The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-08
THREE SUCCESSIVE RACES
Won by White Flyer IN the Las
One-Time Allowance Saved
the Day.

heads and the ends of her spreaders
in the series of 1901, the gallant sloop,
Columbia, returned to her anchorage
tonight under the escort of the entire
excursion fleet. She today complet-
ed her defense of the honored trophy
in another stirring ace with Sham
rock II, over a leeward and wind
ward course of 80 miles, crossing the
line two seconds behind her antagon-
list, but winning on the time allow
ance conceded by Lipton's boat by
Al seconds.
For the second time she has now
foiled the attempt of the Irish knight
to wrest from III possession the cup
that means the yachting supremacy
of the world. And plucky Sir Thomas
Upton, standing on the bridge of the
Erin, led his guests in three hearty
huzzas for the successful defender.
She is the better boat" he said,
"and she deserves to be cheered."
The series of races just closed will
always be memorable as the closest
eve sailed for the cup and Sir
Thomas, although defeated, will go
home with the satisfaction Of know
ing that his golden yacht is the ablest
foreign boat that ever crossed the
Atlantic ocean.
During both series of races not an
untoward incident has occurred and
Sir Thomas will return to England
by far the most popular of all the
foreigners who have challenged for
the Americas trophy.
Today's race, on paper, was the
closest Of the series because of the
fukiness of the wind on the beat
home, but as a contest of the relative
sea merits it is not to be compared
with the magnificent, truly run and
nobly fought battles of Saturday and
yesterday. The conditions at the
start today were very similar to those
Of yesterday. The wind was strong
and from the shore, embroidering the
sea with foam and piling up no swell
ideal conditions Of the challenger.
The racers were sen away before
the wind, each carrying a penalty for
crossing the line after the handicap
gun. No official record is kept of
the time after hat gun had been fir.
ed, but the experts with stop watches
estimated Columbia's handicap at IL
seconds and Shamrock's at 80 sec
onds. The contest of the yachts fee.
ing before the following wind was
picturesque, but not exciting. The
big racers, like guls, with o%utstretch
ed pinions, had every inch of can
vas spread. Their crews were gather
ed aft to keep the heads of the boats
up and thereafter until the outer
mark was reached. it vas merely q
question Of holding on to all the can
vas and letting the wind do the rest
Notwithstanding the fact that Colum
bia beat the Shamrock before the
wind last Saturday the challenger to
day gained slowly but steadily all the
way out and rounded 40 seconds be
fore the defender, having actually
gained one minute and four seconds
Immediately after the yachts turned
their noses into the wind for the bea'
home the breeze moderated and turn
ed fiuky. The shippers split lacks
each searching for wind. with the re
suit that first one would get a lf
and then the other. At one time Co
lumbia seemed a mile ahead when =;
sudden cant of the wind, allowed thu
Shamrock to point nearer the mari
and a mile from home the challenge,
appeared to be leading by fully hal
a mile. The talent began to feel nerv
Gus, but as the yachts approached
the finish the Yankee skipper b,
some miraculous l~egerdemain, shovel
his boat into the light air like a phan
tOll Sllp dllu OlS lullu1Su ydluo lloIl
home, the racers were almost on eve,
terms. 1t was a pretty sight and on
seldom witnessed, when they crosse'
rail to rail, the white yachts bow
spirit just tapping the golden boat
mast. The usual pandemonium tina
attends the final Yankee victory in
cup contest followed. Whistles, sirens
bells, bands and cheerers united il
the grand chorus of jubilation and J
p. Morgan's steam yacht Corsair, add
ed to the terrific din by firing a nat
iOnal salute of Fl guns.
After Columbia had hauled dow
her sails and set her victory flag. tn
excursion boats crowded along sid
n cheer the Yankee sailors and tn