The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-08

three minutes the Columbia passed
clean through the lee of the challenger.
went on the port tack and easily ross
ed her bows. The Shamrock at once
tackled under the defenders lee and
then developed a situation that could
not be explained unless by change Of
wind. While the Columbia kept on
pointing very high, the Shamrock head
ed far Off to leeward and for several
minutes did not point anywhere near
as high as the Columbia and rapidly
fell Off The wind a now dropped
materially and il soon became fuky as
we'll. first n boat getting II in puts
and then the other At times there was
a great difference in their pointing. the
Columbia now heading Well up while
the Shamrock fen OF. and the again
the reverse was
SHAMROCK STILL AHEAD.
At 100 the boats were standing along
on port tack. but wide apart The Co.
lumbia was well to windward. the dis
tance estimated by some OF the yacht
ing sharps at nearly a mile, but at the
same time she was slightly astern.
A series of short tacks was then be-
gun by both racers and IN these the
Shamrock showed evident gains. being
aided by friendly slants OF wind. Fog
half an hour these short tacks contiu-
ued and when at . o'clock the boats
Cdiue IOStIHST near enough 10 aIOFl
comparison il vas seen hat the chal-
lenger had made up a large part IL not
all her loss The wind, meanwhile, had
become more and more fuky and was
blowing not over seven or eight knots.
THE COLUMBIA TAKES THE LEAD.
a few minutes after , o'clock Barr
put the Columbia about on the star
board tack and headed for the Jersey
shore. \ minute later the Shamrock
followed n il was then seen beyond
possibility of doubt that h American
boat was not only TO windward, but
was slightly ahead.
LOSES 1T AGAIN.
Again the racers went into short
tacks and again the challenger came
out with gains to her credit. so that at
2:20 h took the lead. The wind was
now fast dropping. 1t became any
body's race and the excitement i~ncreas-
ed a few more short tacks and the
British boat added to her lead by favor
ing puffs.
Seamanship of the highest order was
now required and in this respect il was
hats off to doughty Charlie Barr. He
nursed his craft along in the light airs
in a wonderful and al every
had a sharp y out for any
change of wind.
When at 3:17 the Shamrock put about
10 meet the II vas evident
that she still had a slight lead, for she
forced the defender about. Having
done this the Shamrock again went
about on the port tack with the evil
dent hope of fetching the line, now
abou a mile away. The Columbia
kept on a couple of minutes longer and
then followed her rival. She was in
h windward berth, but we'll astern
and the lead of the Englishman was
unmistakable. Both boats were being
sailed for all there was in them and
they went through the water at a
speed remarkable for the wind that was
then blowing. 1t was apparent thar
a nerve straining finish was at hand.
Charlie Barr kept up mis- good work
and took advantage of every change of
air that could possibly help him. The
Columbia was perceptibly gaining.
At $3.50 the Shamrock went about on
he Starboard and bearded for the mid
die of the line. The Columbia tackled
under her lee, Bars game being to
back wind the headsails Of the challen-
ger. On they came the American boat
gaining slightly.
The Shamrock was first to huff across.
but hardly was this ~perceptible before
Barr did the same thing with the Co.
lumbia n they went over only two
seconds apart, but the two seconds
were to the credit of the Shamrock in
actual time. though she was a beaten
boat according to the rules OF the
game.