Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-10-12
COL UMB|A RETAINS CUP
In Third Race the American Boat
is Again a Winner.
CLOSEST CONTEST or SERIES
Inyinclbie Defender is Beaten Over the finish
Line by Small Margin, But Becomes
the Victor on the lime Allowance.

the Victor on the Tine Allowance.
New YORK, Oct s. with victory
flags flowing from her towering mast
heacs and the ends Of her spreaders
In honor OF her concluding triumph in
the cup races of 1901, the gallant sloop
Columbia returned to her anchorage
under the escort Of the entire excur-
sion feet. She yesterday, completed
her defense Of the honored trophy in
another stirring race with the Sham
rock III over a leeward and windward
race of 80 miles, crossing the finish
line two seconds behind her antago-
mist but winning on the time allow
ance conceded by Lipton's boat, by Al
seconds.
For the second time she has now sue
cessfully foiled the attempt of the Irish
the cup that means the yachting SUI
prenacy of the world And plucky Sir
Thomas Upton, standing on the bridge
of the Erin led his guests in three
hearty huzzahs for the successful de-
fender. "She is the better boat" he
said, and she deserves to be cheered."
Yesterdays race, on paper, was the
closest of the series, but because of
the flukiness of the wind on the beat
home as a contest of the relative merits
of the yachts 1t is not to be compared
with the magnificent, truly run and
royalty fought battles OF Saturday and
Thursday. The conditions of the race
at the start yesterday we're very SIM
liar to those of Thursday. The wind
was strong and from the shore, en-
broidering the sea with foam and pill
ing up no swell-ideal conditions for
the challenger.
The racers were sent away before
the wind, each carrying penalty for
crossing the line after the handicap
gun. No official record Is kept of the
time after that gun is fired but the
experts with stop watches estimated
Columbia's handicap at 15 seconds and
Shamrock's at 30 seconds. The con-
test of the yachts fleeing before the
following wind was picturesque but not
exciting. The big racers like gulls
with outstretched pinions had every
inch of canvas spread, all their light
sails, including bullying spinnakers and
balloon jib topsails. Their crews were
gathered aft to keep the heads of the
boats up and thereafter unul the outer
mark was reached it VS. merely a
question of holding on to all the can
vas and letting the wind to the rest.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
Columbia beat the Shamrock before
the wind last Saturday, the challenger
gained slowly but steadily all the way
out and rounded 40 seconds before the
defender, having actually gained one
minute and four seconds. Immediate
ly after the yachts turned their noses
into the wind for the beat home the
breeze moderated and turned fiuky.
The shippers split tacks, each search
ing for wind, with the result that first
one would get lift and then the other.
At one time Columbia seemed a mile
ahead when a sudden cant of the
wind allowed the Shamrock TO point
nearer the mark and mile from home
the challenger appeared to be leading
by fully half mile. The talent began
to feel nervous. but as the yachts ap-
preached the finish the Yankee skipper
by some miraculous legerdemain SHOW
ed his boat into the light air like
phantom ship and crossed the line
practically at the same time as the
Shamrock.
Many of Sir Thomas guests on board
the Erin crowded around to express
their sympathy at his defeat and as
sured him of the high place he had
won in the hearts of all Americans.
when man wins 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:
1.-THE words you have spoken touch
me far more than my defeat l tried
to win the cup and | have done my
best. But better than all that | have
the good wishes of this country"