The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-01

+ New York. Oct. 1.-At $40 p. m. the
race was declared off.
New York, Oct IA 15-knot breeze
from the north-northeast was ruff1ing
the ocean when the crews of the
Columbia and the British challenger
turned out with the sun this morning.
There was a snap of early autumn in
the air and overhead an unspotted blue
sky gave promise of an ideal day for
the second race between the big flyers.
i The crews of the yachts were early
astir.
Both yachts were ready for start
by $50. The mooring chains had been
unshackled, and they were holding
only by a slip line.
All night the wind blew strongly
from the northwest. but it began to
sUbside at sunrise and the weather
sharps shook their heads obviously and
predicted that the beautiful 15knot
wind would not hold long enough to get
the race fairly started. The wind shift
4 ed around to- the north-northeast, but
the sea, owing to the off-shore wind OF
| the past day two. seemed to have
subsided. and there was very little surf
on the Jersey coast.
The members of the committee stated
]
sire to send the yachts to the windward
leg of ten miles from the start that
in case the wind should shift the yachts
would at least have a beat in some
portion of the race But ten miles from
! Sandy Hook lfghtship would have
brought the yachts upon the Long ISL
and shore, and In order 10 give them a
Abeat of ten miles in that direction it
Il looked this morning as If the commit
tee would have to shift the starting
point to very close to the Jersey shore
near Sea Bright
At o'clock the observer at Sandy
Hook reported the wind as IA miles
from the northeast and the sea smooth
The Columbia was the first to start
for the lightship. She was in tow, and
twas followed a few moments later by
the Shamrock
At o'clock the lower bay presented
a prettier and more animated sight
than it had Non either of the siore=si0us
race days. There was a large fleet of
pleasure craft lowering about and a
noticeable increase in the number of
isailing yachts. Lewis Nixon's house
lboat. the Loudin, was anchored near
ISir Thomas Lipton's big yacht the
schooner yacht America, which SO
pears 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
lperceptibly. When they were about
three miles from the hghtship the van
guard OF the patrol boats and commit
ftee boat hove in sight, and away up
fthe NarrOwS growing cloud of black
smoke heralded the coming of the great
excursion fleet The close race of Sat
nrday and the beautiful weather which
prevailed in the early morning today
draw an attendance considerably in ex-
fcess of either of the preceding days.
BY 10 O'Clock the racers were at the
1ightship and the skirmish line of the
1 excursion fleet was sweeping around
the Hook.
Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht,
fleet. with a distinguished party on
Board The big dent in her port
lquarter made by the revenue cutter
Gresham in collision on Saturday had
tbeen Strengthened out and a coat of
green paint covered all outer marks of
the accident.
Meanwhile both the Columbia and
fhe Shamrock were making sail
A few minutes after 10 o'clock the
Shamrock had set her club topsaiI
Ftaysail and jib, in addition to her
fnainsail. and minute or two after the
columbia followed suit. The sails filed
Fairly well as they came about to the
wind but the breeze appeared to he
Rather ftfuL Then both racers dropped
their tow lines and stood off while the
Judges boat took a position somewhat
20 the north Of the lightship
~ After a conference on board the com
fnfttee boat, signals were set for a
5 course as follows:
The first leg, due east, a beat: the
second south-southwest. one-half wesf
a broad reach on the port tack; and the
third, north-northwest, one-half west.
a close fetch to the finish. on the star
board tack
II 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 guns
lwere fired the yachts scarcely had
fsteerage way, the flags on the commit
stee boat barely being lifted out from
1.-THE mast In order to facilitate her
fInanoeuvering the Shamrock broke out
Tier baby jib topsail, as also did the
zC.olumbia- The yachts spent more than
sEeven minutes after the preparatory
A signal was fired In following each
other in circles about the COMMITTEES
boat. Soon after the warning signal
was fired the Columbia stood off and
then headed back for the Shamrock.
which at that time was standing on the
starboard tack and heading for the
i.ne. There was the usual iockeying
for the windward berth.
Hard luck was with the British chal-
fenger, for she stood in too near the
line and went over before the startins.
gun was fired Columbia, on the other
hand, was in beautiful position and
polzed her bow across the line a few
seconds after the gun fire. The Sham
rock had to recross the line this mis-
take badly ilandicapping her at the
outset. The wind was not more than
four knots and both yachts headed for
the Long Island shore on the starboard
taGk- The Columbia was far to the
wi4dward but the yachts were appar-
enuy on equal terms, as far as foot
ING was concerned
.kfter fifteen minutes of sailing the