The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-18
The Three Thousand Mile
Race is On.
THE ATLANTIC LEADS
1t Was an Inspiring Spectacle as the
Vessels Went Dashing Across the
Line. They Faded Into the
Dim Horizon, the Atlantic
Vanishing First.
CBy the Associated Presg.) )


New York, May IA splendid
fleet of sailing yachts swept across a
starting line at Sandy Hook lightship
at 1916 p. m. today and, with the
queenly American schooner Atlantic
leading the way, headed out into the
broad Atlantic ocean on race of 81
600 miles to the English coast for a
5000 cup offered by Emperor Will
liam of Germany. When last seen
as they vanished into the mist they
were strung out in a line six miles
long, heading southeastward and
pointing as nearly as possible to a
wind that was dead ahead.
AQuarter of a mile astern of the At
lantic was the so foot American yawl
Ailsa, which was having a hot brush
with the German schooner Hamburg,
while all three of the leaders were
slowly dropping the Philadelphia
schooner Hildegarde. Next was the
Endymion, holder of the trans-Atlan-
tic yachting record. Almost a mile
astern of the Atlantic and more than
half a mile astern of the Endymion
were the Thistle and F'leur De Lys.
Strong out behind were the American
bark Apache, the British topsail
schooner Sunbeam, and five miles
astern of the leader was the American
three master schooner Utowana.
Bringing up in the rear was the Brit
ish clipper ship Xalhalla. These two
had been delayed by a bad start.
Leaden skies, low hanging mist-lad-
en- clouds and q moderate east wind
were the unfovorable conditions under
which the great ocean race was start
ed and the three big square rugged yes
sells were handicapped at the very
start; for at beating to windward in a
light air their spreading courses and
gulging tOpsails were not to be com
pared with the hard fitting fore and
aft canvas of the tri mschooners.
The Race Begins
The Blue Peter, giving warning of
| impending departure, was run up on
the mast of the committee tug at noon,
there was flash and squirt of smoke
from the gun on her deck and a warm
ing report rolled among the fleet Civ
ing notice that the race would start
in fifteen minutes. Ten minutes later
another gun sounded and the prov of
every craft swung toward the start
ing line.
1t was an inspiring spectacle. Near
the line the small Aailsa, bearing eVery
mark of the racer, was engaged in d
jockeying match with The Hildegarde.
and to avoid being forced across the
line prematurely performed some
startling manoeuVers. Behind them to
the north and east the fleet was spread
out in fan-shape. Close astern of the
leaders was the Atlantic where Can
tam Charles Barr had placed her in
wei timed position The Endymion.
Ham3urg and Thistle swept down to-
ward the line from Il windward posi-
uon and crOwding close upon the
quarter of the latter was the majestic
Nalhalla, whose every mast was
ieanlng spire of towering canvass gent,
ly believing before the breeze and
sweeping her toward the line. Still
further away were the Sunbeam and
Apache taking plenty of sea room to
pie on sail and get under wav.
Almost at the flash of the starting
gun the Ailsa and Hildegarde went
across the line with the yawI slightly
IN the lead and in the windward posi-
tlon. Crowding close behind them
came the Atlantic Endymion. Ham
ourg, Thistle, Utowana and Valhalla
in that order
Almost a Collision.
AS the vessels crowded together at
the windWard of the starting lines.
each captain anxious to secure the
weather position. the schooners in the
lead crowded the Utowana and Val
halla so badly that they were unable
to cross the line without a collision.
They approached the line from such
a direction that the other yachts were
crossing their bows, vet they held to
their course SO long that the Utowana.
the leader of the two, became pocket
ed so that she could not turn about.
Both she and Valhalla bore down upon
the schooners threateningly Passing
between a tug and the committee boat
1t looked as though they were going
to smash into the Atlantic and Endv-
miOn and an order came from the
committee to go about and cross the
line properly
Barely in time to prevent collision
the fleet made an opening for them
and they went through them and
swung into line. Warming whistles
and signal flags recalled them. but not
until they had -~Nne more than half
mile on their course were they able
to get clear of the fleet and return and
recross the line.
In the meantime the little schooner
Fleur De Lys, the smallest of the fleet
on which Miss Candace Stimson, the
owners daughter. was a passenger.
slipped across the line and quickly
overlook the Thistle.
How They Got Away.
All the leaders got away within a
minute of the starting gun at 1915
but the Fleur De Lys crossed at 1927.
Sunbeam at 1870. and Apache at
1875; Utowana at 1857 and Valhalla
at 1.25 The latter was in irons in
tac<ing at the line and thus badly de-
layed.
Among the leaders the yawl Ailsa.