Evening star., 1901-09-06
Bitter Feeling Against the New York
Yacht Club
SHABBY TREATMENT OF LAWSON
Many Yachtsmen Hope Shamrock
II VIII Lift the Cup.
WHOLE MATTER OVERCOME
ec,,l CORRESPONDENCE of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, September 5, 1901.
For the first time in the history of yacht
ing there will probably be few tears shed
in case Sir Thomas Upton lifts the cup this
year. This is probably due to a variety of
causes. chief of which may be mentioned the
feeling that the New York Yacht Club has
been guilty Of snobbishness and exclusive
ness in dealing with Lawson's Independ-
ence, and the additional fact that Sir
Thomas Upton proved such good loser
upon the occasion Of the visit of Shamrock
I. Among the professional yachtsmen the
feeling manifests itself in the expression
of the idea that even If Shamrock II does
carry off the prize it will only stimulate
revival of interest in yacht racing and re-
suit in. the sending of cup hunters to Eng
land every year until the cup Is again re-
turned to America.
Should the New York Yacht Club now
lose possession of the cup half of the peo-
pie who have neither lost nor won any
money on the yacht races will undoubtedly
eXclaim. Served them right Judged
from the New York Yacht Club standpoint,
the failure to give the Independence a fair
show may be justified, but the majority of
people are not sea lawyers or yachtsmen,
for that matter. They are interested mere
ly in having the best American boat de-
the owner of that boat ever sees the in
side of the New York Yacht Club.
The N. Y. Yacht Clubs Exclusiveness.
In passing it may be mentioned that 1t
IS not the easiest thing In the world for
visitor to the city to see the inside Of the
New York Yacht Club unless he has a
speaking acquaintance with some wealthy
yachtsman. The New York Yacht Club
is probably the most exclusive club in the
world. and stories are common of the way
in which old sea dogs who have secured in
y1tat1onS to the club, as we'll as newspaper
men In search Of information, are snubbed
by the new rich yachtsmen of the metropO-
lis. OF course there are many members Of
the organization who stand as types Of
true American gentlemen and yachtsmen,
but on the other hand there are some men,
bers of the New York Yacht Club whose
room would be preferable to their company
In any club in the country and whose
sole qualification for membership seems
to have been the possession of vast sums of
inherited or quickly acquired wealth.
Among the non-yachting, non-racing pub
lie there appears to be the feeling that
the Americas cup business Is being a little
overdone. Fifty years ago the offering
Of such cup could have been justified upon
the ground that 1t would help to develop
the speed of sailing vessels, and furnish
types worthy of imitation. just as the race
tracks are supposed to help produce finer
and faster breeds Of horses. But inasmuch
as steam has Supplanted the sailing veS-
sells In all cases where speed is required,
and thousand experiments could not pro-
duce a boat depending upon sail power ca
pable of competing with the fast ocean
steamers the average man looks upon
the movements of Upton and the New York
Yacht Club Is something of fad.
Il Is not unusual to hear the statement
among business men that about the best
thing that could happen would be to have
Upton capture the cup and lose 1t over
board as the Shamrock returns to Europe.
Even Betting on the Race.
Most of the betting among individuals
Is even, though 1t is not uncommon to
hear of slight odds being given against
the Shamrock II winning. This is due not
so much to the form of the cup challenger
when contrasted with the form shown by
the possible cup defenders, as to the fact
that sporting men are figuring that 1t Will
be far easier to get money placed upon the
American than the English boat-many
persons preferring to back patriotism rath-
er than judgment. Were 1t possible for
all England to be transplanted to Amer
lea in time to witness the yacht races
the betting would certainly be about
even. with possibility OF slight odds be-
ing recorded in favor of the cup challenger.
OF course this does not figure In the es-
Inmates Of cold-booded yachtsmen and
sportsmen who back their judgment with
their money