The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-26
HARD COURSE TO KEEP CLEAR.
Even Sir Thomss's Tug Cruizer Jumped
the Fence Yesterday.

After the race yesterday Capt. Walker
Of the Gresham, flagship Of tho revenue
cutter squPdrpn in charge Of policing the
course. said that he had no complaint t6
make against the excursion feet. Capt.
Walker said this after he had explained
that 1t was a difficult matter to keep the
excursion boats In alignment and out Of the
way Of the racing yachts when the race Ia
over triangular course.
If some of the yachts and excursion boats
misbehaved it was not due to any nepli-
gence on the part of Capt. Walker and his
officers. From the time the race began
the whistle Of the Gresham was kept going
almost all the time as q warning 70 some
captain that he was trespassing.
The most stirring incident TO the guests
on the Gresham was when Sir Thomas
Lipton's tug Cruiser. which conveyed the
Shamrock across the ocean, crept inside
the revenue cutter squadron behind COM
mittee boat and the yacht Corsair.
The officers on the bridge OF the Gresham
watched the tug for some time and then
signal went up calling for the Scout, one Of
the small yachts doing despatch work for
the Gresham, to come alongside. The
Scout, her nose cutting the water like the
edge OF sharp knife, swished in under tho
bow Of the Gresham and an officer, with q
megaphone to his mouth. gave this order:
Go over to Sir Thomas Lipton's tug
Cruiser, on your starboard. and tell her
that she must keep outside the patrol feet :
Aye, aye, sir, was the response from
the Scout, and the swift little boat made
for the Cruiser. As soon as her captain
was told that she must keep outside of the
lines he obeyed. When Capt Walker was
asked about the incident later said:
1t was simply misunderstanding
The Cruiser probably thought that she
had right inside of the patrol feet because
the Erin, Sir Thomass yacht; the Corsair,
Mr.. Morgan's yacht, with the challenge
committees of the Royal Ulster and NewYork
Yacht clubs aboard, and the committee
boats were allowed inside OF the lines
She didn't interfere with the Reliance or
it was not an intentional violation Of the
police rules The message sent to the
Cruiser carried our compliments with the
announcement that she was inside OF the
patrol fleet"
When the Gresham at the head Of the
seven cutters got to the starting line, after
the trip down the Bay from st. George
Staten Island, Reliance and Shamrock were
manWuvring about the starting line. Sham
rock cut across the bow Of the Gresham
so close that timid persons aboard thought
there would be collision. Capt. Walker
knew better. however.
w., There was never any danger he said.
She can turn like pivot. The two yachts
had plenty OF room az the start"
When the racers crossed the line several
yachts and excursion boats tried to poke
their noses ahead OF the Gresham. A
warning foot from the Gresham and they
would stop, only to forge to the front again.
Finally SaRt. Walker signalled for the
were acting as despatch boats.
Go over and tell those fellows" said
Capt. Walker, that they must not paas his
boat. Tell them we mean that and there
is to be no fooling about it."
All the captains Of the excursion fleet
were quick to obey an order from the
report to make against any Of them.
After Reliance and Shamrock had turned
the second at akeboat there was some con-
fusion among the excursion feet. II
looked for n moment as If the reach home
would be stormy one for the racing yachts
seemed to he spread all over the course.
What looked like an inextricable tangle
was Strengthened out beautifully by Capt.
Walker. After most of the excursion
feet had been brought into line there were
several boats which were so slow that they
couldn't catch up with the others.
Capt. Walker detached the Gresham
from the squadron and signalcd to Capt.
Hall of the Tuscarora TO take command.
The Tuscarora and the other cutters kept
the bonts that were in line TO the leeward
of the racers and the Gresham drove the
others to the windward. In that way the
course was kept perfectly clear and there
was no Interference with either Of tho
yachts.