The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-31
Threatening Weather May Pre-
 vent Yachts Going Out
UPTON DEFENDS MIR FIFE
Says He Never Criticized Him and That 1t Is Not His Fault That Herreshoff Built a Much
 Faster Boat.

New York. August Showing to the continued threatening weather it was an- nounced at the New York Yacht club to- night that no decision as to whether there will be q race or not tomorrow will be reached until o'clock tomorrow lnorn- ing, when the regatta committee will meet and having decided on racing or calling off ahe raco for the day, will at once mo- tify Sir Thomas Lipton.
 That Sir Thomas regarded the prospects for a race us very remote was shown by the fact that this afternoon he instructed H. Hier Davis. his personal representative in New York, to notify all guests invited on board the Erin tomorrow, that the sea was so rough and the prospects for de- cent weather so bad that he thought it advisable for them not to come aboard, and that in consequence the tender used to convey guests from the city to the Erin woul1 not make her usual trip.
 Banquet for Sir Thomas.
 Two days after the final race Sir Thom- as will be the guest of honor at the ban quet to be given at the Waldorf Astoria Dy Ine OTuef or fllBTlinS.
 The local weather bureau received the following dispatch from Washington at 10 o'clock:
 "The wind over the yacht course will be brisk and high, mostly northwests cloudy and possibly rainy weather"
 Sir Thomas Lpton expressed himself
 '-' today on the allegations that
 fife and Captain Wringe were
 controversy over the cause of
 of the Shamrck.
 Il wa..- 1t understood, said Sir Thorn as, f'that 1 am disgusted with the con tinual repetition of the story that 1 have criticized MT. Fife and thst MT. lsife ar4 Captain Wrlnge are at loggerheads l want the Associated Press to say dis tinctly and forclbly that I have never criticised MT. Fife. l had MT. Fife build me a boat. He built me beautiful one. and 1 think a fast boat He put in his best endeavors and l have never ques- toned his loyalty and his ability.
 Not MT. Fife's Fault.
 Ut is not his fault that Mir Heres hoff built better one for these waters. It Is not his fault that the wizard of yacht building is in this country. and wizard he Is. So, too. the stories of MT. Flies having any controversy with Cap tain Wrlnge are without foundation. Captain Wringe has sailed Shamrock III in the same manner as MT. Fife built tito the best of his ability. 1 have no fault to find with him, and the statement that 1 have found fault with Captain Wringe or that MT. Fife or l have inter- ferred with him Is ridiculous"
 Sir Thomas said tonight that he thought there was q chance for a race in tho morning, adding that the Shamrock had weathered a stiff gale coming over snd that he would like to see her in a good sea tomorrow.
 At midnight the wind at Sandy Hook was from east-northeast and blowing twenty miles an hour. There was d heavy surf running but it was not quite so bad as at the same time Saturday. The mist had cleared and 1t was poss.- ble to see for distance of fourteen miles off shore. In these conditions and with a possible decrease of the winds velocity after sunrise there Is a fair pros pect that the yachts may be able to race today.