The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-08

New York. September 3.-The Re
lance, the American cup defender, to-
day won the third and final race and
the series for that famous sea trophy,
the Americas Cup. In a dense fog,
which prevented vision beyond 200
yards. she finished the race at 5:30:O2,
amid the acclamatiOns of the assembled
fleet. Shamrock III. after running for
more thar an hour in the fog, missed
n finish line, passed by it and then
returned to it from the opposite direc-
ton. AS the Reliance was then being
flowed through the fleet, yacht ensigns
huttering from her truck and s~preaders
in celebration of her victory, the Sham
rock III. did not cross the finish line.
AS often said of the historic race when
the America won the cup, there was no
second.
This successful result was achieved
only after four futile attempts to sail
off the final race after the outcome
had been admitted by even Sir Thomas
dLlplOn 10 De a. IOTeSOIe COHclucIOu-
Today's was the eighth attempt to
a a race. After one 11uke, the ReIi-
ance won the two following races, ons
by seven minutes n three seconds
and the other bV one minute and nine
teen seconds a week ago today the
first attempt to sail the third race fail
ed, n attempts have been made every
day this week. On two occasions the
Reliance led the Shamrock to the fin
ism line by about two miles, but failed
TO reach it before the expiration Of the
time limit of five and a half hours. To-
days victory means that the cup is
destined to remain in America until
England is able to produce a genius
equal to HerresOff in yacht designing.
Rarely if ever has this been q more
spectacular finish than the Reliance's
today. After racing for more than an
hour at terrific speed through n blind
ing fog, the Reliance burst thrOugl
the wall of mist upon the vision of the
spectators on the fleet assembled at the
finish line and heeling under a great
bellying balloon jib topsail until her
lee rail was awash, fled across the fin
iSh line, almost before the spectators
could determine for q certainty that it
was she.
The duel between the shippers began
at the sound of the preparatory gun
and continued through a series of bril-
liant m~aneuvres in which Captain Barr
again proved his splendid s~eamanshiD
by Outgeneralling Captain Wringe I'M
til the boat went across the line. He
never ~relinquished the windward posi-
ton which the Reliance held when the
preparatory gun was fired. Alternately
luffing and keeping away, Captain Barr
prevented the Shamrock from getting
away from him and across the line, but
two minutes after the starting gun and
at the sound of the gun Indicating the
expiration of the handicap, Captain
Wringe luffed the Shamrock across the
stern of the Reliance and the two boats
went across the line together.
The official starting time was.
Reliance 1:01:56.
Shamrock 1:0o:00.
The Shamrock III actually crossed the
line at 1:O2: 03 and suffered a handicap
of three seconds.
They wen off at a swift pace in G
freshening breeze. Captain Wringe at
tempted TO Outsail the defender by Civ
ing his boat a good full and letting her
romp away at a fast clip, while Cap
tain Barr pinched the Reliance close to
the wind and c~leverly nursed her to-
lIe u LII IlCI n lie SHdIilIOCh
Ill at first footed faster, but the Re-
liance more than made it good by out
pointing her.
For more than an hour they sailed on
that tack, down past the shore of Sandy
Hook and the highlands of Navesink TO
Seabright and during all that time the
Reliance steadily worked up to wind
ward of the beaten challenger. out
pointing and Outfooting her at the
same time and passing to ~windvard of
her.
The Reliance steadily gained and
when at $40 both boats headed off TO
the mark six miles away, the Reliance
was a good mile ahead and gaining.
Keeling to a freshening Wind and jump
ing into Il rising sea. which at times
threw their long bows high out of wa
ter. 10 come down with a splash that
sent miniature clouds of foam flying
from under their powerful shoulders. the
boats were making a pretty spectacle
of it, The boats were gaining in speed
with every mile and the Shamrock III.
was a long mile astern, when the Reli-
c whirled about the mark and tower
ing stretches of canvas broke and
bellied out from her spinnaker pole and
over her lean bow. The homeward
stretch had begun.
The boats were timed at the turn as
follows:
Reliance 3:4O:45.
Shamrock III. S:51:45
The Reliance had gained eleven min
utes and three seconds in the thresh TO
windward. and. barring accidents. the
victory was hers.
As the boats started the run home
ward under spinnakers and balloon jib
topsails, a split about three feet long