The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-05

beats being handicapped, the official
time of start was posted on the bulle-
tin board of the committee boat as fol-
lows:
Shamrock 10000.
Columbia, 11:02:00
Hardly had the boats got over the
line before 1t was seen that the Sham
rock was gaining on her rival. Slowly
she crept up, and at ILL was on even
terms. Half a minute later she show
ed her bowsprit ahead and from there
on led the Columbia to the outer mark.
The official time of turning the outer
mark was as follows:
Shamrock, 12:4S:46.
Columbia, 12:49:35.
Thus on the run straight down the
wind the challenger had gained, ac-
cording to official time, forty nine Sec
onds, but in reality she had done bet
ter than this, for to this forty nine
seconds are to be added the fifteen sec
onds which the Columbia led her over
the starting line.
A Dramatic Incident.
At 1:12 a dramatic event occurred. In
three minutes the Columbia passed
clean through the lee of the challenger,
went on the port tack and easily cross
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 had now dropped mater
tally and it soon became fluky as WELL
| first one boat getting it in puffs and
then the other. At times there was a
great difference in their point
ing the Columbia now head
ing well up while the Shamrock
| fell off, and then again the reverse
was true. At 1870 the boats were
standing along on port tack, but wide
| apart. The Columbia was Well to
windward, the distance estimated by
some of the yachting sharps at nearly
| a mile, but at the same time she was
slightly astern. A series of short tacks
was then begun by both racers, and in
these the Shamrock showed evident
| gains, being aided by friendly slants
of wind. For half an hour these short
tacks continued, and when at 2 o'clock
the boats came together near enough
to afford comparison, it was seen that
the challenger had made up a large
part, if not all, her loss. The wind,
meanwhile had become more and more
fluky and was blowing not over seven
or eight knots.
| Both Yachts Swap About.
A few minutes after 2 o'clock Barr
put the Columbia about on the star
board tack and headed for the Jersey
| shore. A minute later the Shamrock
followed, and it was then seen beyond
possibility of doubt that the American
boat was not only to the windward,
but was slightly ahead. Again the rae
ers went into short tacks and again
the challenger came out with gains to
her credit so that at 2:20 she took the
lead. The wind was now fast dropping
1t became anybody's race, and the ex-
| citement increased. A few more shcrt
| tacks and the British boat added to
| her lead by favoring puffs. Seaman
/ ship.of- the highest order was now re-
quired, and in this respect it was hats
off to doughty Charlie Barr.
He nursed his craft along in the light
airs in a wonderful manner, and al
every moment had a sharp eye out for
| any change of wind.
/ When, at 3:17 the Shamrock put
about to meet the Columbia, it was evil
dent that she still had a slight lead
for she forced the defender about. Hav-
ing done this the Shamrock again went
| about on the port tack with the evil
dent hope of fetching the line, now
about a mile away. The Columbia
kept on a couple of minutes longer,
| and then followed her rival. She was
in the windward berth, but well astern
and the lead of the Englishman was
| unmiStakable.
Charlie Barr's Fine Work.
Both boats were being sailed for all
| there was in them, and they went
| through the water at a speed remarka-
! BILE for the wind that was then blow
ing 1t was apparent that a nerve
| straining finish was at hand. Charlie
| Barr kept up his good work and took
advantage of every change of air that
| could possibly help him. The Colum-
| bia was perceptibly gaining.
| At $3.50 the Shamrock went about on
the starboard and headed for the mid
die of the line. The Columbia talked
| under her lee, Barr's game being to
tack within the headsails of the chal-
| lenger. On they came, the American
| boat gaining slightly.
| The Shamrock was first to luff across,
but hardly was this perceptible before
| Barr did the same thing with the Co
| lumbia, and 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.
New York Oct. 4.-Oficial time of
finish was: Shamrock, 3:S5:SS; Column
bia, 3:95:40.