The Washington times., 1903-08-26
Narozv Margin of Relfance'S S
Victory Leads Shamrock S
OZUner to Beiiebe He Will
Win 1omowoqV's S Race.
Guests aboard the Erin,
HogUeUer, Do Not Share
Sir Thomas Confidence IN
the Abitf yof HIS Yacht.

Will win the race tomorrow. After he
was told that the Shamrock had been
defeated by little more than a minute,
he said:
we ought 10 have won the race Had
the Shamrock got a better start. we
would have won. All. but it was close
one"
How was the boat sailed?" was
asked.
Excellent, excellent" was the reply
After the start Captain Wringe han
died the yacht faultlessly In the sec
ond and third legs the Shamrock gained
continually, but not enough Neverthe-
less, / am satisfied that the best boat
won"
A Better Boat.
How does Shamrock III compare
with the Shamrock of 1902" asked a
Canadian yachtsman. who was continu-
ally wiping of his glasses.
Better, and there's no doubt about
it was the reply. The present Sham
rock is doing all that can be done 10
win the cup. She performed better yes
terday than last Saturday, and If she
we ought to win that race and the
two others necessary to lift the cup"
Then you have not despaired?" asked
the Canadian. wiping of his glasses.
Not bit of it, and the owner of The
challenger looked around the group that
had gathered about him to see if anyone
doubted his sincerity. and added with a
wink:
There is one good thing about these
races. anyhow. and that is getting licked
by such man as Captain Barr. There
is a real pleasure to be licked by your
own stuff. for Bars a Scotchman. you
know"
Lord Shaftesbury said: I'VE are licked.
The Reliance is jolly we'll the best
boat"
But don't you think" asked Lord
Trimblestotwn. that the breeze died out
just at the very end, so that the sham
rock did not have wind to finish with?'
Tells Funny Story.
But the owner Of the defeated boat
only shook his head. and would have
changed the subject had not some one
asked him if he would keep on chal-
lenging until he brought over the Sham
rock XXX.
Never" he replied with emphasis.
"IlI have the Herreshoffs build a boat
before then"
No one replied 10 this sally, and Sir
Thomas turned the theme By telling a
story about blind man who lost his
place in reading his Bible because some
one had filled page with sand.
The guests Of the Erin left the Battery
yesterday on the William Fletcher, un-
der a forbidding sky. There were such
expressions of opinion as:
There's not enough wind TO move
SMOKE"
mo race today, that's plain"
Wen get soaked sure"
The William Fletcher had hardly start
ed on its way when there was a squawk-
ing OF whistles behind and tug steamed
up alongside with three belated guests
Before any one could find out who they
were the sparks from the tugs smoke
stack had set fire 10 the thin dresses
OF several women. The Countess Of
Shaftesbury just escaped the cinders by
running under the cover of the main
deck. The sparks were found 10 have
left only little black holes. The tug
had disappeared
Halfway down the bay, the Kaiser
Wilhelm II. bound for Europe. passed the
party There was a crowd along the
rail Of the big liner. and among the rest
could be distinguished Colonel Bird. the
private secretary OF Governor Odell
Just before the William Fletcher had
reached the Hook one OF the young Wo-
men. who wore a red jacket and car
ried a red bag marked m. A." wanted
10 know where Mr.. Takeshita was. Mr.
Takeshita is the japanese naval attache
at Washington. When she was told that
Dir. Takeshita was so sick last Saturday
that be decided never to try another
race, the young woman was compelled TO
ga- her smelling salts ont OF the red
bag.
Canary's Prophecy.
Aboard the Erin Sir Thomas first en-
tertained his guests with his performing
canary, who rings a bell twice for
drinks and then pulls up a bucket of
water. The canary also picks out envel-
opes in which are folded fortunes The
fortune which the bird picked out for
Sir Thomas, but which he threw away
without reading it. was:
You viii marry and American girl. =
After the start Of the race Sir Thomas
stuck 10 the Erip's bridge. However
keenly he may have felt his defeat. he
did not show IT.. and IL was with a smile
that he received a souvenir. in a black
seal case, which was presented TO him
by a committee representing the guests
he entertained aboard the Erin on Aug
ust Z. John W Vrooman made The pre-
sentation speech and read poem, which
was concocted under the title of "The
Upton Cocktail" The guests on board
the Erin included all those who have
enjoyed Sir Thomas hospitality on pre-
vIous race days
When the William Fletcher was re-
turning after the race 70 the Battery,
with the Erin's guests. a heavy sauall