The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-04
Lipton Admits Square Defeat.

When asked what he thought of the
 race, he said: 'I admit frankly that I
 got licked by the best boat in a fair and
 square race, and I maintain and believe
 that there is not a better skipper afioat than Captain Sycamore, nor a better crew than mine. I have as much esteem for my captain and crew as when I came to
 this side, but they can't do impossibili- ties. They took as much out of the boat
 as could be taken.
 "I am very much disappointed at the result and the only consolation is that I know that I've been licked by a good, honorable opponent. l know that the
 wind was true and that the Columbia won
 without any fiuke.
 AS long as the Shamrock flag flies,
 there is just as much fight in me and un- til I'm beaten in the third race, I'm just
 as hopeful"
 Captain Sycamore of the Shamrock sim ply said We did our best and were fairly beaten by better boat" With the wind forward on the port beam and with tiny jib topsail set on the Shamrock and a much larger and better pulling sail on the Columbia, the yachts started out on the first leg of the triangle | of today's race. The gain of the Colum-
 bia, which the turn of the first mark | proved she had made, was almost fmper- ceptible Toward the mark the wind | IreSnenGu. The WAlh d lCpoCt sail spread, seemed to stand stiffer than
 her rival; but there was little to choose
 between them. They smothered along to- ward the mark and when they rounded
 it the Columbia had gained only twenty | two seconds. The gybe on both crafts was well done. Under the same sail as 1 they started, they both stood for the
 second mark. It became apparent at the | time that the Columbia had sailed over l -haIf of ho Iep that aha had
 saved her time and was, barring acci- dents, a winner. Her skipper, instead of nursing her through the squalls. let her | feel the strength of them, while the l Shamrocks's larger spread of sail caused | her to make imperative luffs or else car ry away something. In a reaching breeze
 closer and finer sailing, perhaps, was nev-
 CT seen. There were few occasions when
 the collapse of a topmast seemed almost
 due; but everything hung on.
 Now the second mark was In sight and | at 12:45 jib topsails were dOwsed on both yachts and they luffed around 1t, Sham
 rock in the lead, but the watches show ing Columbias gain on this leg to be
 thirty seconds.
 It was now dead beat to windward to | the finish line. The Columbia was now the leading craft from the mathematical
 point of view. She had gained on both l legs and also had her time allowance Of 43 seconds to help her. Thus, if she | could hold her own to the finish line the | race was hers In a splendid thresh to | windward the Columbia outpointed the | Shamrock, but the challenger seemed to | be going a little faster. At 1:l5 the Columbia ran like a streak of lighting | through the lee of the Shamrock, luffed out across her bows and for the first | time in the race she was the leading and | the windward boat
 At 1:20 both yachts went on the port
 tack, standing toward the Long Island shore. There was little or no diff Terence between them in this board. At
 1:57 both went on the starboard tack for | the finish line.
 Then came the biggest pu of all. Shamrock had three or four streaks of
 the deck under water. but ran risks hop
 ing to diminish her defeat or even to win.
 But it was in vain. She made up a lit-
 tie or her leeway but the Columbia cross
 ed the line winner and to spare.