Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-04
Spectacular Finish.


Spectacular Finish.
A week ago today the first attempt to sail
the third race failed. and attempts have
been made every day this week. On two
occasions the Reliance led the Shamrock to
the finish line by about two miles. but fail
ed to reach 1t before the expiration of the
time limit of five and a half hours Todays
victory means that the cup Is destined to
remain In America until England Is able to
produce genius equal to Herreshoff In
yacht designing.
Rarely II ever has there been a more
spectacular finish than the Reliance's today
After racing for more than an hour at ter
rifle speed through a binding fog. the Re-
lance burst through the wall OF mist upon
the vision of the spectators on the feet as
sembled at the finish line. and heeling I'M
der great bellying balloon jib-topsail un-
til her lee rail was awash fed across the
finish line almost before the spectators
could determine for a certainty which 1t
was. Once more the Yankee boat had
added to the long string Of victories in con-
tests for the honored old silver trophy that
carries with it the blue ribbon of the sea.
Little, Interest Shown.
A fleet of less than thirty vessels went
down the familiar waters Of the interna-
tional course te-witness this fifth effort of
the Reliance to cover the course of thirty
miles within the time limit. 1t had become
race Of the American boat against time
craft When theysfeached the iightship
gentle southeast wind of five knots that
barely wrinkled the surface of the sea gave
but faint promise that this was to be the
final day. but shift Of the wind to the
south shortly after noon revived the de-
spafring hosae4 = the yachtsmen. for 1t
sbiew away the hhaze. which had been
Hanging over the tSpfse since the easterly
tee waited hntf the list moment to send
the boats axay at 1 O'clock. after which
hour 1t had been agreed that no race should
be started. Signals were displayed to indi-
cate windward and leeward course Of
| thirty miles south and back.
f The duel between the shippers began at
the sound OF the preparatory gun. and
continued. through series Of brilliant
proved his splendid seamanship by out
generating Capt. Wringe. until the boats
went across the line. During the fifteen
minutes before the starting gun Capt. Barr
held the British boat under his lee. and
for most of the time. blanketed. He never
relinquished the windward position which
the Reliance held when the preparatory
gun was fired.
The full details of the run to the stake
boat were printed in The Evening Star yes
terday the homeward run follows:
Homeward Bound.
under spinnakers and balloon jlb topsails
a split about three feet long appeared in
the foot Of the Reliance's spinnaker, but
as 1t drew well. Capt. Barr continued to
carry 1t. For three-quarters of an hour
the only variation was slow gain by the
leading boat. The sky was clear and the
slanting rays of the yellow western sun
were painting a beautiful marine picture
with the two yachts as center figures
when. at 4:2O. with almost half the course
yet to be sailed a thick bank of fog came
rolling IN before a southeast wind and ell
veloped the Shamrock III in a blind gray
mist that shut her out Of the vision of the
fleet as though she had been wiped from
the surface of the sea.
The Reliance ran along for five minutes
longer with the sun glinting upon her sails
until the fog bank reached and rolled over
her, and she. too disappeared from sight
AS 1t caught her she felt also heavier
wind from the southeast, smothered her
spinnaker. and. leaning to the wind, fled at
a swift pace like dim ghost through the
gray mist. One by one the vessels Of the
fleet disappeared from view until the only
evidence Of their presence was the hoarse
believing of their warning whistles as they
scurried off in search Of the old red light
ship.
The two racers sailed In that dangerous
fashion at top speed for an hour. Mean
time the Navigator. carrying the regatta
committee. hunted for the lightship to es-
tablish the finish line. 1t was 500 before
she found 1t, and the feet began to gather
about her. All was blank gray wall of
fog. Ten minutes they waited. then the
Reliance, heeling before the wind her sails
bellying hard and her lee rails dragging
the spindrift burst through the veil of fog
and upon the startled vision of the ex-
pectant watchers on the little fleet.
Victorious Reliance
Hardly had they 5Eecognized the familiar
features of the American craft when, with
her great balloon Jib topsail futtering into
the arms Of the ninble members of her
crew out on her hRYsprit she fled across
the line down through the lane of yachts
to victory. .Dse
The whistles of ssary craft in the fleet
opened wide in recognition of her achieve
ment. The delighted yachtsmen danced
about the deck of J. P. Morgan's big black
steam Yacht Hess1rsair and hilariously
CONGRATULATED one another. The Reliance
tug searched the fleet for the racer and
then lowed her through 1t with yachting en-
signs flying from her mast and spreaders,
while similar flags appeared at various
points on the spars and rigging of the Cor
sair and the WHISTLES of the fleet again
saluted the defeHdefs
Meantime the regatta committees tug
whistied shrilly its guiding signals to the
missing Shamrock The Reliance had cross
ed the line at 5:3O:O2 and 1t was after q
O'Clock when the fog lifted a bit and dis
closed the challenger hove to north of the
nne. captain Wrlnge mad missed 1t In the
fog and passed by the east Of 1t. The
Shamrock did not attempt to cross the line
but after q feeble salute from the feet was
taken In tow to the Hook The feet started
for homo and the series Of races In defense
OF Americas cup for 1908 were ended, and
American genius. brains and seamanship
were once more triumphant
Sir Thomas In Defeat.
When the Erin had discharged her pas
sengers tonight and the re-echo Of their
cheers had died away Sir Thomas Upton
said .a5..sss.s.s
Two weeks ago I was hopeful: last week
knew Was doomed to defeat and was