The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-10-08

winning skipper. Nor did they for.
get either Upton or his gallant craft.
In turn the crowded steamers ran
a.4ongside the Shamrock and Erin and
the vanquished received almost as
much honor as the victor. And this,
with Fluctuations all around, the
twelfth series of races for the old cup
which the schooner America brought
over SO years ago, ended with the
best Of feeling.
While taking defeat gamely, Sir
Thomas Upton made no attempt to
conceal the honest disappointment,
when he talked about the races to-
night on the Erin.
Il am very disappointed" he said,
81 can't hide that. I thought within
Is minutes of the finish that we had
Won.
81 was as sure as my life we had
won. When l looked around the sit
uation had changed and we had lost.
1t was a hard blow to be SO near win
ming and then to lose. l should like
to have got one race, just by way of
consolation. 1t is a very hard thing
to be beaten by a breath-by a few
beats of the pulse. 1t has been a Sc
we're strain on me, l have worked so
hard for many months now, and I I'm
glad it is over. To have won would
have been a joy greater than today's
day was fair and square and honor
able. There is nothing to protest if
l wanted to protest. In fact, I have
a feeling in my heart that if there
had been any error in Judgment at all
it would have been in my favor. If
there had been any possibility of
choice in the matter l believe the New
York Yacht club would have given
me the race. Some times a man may
have the better boat, but even having
it must have a wee bit of luck to win.
I am very grieved indeed, very griev-
ed" And he added: 81 should have
liked to have had one race"
Hardly had the Erin's anchors
touched bottom Wnen a launch from
the yacht Corsair came alongside
bearing the regatta committee Of the
New York Yacht club. Sir Thomas
met them at the head of the gangway
and as he shook hands with them in
dividually, he said: Gentlemen, it
was a fair beat. l want to say again
that you have treated me with the ut
most fairness and courtesy. You
have met every wish of mine and
from my heart l thank YOU
Commodore Lewis Cass Ledyard,
chairman Of the New York Yacht
club regatta committee replied: "Sir
Thomas we have never had a truer.
sportsman to deal with"
Many of Sir Thomas guests on
board the Erin crowded around him
to express their sympathy at his de-
feat and assured him of the high
place he had won in the hearts of all
Americans.
when a nan wins a heart he has
won more than a cup" said one of
them. There were tears in the Irish
%baronet's eyes when he thanked them
for their kind words. Said he: "The
words you have spoken touch me far
more than my defeat today. I tried
to win the cup and l have done my
best. But better than all that l have
the good wishes of this country
When asked about his plans for the
future, Sir Thomas said:
1T is too early to talk about any
plans. About the Shamrock. l can't
decide what l shall do and as to chal-
longing again it is too soon to think
about it."
E. D. Morgan, the manager of Co.
lumbia, said: 81 am very happy that
we won and glad the strain is over.
We certainly had to make a splendid
fight for it. We had a splendid cap
tain and a splendid crew."
The Columbia's main sail was un-
bent before she came to anchor and
soon after dark she was towed to
City island.
Before leaving Captain Barr said:
I'VE did the best we could and they
did the best they could, and we came
out first. That's ALL"
AT the New York Yacht club tonight
Chairman kaine and Secretary Oddie
were closely questioned by members
regarding the sensational finish. Mr..
kaine said he had great difficulty in
timing the yachts but was fortunate
in sighting masts in prope range.