The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-27

IL
Fife were rife last night.
Wringe In Absolute Command.
In an effort to learn the truth Sir
Thomas was approached on the subject.
The two men," he said, occupy entirely
distinctive positions. If they have been
criticising each other I do not know 1t.
Mr.. Fife advises about the sails, the trim
Of the boat and other details Of that char
acter Captain Wringe is in absolute COM
mand and I, as owner, have not criticised
him.
It was said further on the Erin that Sir
Thomas Is deluged with anonymous letters
and kilograms informing him that mems
bers of the crew are traitors to the inter-
ests of the boat. Only a day ago a tele-
gram signed by the captain Of a coastwisel
steamer was received by Sir Thomas say
ing that the boatswain of Shamrock III.
was the cause Of that boat losing that
race and that the signer knew him as q
traitor.
Sir Thomas said:
81 throw such letters and teIegrams
overheard. I am not changing my crew..
Shamrock Starts Out.
At o'clock to-day the prospects for Al
race were brighter. The wind had fresh
ened to five knots at Sandy Hook and the
sky was beginning to clear. The tug
Cruiser passed a line to the Shamrock and
at 9:05 the challenger started out, main
sail and club tOpSall set. j
After his guests had boarded the Erin
Sir Thomas Upton left the hook for the
starting line. The committee boat Navi-
gator and the stake boat John Scul1y
passed out by the hook with the first Of the
excursion fleet in their wake.
If the wind holds from the present
quarter, east by south, the course will lay
out to sea along the Long Beach shore. 81
An hour before the time set for the start
there seemed to be little prospect of finish
ing race; in fact, the conditions were
the most discouraging of all the series.
The excursion fleet began to appear at
this time and the revenue cutters steamed
in and out preparatory to clearing the
course.
Despite the discouraging conditions,
when the committee arrived at the start
ing line, it was decided to make an at
tempt at q race, and the course signalled
was southeast for a windward and lee
ward race. The wind at this time was
scarcely. more than three or four miles an
hour. As the course signals were broken
.ot.t the yachts dropped their tows, set
jibs and fore staysails and began tosj Jockey
about the starting line. Twenty minutes
before the time set for the start the wind
seemed to increase.
The Preparatory Gun.
In spite of the light air and the pros
y
within the time limit, the regatta COM
mittee fired the preparatory gun at 10:45.
At that time both yachts were close to-
gether on the leeward side Of the line,
sailing about with jib topsails set in or
der to maneuver more quickly. In the
preliminary work Reliance seemed to
move with more life than the Shamrock,
altho neither boat Unanswered very fast.
Six minutes before the time set for the
start, the wind had increased to about
five miles an hour and the fight for posi-
ton became brisk.
Shamrock BIanketed.
The fight for position was very keen
and was entirely in favor Of the American
boat. Four minutes before the starting
gun was fired, Shamrock being at fur
Their distance to the south Of the COM
rntttee boat, headed back to the line. Re-
lance held away for about a, minute and
then started after her. The great sail
spread Of Reliance enabled Captain Barr
to completely blanket Shamrock and from
this position Captain Wringe was unable
to extricate his boat. Captain wringe,
however, was able to prevent Reliance
getting down into position on the leeward
side Of the 1ine and both boats, when the
starting gun was fired, were on the wind
ward side, heading over toward the light
ship. Reliance then pulled by Shamrock
edllO LILO ASdu60 lOE
the line on the port tack.
Shamrock was more than a minute
astern Of the American boat and had q,
handicap of two minutes and five seconds.
It was the worst start an English boat has
made in q cup contest for many years. At
11:15 both yachts were headed little
north Of east, sailing slowly on the star
board tack Reliance was well in the
lead. The wind at the time was blowing
about five knots, and at 11:20 Shamrock
was heading four or five points off the
course sailed by Reliance. In fact the
Reliance. twenty minutes after the start,
had an apparent lead Of nearly half q
mile.
The start Of the third yacht race Of the
| series was close but most exciting. The
| shippers aboard both yachts toyed with
| the handicap time to such an extent that
both went across the starting line after
! the two-minute handicap had expired,
and the official time of the start was re-
corded as follows:
Reliance ....................... 11:02
shamrock e. -. -. IL :oz
AS matter Of fact, Captain Barr, the
American skipper, won another victory
and sent his boat across the line SO Sec
onds ahead-of Shamrock Ill, according
| to unofficial watches.
| Captain Wringe inaugurated the tao.
tics which resulted in the failure of the
boats to cross within the time limit AS
|
lishman begen to play with the handicap
time. He held off repeatedly and refused
to approach the line where Captain Barr
was trying to coax him. The latter finally
decided to take up the gauntlet and he,
too used dilatory tactics.
Reliance at last. and after putting
/ the Britisher In an awkward position,
darted across the line a full minute (un-
OFFICIALLY after the handicap gun, but well
ahead Of her opponent
ReIIance's Big Advantage.
The conditions Of the start gave Re@
lance a very decided advantage for tho
both yachts are officially timed as cross
ing at HOP Shamrock actually crossed
one minute and seven seconds behind her
competitor. Thus Reliance in actual sails
ing only has to overcome In time allow.
ance so seconds.
Both yachts held to the eastward on the
starboard tack until LIPS. Reliance cons
tinued to pull away a bit and when both
tackled to port she had a lead OF fully,
three Fights of q mile. Shamrock had
moved so slowly that she was scarcely al
mile from the hghtship when she came