New-York tribune., 1901-07-04
ACCIDENT TO COLUMBIA.
BUCKLES HER MARTINGALE N SECOND
RACE WITH CONSTITUTION.
NEITHER BOAT FINIsHEs AND THE NEXT
RAGE WILL INCLUDE ALSO THE
INDEPENDENCE.
tBV TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNB.1

tBV TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Newport r. l., July 3-When nearly four
miles from the starting point. and when to
windward and ahead of the Constitution, the
Columbia had mishap and abandoned to-days
contest. In brief that Is the story OF the at
tempted race. But up to the point where the
Columbia had to stop the contest was as excit-
ing as any ever started. On many vessels the
manGuvring for the start was watched by peo-
pie who knew the intensities of the situation,
who knew that two nations had their ears to the
| phone to hear the result The one race already
sailed, in which the champion of 1899 proved
victor, had put things TO the milestone, till
curiosity had razor edge This race might
determine whether not S2500 had been
wasted. A victory on the part of the Columbia
would have more than simply national bear
inGs. The eagerness OF the spectators was
therefore screwed up to high tension, and it
almost painful to some of the spectators when
starting line TO windward and ahead. This part
Charlie Barr again put his boat across the
of the contingent did not like Barrs success
here. Another division liked 1t first rate, and
did not hesitate to say that the best man was
the best boat. In a quiet way feeling ran
high, and in the subsequent racing the disap-
pointment and pleasure seemed to be about
equally divided.
But short as It was the racing was important
because it showed that in fresh winds. when
beth boats had all they could stasger unoer
while carrying large Clubtopsais and jlotop-
sails, the Columbia can do slightly more than
hold her own in wndward work, at least so
long as the Constitutions sails remain as they
The Columbia. &c. H." left her moorings off
Newport at 9:15 a. M. carrying club topsali
over ordinary lower sails. The Constitution. "G
Iorcr
club topsan set, and both craft soon ran out
10 Brenton's Reef Lightship in the ocean. There
were two women board the Columbia with
r. D. Morgan the manager. and the big steam
yacht, owned by Henry Walters, one Of the
owners of the Constitution. had her line OF flags
flying from the bowsprt over both masts down
to the stern. The Pembroke Jones's had party
on board.
The steam yacht Seneca, the big schooner
Hndegarde and Perry Belmont's SataneIla were
with the yachts at the Iightship. but the gath
ering Of NewYork Yacht Club vessels was
comparatively small.
the steam yacht Coonia owned by T, G.
Bourne, Of the Constitution syndicate. was used
by the regatta committee and a good deal Of
delay experienced In setting the course, the
committee going five miles seaward for the start
SO as % keep the course clear of all headlands
Finally. at 1l:2 a. m. the Colonia stopped.
and the mark tug Unique let go the catboat
which 10 mark the starting line. The
Unique then sent into the winds eve To
ten miles before she anchored the FIRST buoy.
| This was to he triangular course. ten miles 10
each Les. and the directions prettily siguaed by
flags from the Colonia d. F. S. (west south
wesU. d c. L. southeast by SOUTH. and y. r. F.
| north. half easO. This was intended to give
the boats beat and two broad reaches. The
setting OF the line partly across the wind,
but with the Catboat end to windward. and af-
ter the preliminary signal at 1905 o'clock the
Columbia took a long tack seaward and came
about the warning gun was fired at 12:15
o'clock The Constitution was then 10 Ieeward of
the line. At 1920 o'clock Barr sent up small
jihtopsai in stops, and there were now five min
utes before the start. The Constitution tackled
toward Newport. hut headed up close 10
make the catboat end Of the line on the next
starboard tack. The Columbia. heavily pressed
by wind. and down to her decks went also
toward Newport. hut considerably to windward
Of her rival At 12:2 so o'clock the Constitution
went into the starhoard tack, to take the line
closehaued. and Barr turned around a steam
yacht that in the way, and headed in the
same direction. both coming for the line on the
starhoard tack. AS they came near. Rhodes
luffed to go to weather, but Barr headed up to
prevent him. This was only for a moment.
Barr saw that the gun would fire before he got
to the line and he payed for it. Rhodes then
luffed out TO weather. and people thought he
would get the best OF II. But Barr let him go
out Of his way if he liked and came straight for
the mark The gun to cross fired about four
seconds before he got there. Both boats were
coming like hurricanes, and in a cloud Of flying
spray Barr's better judgment of the time gave
him all ne wanted He took the line closehauled
at the windward end. his boat going like a
rocket and then came the Constitution. looking
MAGNIFICENT and spurning water from both
bows as she passed the mark. Rhodes put her
about into the port tack at once. 10 try to get
clear Of the threatened banketing and splitting
Of wind and Barr Immediately swung to port
10 make 1t as hard as he could for the Con-
stitution and to take the benefit OF his advan-
tages
In a general way the course of the boats was
now about north northwest, both of them being
heavily careened. Barr had broken out his jib
tonsa on the line, and the Constitution already
had hers set.
Now came the real tug Of war, and IL was
soon seen that Barr did not intend to sail the
Columbia as close he did on Monday. For
some time there was little TO choose between
the pointing of the boats. as measured by the
sneed of the tug Storm King, which closely fol-
lowed directly in the rear. The yachts were
travelling at about ten and half knots. In
one quarter Barr criticised for carrying a
ibtopsail at all. and ii is open to question
whether the Columbia would not have done bet
ter without this sail in such a stiff breeze. be-
cause the whole boat slightly thrown off
to fill IT, 1t was evident. however. that Barr
had been influenced by the perhaps misplaced
criticisms of Mondays sailing, and deter