The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-07-23
DAY OF YACHT ACCIDENTS
THE RELIANCE AND COLUMBIA STRIKE BOTTOM.

Stif Puff of Wind Snaps or the Top
 mast of the Constitution-ReIian Wins the Raee-steet Gan of sham-
 rock HI. Gives Way and a New One is to be Put in Place To-day.
 Newport, R. l., July 22.-The last run of the New York Yacht club cruise | back from Vineyard Haven to-day was almost as disappointing as that of yes terday, at least so far as the ninety Hooters were concerned. Within mile of the start the Reliance and Columbia struck bottom on the eastern end of | the Middle Ground in Vineyard Sound and only the quick turn of the wheel. saved the Constitution. The Reliance. came off within two minutes while the Columbia held onto the shoal by strong tide, stuck there for over an | hour, being finally assisted off appar- ently uninjured, but of course out of l the race The other two boats kept on. | but on getting out beyond Gay Head, a stiff puff of, wind snapped off the 1 topmast of the Constitution. After the wreck had been cleared away she pro- eeeded and crossed the finish line near ly three-quarters of an hour after the Reliance. so that the latter boat had ! practically a walk-over LA.
 The cruise ends with two wins to the credit of both the Reliance and the Constitution.
 A diver examined the fin of the Re- liance this afternoon after her arrival in port, but could discover no damage, so that she will probably be in the race to-morrow. The Constitution procured 3 new topmast this afternoon and will also start, but there seems to be some l doubt about the Columbia, although she arrived in port half an hour after the I Constitution, apparently uninjured.
 The even. tomorrow is the annual race for the Astor cups, but as neither of the cup yachts have been measured, under the new rule they will not com- l pete for the trophy given by Colonel I John Jacob Astor, but will sail for special cup.
 I Only fourteen yachts came out to the starting line this morning off West l Chop, ready for the run of thirty-seyen miles back to Newport.
 I The wind was very light. from the \ east and as the few miles out into Vine | yard sound was to leeward, all the yachts crossed the line with spinnakers set to port. Fifteen minutes after the four small sloops and the seven schoon- CTS had been sent away, the ninety I Hooters were started All seemed loath to cross but finally Captain Barr sent | the new boat over. with the Constitu- tion right behind and the Columbia Hast. Spinnakers were set to the port ! and in the fierce luffing match which ensued, all three seemed to give little heed to the course. The Reliance being in the lead struck the shoal first, right on the tip end and the spinnaker came in on the run. The boom was gybed over, and in two minutes Captain Barr was able to work free. The Constitu- ton was Just far enough behind to be able to get in her spinnaker, gybe, and work out to deeper water. But the Co., Ilumbia was too far in shore, and struck about 30 seconds after the Reliance.
 Fortunately the wind was light and the shoal of hard sand with no rocks, but 1t was over an hour before the Cos llunbia was pulled off by the tug storm
 King, her tender going also aground in trying to render assistance. In the
 meantime the Reliance and Constitu- ton had kept on down the sound, the
 wind being so light that the latter was
 unable to take hardly any advantage of the grounding of the former
 i The Reliance soon resumed her old position in the lead but five miles from the start she ran into calm spot, and I the Constitution drew up until she was on even terms with the new boat. Then l the Reliance jumped away like race
 horse. and inside of five minutes was three lengths ahead. l The Reliance passed Gay Head at I 11:55 about quarter of mile ahead of the Constitution. Just as eight bells rang out on board the flagship stiff l puff came off the top of the head or Iround the corner. and the topmast of the Constitution snapped off just above the top of the mast. It carried down
 the big club topsail as we'll as the jib topsail and the Constitution was hauled
 in the wind for half an hour while the
 wreckage was cleared oway. 1 After despatching her tender straight
 to Bristol for another spart, the Con-
 stitution kept on after the Reliance,
 crossing the line 43 minutes and 23 sec
 onds later. X I In the meantime the Columbia had
 come along and followed the Constitu-
 ton into Newport.
 For the other boats, the Ingo1nar I probably wins in the large schooner class, the Katrina in the small schooner
 class, .the Vigilant in the large sloop
 class and the Aspirant in the small
 sloop class.
 The times of the ninety Hooters were l as follows: f
 Finish. Elapsed Time
 Reliance .,..... 209.06 331.42
 Constitution %. 2.46.26 414.4O Columbia ...... Did not finish.