Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-17
Dense Fog Prevents Start
Of the Ocean Race.
The Eleven Yachts viii Be
Ready at Noon Today.
Weather Conditions Bad--FIuer De lys in
Collision, But Will Start.

New York, May TO- Eight Of the
eleven yachts which had been entered
for the 5000 mile race across the Allan.
tic ocean for the $4,000 cup offered by
the German Emperor. lay at ancho.
within the shelter of Sandy Hook, to-
night, the start of the race having been
postponed. until tomorrow noon. be-
cause of the fog. A dense fog hung all
day over the Hook and at nightfall
there was no sign Of better weather,
tomorrow.
The smallest yacht in the fleet, the
little American slOop Fluer De Lys
owned by DR.. Lewis \. Stimson of the
New York Yacht Club. was run down
ty scow in tow while the yacht was
at anchor i'm the lower bay before day
light today, ard portion Of her hui.
warks was ripped away. She was
promptly lowed into Eric basin, where.
the damage was repaired DR.. Stimson
announced that he would be ready to
starr in the race, tomorrow.
Though the starting committee had
announced that the boats would he sent
away unless the fog was impenetrabl"
the conditions We're clearly dangerous
for part of the time the crews were
hardly able 20 see 200 yards in any di-
rertiOn. There was Il splendid sailing
breeze outside the Hook, but it was
dead ahead. and to have attempted to
send the yachts away iii il would prob
ably have resulted in collision as soon
a. they began TO beat To windward.
The start If the race had been set
for 2.l5 p. NJ, but at that hour only
nj rt..hn v.;fh IN,
the Hook ana many craft were SLOWLY
gathered to get n look ut them. They
included tho british ship Valhala and
the American schooners Utowana. At
lantic. Thistle, IIillegarle and Endy-
miOn. Those absent We're Lord BraSSey'.
Fritish tOpsail schooner Sunbeam. tn.
American bark Apache. the German
schooner Hamburg. the American -yawl
Ailsa and the Fluer De Lys. The Sun
beam, Apache and Fluer De Lys had
not joined the feet at nichtfall. having
remained at anchor IN the upper har-
Dor. On those which awaited fair
weather everything was trim and fit.
several of the American oiaft having
half a dozen extra dories and 4 lif"
boat or two many extra spars lashrd
to the deck.
Tie government tug Nigilant. With
Commander HebbinghauS of the Ger
man navy. tho E,mperors official repre-
sentative. on board. Joined the fleet and
two excursion steamers heavily loaded
" it'll passengers and q dozen tugs cir
cled about among the racers as they
lay at anchor while their passengers
cheered American, British and German
craft imrartially and lhcil bands sa-
iuted with Die Warht Am Rhein.
Rule Britannia or Yankee Doodle
captain Charles Barr was on board
the big three-master Atlantic and his
splendid record of victories on Amer-
can cup defenders, together with the
fact that the yacht is known to be
able and speedy. led many to regard
her as likely winner.
The fog held thick all the morning.
lifting only occasionally and giving the
crews a glimpse of the Hook and the
Jersey shore across the bay.
Shortly after 3 p. NJ. the Hamburg
and Ailsa arrived and joined the fleet.
At $40 the committe" boat notified the
yachts that the race would be pospOn-
ed, until tomorrow at noon.
All the yachts are expected to be at
the starting line. tomorrow, not except
ing the Fluer De Lys.