The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-03
COLUMBIA .-
THE PEER
Continued From Page One.)

ciade the first leg rather close reach
on the port tack, the second broader
reach and the third leg a dead beat to
| the finish.
Shamrock Off First.
The starting gun was fired on the dot
of eleven and it was apparent that the
advantage lay entirely with the British
skipper. Just before the start. he sent
the Shamrock swinging around to the
committee boat cutting in between that
and ll.taColumbia. The latter being UNI
der Shamrocks lee, apparently decided
not to cross in that position, but wore
around again. Holding tight to her adj
vantage when the gun was fired, Captain
Sycamore sent Shamrock across the line
almost before the stiff wind could sweep
the powder smoke away, Columbia be-
ing considerably behind.
After u.< ssing both yachts went on a
close reach for the first mark, fairly
tearing through the water and throwing
great fountains of spray from under
their bow. The official time of crossing
the line was: Shamrock, 11:00:13. Col
umbia, 11:O1:47.
A Terrific Pace.
1t was a magnificent and blood stir
ring race to the first mark. The pace
was terrific and it was impossible to de-
termine, when the half of the first leg
had been sailed whether or not the
Shamrock was maintaining the lead she
gained when they crossed the line. Both
were carrying the same sails, every yard
Of '.he canvas piled above the flying
hu'cs of THE racers being as hard as a
board. The crews We're lined under the
windward rail, while off to leeward the
n1%~,
We're swept in clouds by the increasing
winds.
They lifted the first turn as though
the stake boat was coming to meet
them, Shamrock still holding her big
lead.
Official time of the turning of the first
mark was: Shamrock, 11:51:1O. Column
bia, II 1922. >.
Both swept away on starboard tack.
Shamrock leading by a quarter to third
of a mile.
The second leg Of the race lost nothing
in exciting interest. The wind held
strong and true and, after rounding the
mark the racers maintained their ter
rifle speed, making no change in their
sails. The excursion fleet had a fight to
keep up with the race. being compelled
to crowd on a. full head Of steam to
maintain a position that would keep the
flying yachts in view.
AS in the first leg, it was mere guess
work at first, whether either boat had
gained or lost. When about half Of the
second leg had been covered, it seemed,
however, as II the American boat had
managed to slightly crawl up on her fast
sailing opponent.
| 1t was the first windward work of the
race and the result of the contest de-
| pended upon the respective merits Of the
two boats in the thrash to windward to-
ward the finish line.
At 1:06, the yachts went about on the
| starboard tack and stood for the Jersey
! shore. the Columbia lacking first. The
race was as close as ever. Both yachts
had taken in their jib top sails before
reaching the second mark preparatory
| to beating up the last leg under the
! third lower sails, and lower club top
| sails. Working In the wind the Sham
rock was apparently footing very fast,
but Columbia seemed to outpoint her.
| In the first half hour of sailing after
| the second mark had been turned, CO.
! lumbia had the race in hand on time al
! lowance, unless Shamrock did some un-
| expectedly superior work.
1t was nip and tuck for the next 20
minutes or more, until at 1:2O the boats
I went on port tack, and it was seen the
| defender had eaten up her rivals lead
| She had outpointed Shamrock and led in
! commanding position on the lattcrs
bow. With the finish line about four
miles away at LAO the American boat
had the race we'll in hand and, barring
! accidents. it seemed inevitable that she
would more than make up the Sham
socks lead over the line and get home
ahoa6 nf hor by,t with In ~
den squirt and the advantage she had
gained, the race was still an exciting
one, and never for a moment did inter-
est flag as the two superb ships
thrashed to windward, the breeze hold
ing true and strong
Weather conditions We're absolutely
perfect from the moment the gun was
fired. 1t blew as If made to order for a
fair test of the British and American
boats and through the two legs Of reach
ing and the first of the windward work
on the homestretch. Columbia had
shown herself to be superior.
In the close reach to the first mark,
she had gained on the visitor; she
gained on the broader reach to the Sec
ond mark and when they began the ex-
citing beat home she ate her way into
the wind in manner that her rival
could not approach.
Both yachts held the port tack, head
ing almost north toward the Long Island
shore and 1t looked as If they meant to
hold 1t until they were sure of fetching
the mark on the next tack.
AS they worked up the wind, the glim-
mering bronze hull of the British boat
was getting further and fu>her to lee
ward and astern and the American had
lead which hardly fast steamboat
| could have cut down in the short stretch
of water which lay between her and the
finish.
At 1:57 both yachts went about on the
starboard tack and headed for the fin
ish. Columbia having a safe lead of
about a quarter of mile. The race was
over then. Nothing could head her.
With every inch Of her beautiful sails
darwing. spray flying from under her
l0N, the Qraat Mhifa raaricaal nnhf