Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-08-26
Vessel Of Small Value Donated by
Royal Yacht Club First Won
by an American Boat.
AMERICANS EVER VICTORIOUS
Have Had Little Difficulty In Keep
ing the Cup on This Side Of
the Ocean.

- saoAeI ahb
the best efforts Of the most noted de-
signers Of sailing vessels, not to speak
OF the care and attention of the ex-
perts in matters marine, OF the two
leading nations Of the worlds history.
1t is the sentiment involved, the SUI
premacy OF the world in seamanship
In all its branches, that is involved in
that bit Of silverware. Nearly 81 years
ago 1t was offered by the Royal Yacht
squadron Of England as a trophy 20
be sailed for in the regatta of Cowes.
A noble feet of English yachts pro-
posed to contest for its possession.
1t was then dubbed the Queens cup,
and any loyal Briton would have felt
himself NOR than repaid for his out
lay had he been able to add this to
his collection Of trophies. It so hap
pened that about this time there was
a Y~ankee-built schooner in English
waters, trying for a race for money,
marbles or chalk" as the sporty
phrase runs. Numerous challenges
flung broadcast by Commodore Stew.
ems, its chief owner, had failed to get
any response, and finally he notified
the committee of his intention to en-
ter the Royal Yacht squadron's race,
although. he added, III the winds be
light 1t may not start" On the morn.
ing of August 20. 1851, fourteen of the
best yachts of England and the one
little Yankee boat started on the "a
mile course around the Isle of Wight.
Even the London Times condemns
the course as unfair, for the currents
are such as to make a race over it
rather a matter of local knowledge
than a test of seamanship. That ev-
ening Queen Victoria, sitting under
al awning OF the Royal yacht, Albert
and Victoria, called: SAY, Mr.. Sail.
ing Master, is there a yacht In sight?"
May 1t please your majesty, yes" he
responded. "Which!" The Ameri.
ca" "Wha yacht Is seconds" ALIAS,
there Is no second, your majesty"
Which statement was literally and
exactly true. The Yankee schooner
had outsailed its British rivals so
completely that there was no second.
And that is how the cup came to
America.
For six years the four gentlemen
who owned America kept the cup as
a trophy, although they had sold the
yacht. 1t finally fell into the hands
of Commodore Schuyler, one of the
four, and he set it up as a perpetual
challenge cup. For eighteen years no
attempt was made by the English to
cover the trophy, but since 1870
eleven races have been sailed be
tween yachts representing the two
sides to the question, and only twice
has a challenger won q heat; once
was when Valkyrie III. fouled Defend.
er at the start and carried away part
of her rigging, and then finished less
than a minute to the good. This heat
was awarded Defender on q foul, and
so enraged Lorn Dunraven, the chal'
lenger, that he refused to a C any
further. He afterward made such q
fuss that he lost support on both
sides of the water. The story Of cup
racing Is too long to be even sum
married. here. II has developed into
a game in which the people Of both
countries are interested, but n In
which only millionaires can take part
1t is estimated to cost more than
million dollars to build, equip and
maintain a cup challenger or defend
err during the racing period. Sill
Thomas Upton. II has been said, will
have expended nearly $1,000, 900 In
his attempts to lift" the cup by the
end of the series of races which will
soon begin.
Sir Thomas Upton has challenged
for the cup three times, his boat be
ing each time called Shamrock. Twice
Columbia has defended America!
cup against a Shamrock, but this yea
Reliance was chosen after q series o.
competitive trial aces in which Co
lumbia took part, and nearly won
Reliance has been brought to a condi
ton quite satisfactory to those WHIT
have her in charge, and Is confidentl,
expected to make the retention OF tn,
cup In America a certainty. On thu
other hand, Sir Thomas Upton an.
his friends have the greatest faith II
Shamrock ILL.,, and unprejudicet
judges admit that with his presen
boat Sir Thomas has the best chance
he ever has had to take home will
him the trophy SO long envied by tn
British yachtsmen. This is not Il
be taken as an admission that he will
win, though, for these same judges In
sist in the general superiority Of tn,
defender, while American seamanshiI
has in former races more than offse
any advantage the British may hav
had In the construction OF the boat.
The first race for the cup after
had been devoted to is present cond
ton as a perpetual challenge cup, wa
in 1870, when James w. Ashbury, a.
En~glishman OF wealth, challenged o.
behalf of the Cambria, and sale
against a feet of fifteen, among whic
was the America, the race was O
August 8, 1870, and Cambria fnishe
eighth. America was seventh. Tn
winner was Magic. In 1871 Mr.. Asst
bury again challenged on behalf Q
Livonia, and sailed that boat thre
heats against Columbia, winning on'
and two heats against Sapho, losin
both. In 1876 the challenge cam
from Canada, and Countess of Dune
in was defeated by Madeline. In 18s
Canada again challenged on behalf {
Atlanta, and Mischief defended, vii
ming easily. In 1885 Genesta cha
lenged and Puritan defended; In 1856
Galatea was beaten by Mayfiower; |
1887 Thistle came across and wa
shown a clean pair OF heels by Volu'
teer; in 1893 Lord Dunraven can
with his v~alkyrie II. and was beate
by vigilant: in 1895 he came acros
again with valkyrie I'LL, and Defen'
er proved worthy OF the name. a
though the series was never finishes
owing to Lord Dunraven's withdraw
after the second heat had been awarv
ed Defender on a palpable and appa
emily inexcusable foul; In 1893 5
ax w,tth OH nm nl