Omaha daily bee., 1905-05-18
AMERICAN YACHT LEADS
Race for the Transatlantic Championship
Begins at 1915.
CAPTAIN BARRS SHIP MAKES GOOD START
Vessels Disappear IN Horizon strung
Out for SIX MiIes-VnlhnIlR Fouls
in Crossing Line and Has
TO Return.

NEW YORE. May IA splendid fleet
of sailing yachts swept across the starting
line at Sandy Hook lightship at l2;i5 today,
and with the queenly American schooner
Atlantic leading the way. headed out to
the broad Atlantic ocean on race Of
3,OOo miles 20 the English coast for a
5000 cup offered by Emperor William of
Germany. When last seen as they van
ished into the mist they were strung out
in n line six miles long heading south
eastward and pointing as nearly as possi-
BILE to a wind that was dead ahead
A quarter of mile astern of the Atlantic
was the 99-foot American yawl Alsa, which
was having IA hot brush with the German
schooner Hamburg, while all three of the
leaders were slowly dropping the Phila-
delphia schooner Hildegarde. Next was
the Endymion, holder OF the transatlantic
yachting record. Almost u mile astern OF
the Endymion were the Thistle and Fleur
De Lys, Strung out behind were the
American barque Apache, the British top
sail schooner Sunbeam, and five miles
astern of the leader was the American
three-masted schooner Utowana. Bringing
up the rear was the British clipper ship
Valhalla These two had been delayed Oy
a bad start.
start Made In Mist.
Leaden skies. low hanging mist-laden
clouds and q strong east wind were the
conditions under which the race started,
and the three big square rugged vessels
were handicapped at the very start, for at
beating to windward in n light air their
spreading courses and bulging topsails
were not to be compared with the hard
futting fore and afte canvass of the trim
schooners.
The committee boat, with Commander
Hibbenhaus of the German navy, Com
mander II. II. IIosley of the United states
navy, oliver E Cromwell, Newbury ID.
Lawton, II. l.. Parsons and f. II. Wales
Of the New York Yacht club on board,
anchored an eighth OF n mile east OF Sandy
Hook lightship and established the starting
line between them shortly after II o'clock.
A feet of yachts and tugs began to as
semble. As the racers arrived they were
towed to the north and windward OF the
starting line Most of the schooners soon
after reaching the line dropped their tows,
set their huge sails and began to wheel
about IN and out through the fleet like
high stepping horses displaying their PAGES
for the admirng spectators Meanwhile
the wide topsails OF tho Nalhalla were un-
furled and sheeted home and one after an
other the tall topsails, top-gallantsails and
staysails OF the square rlgged craft were
spread to the soft breeze.
warning signal Fired.
The blue peter giving warning OF Inn
pending departure was run up on the mast
of the committee tug Al noon there was a
Hash and spurt OF smoke from the sun on
its deck and n warning report rolled among
tho feet giving notice that the race would
start In fifteen minutes. Ten minutes later
anotheN gun sounded and the PROV OF every
Draft swunH toward tho starting line
II was an inspiring spectacle, Near tho
line the Small AllsG. bearing every mark o
the racer. was engaged In n jockeyinG
match with the Hlldegarde and to avolt
being forced across the line prematurelS
performed some startling maneuvers. Be
hind them. to the north and east. the flee