New-York tribune., 1901-10-14
THE "HOODOO'S" LAMENT.
HE NEVER SAW A YACHT RACE-AS LONG
AS HE WENT THE BOATS NEVER
FINISHED

tall narrow man with a melancholy cast of
countenance sat in Park Row cafe yesterday
afternoon and sighed
"In me behold the only and original yacht race
'hoodoo,'" he remarked sadly. he toyed with a
glass Of something or other.
''How's that?" asked a sympathetic listener.
when there Is another contest for the Americas
Cup" continued the melancholy man. II shall ad-
vertise the in the case. and II there is not
a national subscription TO keep me away from the
races. why. then. I shall think American inteli-
gence is the decrease"
And he ordered another glass of 1.-The same and
continued solemnly:
Two years ago. my friend. travelled down
that blooming bay solitary and consecutive
times to yacht race. but there nothing
doing. The first few times there were quite
bunch of aboard. but toward the last they
began TO get tired. and the last two trips there
was nobody aboard but and the crew. be-
came very intimate with the captain OF the
steamer. Sometimes IT was bright and clear but
perfectly calm. Sometimes the yachts started
and sometimes they didn't. and sometimes there
was a fog. But whether they started didn't
II was all the same. There nothing doing
They never finished. The only time they had a
chance the Shamrock carried her tOpmast away.
III had not been called to Chicago on business
there never would have been a yacht race for the
Americas Cup. on the morning of the eighth at
tempt leaving my house on my way to the
boat when a telegram reached me calling me to
the West on a matter of business that involved
thousands of dollars.
Honest. 1 hated like the deuce to go. had
got attached to that tub of old steamboat and
1 knew the captain would miss me; but consoled
myself with the thought that there was no wind
and that there would be race, so wouldn I
miss much. So help me. Mike! had hardly got
across the ferry to Jersey City when it began to
blow up good and smart and at Philadelphia |
got a paper that said the race was on and would
be finished. That blasted business kept me IN
Chicago for fortnight. and when l got PACK sne
was over" The speaker paused and Felapsed
into rumination. . . ~,
tener The Hoodoo'' consented by a NOD, and re-
wen YOU bet l made up my mind TO see the
/ went down board the same old steamer The
same old captain stood on the oridSe and observed
:" 'HulIor SAYS he It's all off. No race to-day
'He right all right No wind The next
attempt was on SATURDAY; but caught such a cold
the day before that my doctor said he Wouldn't be
responsible If left the house that day. So stayed
home and prayed for a dead calm. Wen. you know
they had corking breeze all day and the Column
Il was on hand on the foil wing Tuesday when
tho next was scheduled The captain of the
steamer wasn't a bit glad to me. 1t blew nine
teen knots at O'Clock in the morning. they said.
but chased IL away all right. We came back that
night, as usual, with nothing doing. When went to
buy my ticket at the pier on Thursday morning they
wouldn't sell The captain had denounced
me and il was evident the company regarded me
blight upon business. They would have liked
Il first rate only with so many postponements
people began stop going at all. 1t late
to sail on another boat and | had nae ] to stay home
member how II blew a gale all day.
Il tried my darndest To get TO the next race but
as was getting OFF an elevated stairway az Cort,
my ankle and had 10 be taken home In a cab. They
had a bully that day"
The sympathetic man was overcome with pity.
but the stricken sufferer waved him of.
Never mind" said he. IN make EN- pay for II
when the next races come of. They've got to nay
for It. or they won't come of at all" And he arose
slowly and limped painfully out to the street.