The sun., 1901-09-06
COLUMBIA IS CHOSEN.
The Old Yacht Will Defend the Amerl-
cas- Cup.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION.
Performances of the Columbia Have
Been MARRIED by None of the Er-
ratio Form shown by the
Constitution.

Newport, IL. l., sept, . he sa.i'
Columbia, champion Of 1899, has been
chosen to race against the Shamrock
ii. In defense of the Americas cup
This decision was reached after
conference OF two hours between the
members of the challenge committee on
board the schooner Corona, flagship Of
the New York Yacht club.
All the committee We're present.
Commodore Lewis Cass l.edyard pre-.
sided. Rear Commodore Robinson, for.
mer Commodore Il. NJ. Brown, G. oil
Yer Iselin, Archibald Rogers, Sccreta-
ry j. V. :. Oddie and j. Malcolm
Forbes were the other members pres
ent.
The discussion was exhaustive. The
performances of the two boats We're
gone over Systematically and critically
compared. The conclusion was that
the behavior Of the Columbia waS far
more consistent than that of the Con-
stitution and that under the circunl-
stances there was no other alternative
than to name her as the defender of
the cup.
1t was held that while the decision
might be disappointing to the syndi-
cate headed by August Belmont, which
owns the Constitution, the committee,
with all conditions III mind expressed
the feeling that they We're compelled to
choose the Columbia. whose races have
G - ut
tested by her rival.
Formal Notice Posted.
The formal notice announcing the
selection of the Columbia was posted
ut the yacht club station shortly after
this and reads us follows:
| At meeting Of the committee on challenge of
the Royal Ulster Yacht club. held on the flagship,
| the Columbia was selected to represent the New
| York Yacht club. ]. V. 5. ODDlE. secretary.
| Mr.. w. Butler Duncan. .Ir., manager
of the Constitution. expressed diSap-
pontment that his boat was not select
ed as the cup defender. He said that
everything poSsil.lc had been done ia
get the best speed out of her. He had
no fault to find with officers or crew
| He said that Captain Rhodes had been
both skillful and faithful. ana the man.
ager had nothing bnt praise for tile
! Constitutions skipper. Mr.. Duncan
laid much blame on the sails of tht
boat for her erratic racing. He said
that it was a mistake to change iii,
! first mainsail, with which she was do
ing such good work III her early per
formances.
i The announcement of the selection
of the Columbia was received here witl
expressions Of approval among yachts
men.
Tuned to Perfection.
i As interested yachtsmen view til,
situation, the Columbia has been tunet
up to the point Of perfection. He
crew are enthusiastic believers in lie
capabilities. Their drill and discipline
are beyond praise, and nobody who lii
watched them has any doubt tllat the,
will make Il gallant defense of the cul
Her skipper handles the Columbia as i
she Were a small catboat ana thorough
ly understands her. Her mate, Lem
uel Miller, is smart ut handling lie
sails, and officers and crew are III hai
monious accord. Barr, her sailing mas
ter. is not at all likely to get "rattlctl
by any kind of sea iockeyng. Thus
Is held that the Columbia has show
herself such a reliable all around yIch
that her claims to defend tile cup wrr
too strong to be resisted
At the same time ii is pointed on
that Mr.. Duncan, who has 50 all
managed the Constitution, has lad
good deal TO contend with. Ii Is iii
opinion of many of his friends that
Nat lIcrrcShotf Ind not been continp
TO his room by illness he could hay
remedied the faults of the Gonsttutio
and brought out winner.
After the challenge committees NEE
ing il was learned that there would Ii
no more racing of the ninety footers Il
Newport. The time between nov an
the international cup race at Sand
Hook on Sept. 21 will be spent in pu
ting the Columbia in the best posshl
condition to defend the cup.