The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-28
HOW TIE srEApFAsT WON.

Challenges had been exchanged be-
| tween the KRickerbocker Yacht club and
| the Ulster Squadron. and the day for the
race had been set. BY the lake. at times
smooth as glass. at others stirred by
breeze which rippled its surface, stood the
! thickly clad partisans of the Anenone
! III. Poised on the edge OF that body OF
water which has made Central Park
| famed among all yachtsmen was the
Steadfast. on which the Knickerbockers
had pinned faith and sails Ebert Gale,
chief owner of tn. noble craft, stood on
the shore near the starting point. swing
| ing his cap and calling every few min
utes that the yacht was as steady as
church.
And as slow" added Robert Leech. the
commodore OF the listers
The day was bright and sunny and the
news of the race had drawn TO the lake
great throng. As everything was made
ready for the contest Of jibs and SPIN
makers and faring sails the excitement
grew to fever heat. The crews OF the
yachts were hastily placed on board.
Jump Jack. veteran of hundred squalls,
stocd st the wheel OF the Steadfast
Hank Yarn. his suit Of blue the worse for
wear. was dashed TO the tiller of the
Anemone III. The slanting rays OF the
sun caused a smile to appear on the
faded and worn face of Hank Yarn as ne
threw travelled sleeve careiessly over the
steering gear and leered up at the IN
terestcd spectators.
Old men who had been walking in the
park went down TO the edge OF the lake
by scores. The General was there, lean
ing on his stout cane. The Colonel, who
said that he had sailed catboats in the
Great South Bay when he was young,
forgot his govt and FASTENED with all
speed to see the start of the race. which
was once and for all to decide whether
Knickerbockers or listers were to held
sway in the yachting world behind the
great gray wall.
It's fine breeze said the General;
"a spanking breeze. Craving your par
don" he added softly. FOR recalling
aught that might offend the very young.
He leaned on his cane. and when the
Anemone III. was permitted to enter the
waves he reached forth with his stan aud
turned the craft in such manner that
she headed straight across the shimmering
expanse She stood away on the star
board tack, with every sail full and
drawing.
THAT is a game" said the Colonel.
'at which two can play"
He leaned forward and with walk
ing stick brought the Steadfast around,
so that she, too, got the full benefit OF
the breeze. for she had been hanging in
the wind waiting for her skipper TO give
her a chance.
No time was lost. The listers and the
Knickerbockers made the air ring with
their shouts The General. who had
fought in three wars. leaped up and down
and waved his cane, and once took off
his broad brimmed hat and tossed ii high
in the air.
Go it, cried he, land may the best
yacht win. meaning that the Anemone
will show as clean a pair of heels as ever
churned the blue
Owing to the overhanging wall and TO
the fact that the great gilded dome be-
yond cut off the wind, the race was sailed
in puffs and sudden squalls. With all
sail set the rival yachts crossed the line
to the loud roar of the brass cannon on
the shore fired by the Commodore of the
Knicaerbockers. The white fronted build
ings far beyond echoed with the report,
more spectators were attracted to the
spot and the presence of so many persons
interfered at times with the jockeying of
the two military advisers. The steering
gear of the craft which had been bound
fast made the race all the harder, ana
the General and the Colonel were obliged
to lean far out at times in order to keep
the vessels on their courses. Once gust
of wind caused the masts and cordage
of the craft to crack and the topsail OF
the Steadfast was nearly carried away.
The course was from the angle In the
wooden platform to the Whistling Buoy
standing on the shore of the lake. Both
vessels had giided away from the guild
ance OF the walking sticks of the General
and the Colonel and upon luck and the
favoring breezes depended the finish of
the contest.
The friends of Robert Leech, commodore
of the listers. and of Ebert Gale, of the
Knickerbockers made the park ring with
their yelIs Hank Yarn and Jump JACK,
on board the rival craft, seemed TO have
lost all interest. for grinning and lazy
they bent over wheel and tiller and gazed
into each others faces, smiling in their
own meaningless way.
1t seemed for one brief moment as
though the Anemone III. would win, for
she reeled and spun, and heeling well
nver on her port side left the Steadfast
six lengths behind. The breeze was too
strong for her. however. and the straining
of her top hamper sounded like the wall
of an overloaded market basket
II told you the topsan was too heaVy'
cried the General.
He had hardly spoken before the Ane-
none III. keeled completely over on her
mort side and dipped her sails in the rip
ping waves.
The Steadfast easily swept past her
capsized rival.
Look at that" cried the Colonel. THE
Steadfast is skimming it with a CHIP on
her hat She's as steady as church.
The Steadfast. strong and fit. was borne
home in triumph and today she is hailed
as the oueev of all the craft which skim
the waters OF the great yachting lake OF
Central Park-John W. Harrington