The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-29
But the Finish of the Race Was a
Close and Exciting One.
ONE MINUTE AND TWENTY SECONDS.
CORRECTED TIME.
The Racers Were Almost Abeam Throughout the
Greater Portion of the Thrty-MiIe Race-The
British Sloop Is Splendid Boat.
10 crews lined up along the weather naiA.

the crews lined up sionE the weather naiL
They heeled to the windward until their
lee rails were awash In the swirling, bub-
bling seas and from tho wlndward side
they showed yards OF their bronze UNDER
bodies. Neck and neck, tack and tack
they raced like team OF horses.
The vessels in the excursion feet by this
time were rolling badly. Many OF tho
spectators were forced to the seclusion ot
their cabins and many others kept Euspi-
ciously near the rails.
The excursion vessels formed a crescent
about the stnkoboat as the yachts rounded
the outer mark, but IL was a doleful feet
AS the Shamrock wore around with ner
spinnaker pole 20 the starboard like a lance
in rest, the big steam yacht Erin, with the
Royal Ulster Yacht club ensign at her tan
rail. opened her whistle long and loud. It
was the FIRST time Sir Thomas had felt the
joy Of victory. and he and his party prob
ably enjoyed Il to the full.
The Yankee shippers were too polite not
60 pun their whistle cords, but the toots
were not loud nor long, and the bands did
not play columbia, the Gem Of the
Ocean"
But when the racers had spread their
ninlons. wing and wing, spinnaker, main
sail and balloon gibs, and the white Eyer
Columbia began to eat up the green water
between her and the challenger. dropping
spirits began 10 rise. and when the yachts
got on even terms about half way home
the bands began 10 play and the people
raised n cheer. AS they approached the
flush line, Columbia leading by half n
dozen lengths. all the pent-up enthusiasm
burst forth.
About a quarter OF a mile before they
reached the line the golden boat blanketed
the white one and for a moment she ran
up alongside and looked as II she would
he FIRST home. Cheers died In the patriotic
throats.
Suddenly rs the Columbia lufted OF ana
got her wind clcnr she forged ahead and
| came tearing down Ike mad Az she
crossed, three lengths ahead. the enthusi-
asm broke out again With redoubed energy.
Every Yankee skipper grabbed MS whistle
cord ANA made terrific din. Sirens walled
and the white steam Jets made II look az
IL every ship In the fleet had broken her
stcam chest. The whole ileet seemed
Choragc. Meantime the Shamrock had taken
a tow from the tender and drawn out ot
the rucls and the steamers. Escorted by
the Erin, which showed big hole that
the revenue cutter Gresham had stove In
her port quarter, she headed Tor the berth
OGuiuu inN HOOK NNlhf VI Ait 'ANhA"iN'A
buuts dropped back TO salute the popular
sportsman who ltas been game enough 10
make second cltort to mt the cup, ana
tncu the whole fleet moved on for home,
many Of the shippers keeping their whis-
ties going until They reached the narrows
al the entrance OF The upper, bay,
The following is tho official time;
Shamrock start, ll;OO:l4.
Outer mari mari .rs l;Zo'l@'
Elapsed time, alba.
Corrected time, 481:4a
Columbia start, ll:0016.
Outcr mark, 20 ;53.
Finish. 3:3l :23.
Elapsed time, 4;3i .0I.
Corrected time, 4.3O:22.
course rS "f ten miles to a lex. and viii be
sailed next TUESDAY morning.
when 1t was all over. Sir Thomas LIP
ton showed himself the thorough sportsman
he ls.
"well," he said as he stood on the deck
Of tho Erin. that's one dot against
US. am just as hopeful Ms l was this
morning. for | feel that II ! only have q
wind I'm all right II was a fair and
square rnce, no Auke but II was not sham.
rocks day. We want breeze that VIII
put that deck six inches under water and and
then you'll see q race. But be sure OF one
thng-i was licked fairly today
Captain Bob Wringc who was on the
bridge Of, the Erin at Sir Thomas eipow T,;
lift the cup YET nine To twelve-knot
breeze Is not what we want,
Captain Barr was much gratihed over the
victory.
ut was a close race, but clean one" he
said wind conditions were perhaps not
all that could have been desired. but such
as they were our boat was never in danger,
/ believe, at any point
Sir Thomas Liptons steam yacht Erin
narrowly escaped serious accident when,
just after the Shamrock and Columbia had
rounded the turn, the United states rev.
enue cutter Gresham collided with her.
Both boats were doing patrol duty. The
Gresham was in the hands OF Commander
Thomas D. Walker and the Erin, for the
day IN charge OF Lieutenant John Boedeck-
or OF the United states revenue cutter sely-
Ice. In starting TO clear the course for
the home stretch, the Gresham apparently
tried 10 cross the bows of the Erin. there
was evidently misunderstanding OF sig
nails by the Gresham aud 1t was too late
when at last she tried to back out and
tho erin put ON full steam ahead. the
revenue cutter struck the yacht gianeing
blow on the port quarter thirty or forty
feet from the stern a plate was bent,
some paint rubbed on and the rail- bruised.