The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-16
SHAMROCK AND RELIANCE WILL
RACE THURSDAY FOR THE CUP
Thousands of Visitors Are Now Arriving
ernaonal ConesYacbt Experts Say American
Win With Ease-Condtions of the Match.

with the same impatience that the sons of
Uncle Sam in other parts Of the world wait
for the tick of the telegraph instrument that
will tell them whether we have won or
lost
Thousands of strangers are coming to
New York to witness the cup races. The
hotels will be filed. Already the big
obstetrics are booked for the weeks of
cup racing. People from all parts of the
country will spend their vacations here.
These strangers are in no way more in
terested In the outcome than the people of
New York. Little is known of the merits
Of the Shamrock III. She may have some
| thing up her sleeve" so to speak. She
has logged her own courses and quite jeal-
ously guarded her own power down the
bay.
An old yachtsman. who has witnessed
every race since the American won, when
asked to give an opinion, simply said:
| IF the Shamrock wins she will be the
wonder of the century. I think that the
Reliance is the wonder of the century to-
day
| This voices the sentiment of the silent
men of the New York Yacht Club, who feel
| that Sir Thomas has come upon an errand
that is futile. There is the old slip. along
side the adage that many good thing has
| gone wrong, but the American people have
, confidence In our sailors and only the vic
| tory of Shamrock III will disillUsionize
! them.
FIGHT FOR POSITION.
| Out upon the sea the man who pays S.
for his ticket may have as good position
among the fleet as the smart yacht of the
| millionaire.
| Side by side on the swelling sea will be
craft of many sizes and descriptions.
The pretentious floating palace of the
man of millions will take the wash of the
excursion steamers, loaded down to the rail,
while the scared. begrimed tugs will fol-
| low in the wake and shoot as near the line
as they dare. Newport will be deserted. The
great navy of private yachts on the Allan
tic seaboard never misses the battle.
Days before the captains Of the steamers
and yachts receive plain instructions The
United States Revenue Marine Service VIII
keep the course clear. There is in mind al
/ ways the scandal caused after the last race
between yalkyrie III and Defender. Lord
Dunraven refused to finish the race
| He maintained that the course had not
been free. Then the investigation and the
turmoil in the yachting world that 1t in
cited. The revenue service obviates any
such cause for complaint.
| And finally. when the race has been run!
| The great crowds are hoarse from cheering
| The sun begins to settle in the west, and
| then comes another race of the day. 1t Is,
| one mad rush back to the city. The sky is
| blackened by the smoke from hundreds of
tunnels. Side by side. splashing and rolling.
the vessels tear through the water with a
| view to being the first to dock. The ancients
| straggle in the rear after the first squirt and
| many times it has been well into the night
| before the last in the procession has pulled
| into its dock to discb urge its tired and
thankful patrons.
II don't want that trip again." they say.
| But the next morning they have recov-
| cred from the fatigue and when the sue
ceeding event is on they are just as eager
for the contest as before.
There is something wildly extilarating, in
| it all. There is no prettier sight than these
two great racing giants Under full sail. with
the thought Of what the men on each YES
sci are doing to make 1t win.
The day begins early and it ends late at
night-later perhaps along the brilliantly
Illuminated Broadway, where the restau-
] rants and cafes are filled to overlooking by
a jolly, mirthful people. among whom the
visitors are in good proportion.
The first race viii be sailed on Thursday,
August 90 the second on the Saturday fol-
| lowing, the third Tuesday, the fourth Thurs
dav. and 80 ON until the cup, is decided
[ CHAMPIONS COMPARED.
Shamrock III Is spoken Of in this wise:
She moves easily through the water. gains
headway quickly and points high-in plain
L English. heads close to the direction from
,vhicb the wind q coming. That q one win