Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-06
CONSTITUTION AHEAD
Columbia Second and Independence
Bringing Up the Rear.
ORDER IN TRIAL RACE OFF NEWPORT
Boats Lost Sight Of in q Fog
Later On
THE FICIAL START


BATEMAN'S POINT, r. l., July 6.-The
big yachts Columbia. defender Of the Ameri-
cas- cup In 1850; Constitution, cup defender
Of the current year, and Independence, de-
signed by B. B. Crowninshield and built by
Thomas w. Lawson as an aspirant for the
same honor, came out of Newport harbor
this forenoon for a trial Of their respective
merits in a thirty-mile race. There was a
delay In the start. The weather was thick.
making 1t improbable that the race can be
accurately observed from shore.
Elbridge T. Gerry's steam yacht Electra
was the judges boat for the day. The po-
sition Of the flagship at HIS am. indi-
Gated that the race would be started from
about f1ve miles east to south Of the Bren-
toms Reef Iightship. and sailed to wfndward
to Martha's Vineyard south and thence a
run home At IL 80 a. m. the wind was only
about eight knots an hour.
The yachts started at 1918 pm. the Con-
stitution getting over the line short dis-
lance ahead Of the Columbia, the 1ndepend-
ence well in the rear. The apparent start
ing times Of the boats were:
Constitution, 12:10:N.
Columbia. 12:10:3O.
Independence, 12:11 40.
All boats were across the line on the star
board tack. breaking out jtb topsais just
before crossing. The Constitution and Co
lumbia Immediately took a short board to
port while the Independence kept on the
starboard tack.
On this port tack Columbia pulled out
some on the Constitution. and when they
tackled to starboard again at 12:18 she
seemed to have good position q little to
weather of the new boat, although slightly
aStern. At this time the Independence was
a quarter mile astern. The wind was very
HOh nd no making slow
progress.
At 1924 the Constitution seemed to have
pulled from under the lee OF the Columbia
Constitution In the Lead.
At 12:35 the Constitution was well in the
lead, apparently footing faster and holding
higher than the Columbia The 1ndepend-
ence, however seemed to have gained and
was not far aSern Of the two boats though
still somewhat to leeward.
At 12:46 pm. the Independence was sail
ing very fast She had passed the Columbia
and caught up with the Constitution. al
though about eighth Of a mile to lee
ward. Her speed was something marvel
GUS.
At 1851 pm. the Independence passed
the Constitution to 1eeward and drew away
rapidly from the Herreshofr boats. although
not holding as high. The yachts were still
1858 pm. the Independence came
about on the port tack and passed astern
of both Constitution and Columbia, show
ing that while she was reaching faster dur
ing the last half hour the other boats were
looking considerably higher.
At :O6 pm. the Independence was still
holding OF shore. having split tacks with
the other two boats, and passed some dis
stitution led the Columbia. The Herreshoff
boats were but a few miles from Sakonnet
Point, while the Independence had gone
wind hunting out to sea. 1t was then get
ting very thick and the yachts promised
to be out Of sight from the point within the
next half hour.
The Independence Tacks.
The Independence tackled to starboard al
loo and stood after the other two boats.
At that time she was over two miles astefn
OF the Columbia and two miles and a half
astern Of the Constitution. She seemed.
however, some little distance to windward
Of both boats.
At 1:20 pm. the Constitution and Column
bia disappeared in the fog, standing well
in under Sakonnet. The Independence
could be just discerned standing after
them on the starboard tack. and looked as
II her attempt to reach faster than the
two Herreshon boats had been a failure,
owing to her inability to point as high.
Some twenty minutes after the start she
went rapidly by both boats to leeward, but
when she came about on the port tack 1t
was seen that she had fallen of badly so
that when she crossed the wake of the
other two boats she appeared to have lost
ground. judging Of the distance between
them at the start.
The official time Of the start was as fol-
lows:
Constitution. 12:10:02
Columbia 12:10:O5.
Independence, 12:12:15.
Independence handicapped Is seconds
At POS pm. the haze had lifted and all
three boats could be seen standing OF on
the port tack. the Columbia and Constitu-
ton being quite close. while the Indepen-
dence was well down to leeward.