she reached the line, but a moment
later she broke out her club topsail. The
wind at $3.50 O'Clock had increased TO elev.
en- knots. Tugs still held the racers by
lines in order to keep them Strengthened
out to the wind
The Columbia got her mainsail up lively
and then sent up her club topsail. Both
yachts were then to the west of the light
ship.
Soon after 10 o'clock both the flyers dis
carded their tugboats. and coming up to
the wind, both broke out almost simulta-'
neously their Jbs and staysails, which had
been put up in stops. AS they tackled back
and forth behind the line the committee
boat set a sibnal that the course would be
fifteen miles to windward and return and
that the compass course would be east by
south.
Fine FIOtilIa Following.
Meantime the great fleet of excursion ves-
sells had rolled out toward the lightship'
and spread out behind the starting line
in two great wings. 1t was a superb flo-
tilla, crowding the inner space of water.
while outside where the course lay was a
clear expanse of glinting sea almost de-
void of signs of life, save for the few sails
of coasters and occasional craft making
up toward the harbor
The revenue cutters and guard boats were
kept busy holding the fleet in position, not
to interfere with the yachts, but there was