The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-23
5000 MILE OCEAN RACE BEGINs|
Contest for a $1,000 Cup Offered by
Emperor William.
Started ON Their Long Race. With
the Atlantic Leading and the Others
Strung Out Behind. i'm a Lin Six
Miles Long.

.HItSE 1<Ou<. |
New York, May IA splendid
feet of sailing yachts swept across al
starting line at Sandy Hook lightshipl
at 12:15 p. m., today, and, with the
queenly American schooner AtlantIcI
leading the way, headed out into the
broad Atlantic ocean ON Il race of 3,Ocfl
miles to the English coast for a $1,000
cup offered by Emperor William, of
Germany. When last seen as they var
ished into the mist they were strung
out in a line six miles long, headingl
southeastward, ana pointing as nearly
as possible to 81 wind that was dead
the Atlantic was the 9O-fOot Americana
yawl Ailsa, which was having a hot
brush with the German schooner Ham,
burg, while all three of the leaders,
were slowly dropping the Philadelphia
schooner Hildegarde. Mex was theI
Endymion, holder of the trans-Atlan
III JdthtIiS letOIu- -AiLioSI d uiiiCi
astern of the Atlantim and more thaal
half. d mile astern of the EndymionI
We're the Thistle and Fleur de Lys.I
Strung out behind were the AmericanI
bark Apache, the British tOpsalil
schooner Sunbeam, and five miles,
astern of the leader was the AmericanI
three=masted schooner UtOwana.
bringing up h rear was the British
slipper ship Valhalla. These two had
been delayed by a bad start.
Leaden skies, low hanging mist La
den clouds, and a moderate asst wind
were the unfavOrable' conditions underI
which the great ocean race was start
ed, and the three big square-rigged
vessels were handicapped at the very!
start; for at beating to windward in a
light air their spreading courses and
bullying ;topsails were not to be conf
pared with the hard fitting fore and
aft canvas of the trim s]chOOners.
Despite the lowering weather cOndi-l
tons the start of the great and heter-I
OgenOus fleet was inspiring. After the
pOstponement of the day before, the
yachts lay in their anchorage withinl
the shelter of Sandy Hook last night.
The fog of the day previous had lifted
considerably, but still hung low and
obscured the vision beyond a few miles.
Tie German schooner Hamburg was
the first to leave the anchorage and
pass out through Gedneys channel. The
Nalhalla, Ailsa and Thistle followed,
and before 1870 the feet was stream
ing in tow out through the channel to-
ward the lightship and past the stranS
ed CUnard liner CarOnia, whose passen~l
gers crowdedsto the rails to witness the
procession.
The Blue Peter, giving warning OF
impending departure, was run up on
the mast of the committee tug at noon,
there was a 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 II
ether gun sounded and the Prov of
every craft swung toward the startinSI
line.
1t was an inspiring spectacle. Near
the line the small Ailsa, bearing every
mark of the racers, was engaged in al
jockeying match with the Hildegarde,
and to avoid being forced across the
inelprematurely performed some start
ling maneuvers. Behind them to the
north and east, the fleet was spread
out in f%anshape. Close astern of the
leaders was the Atlantic, where Cap
tain Charles Barr had placed her inI
well-timed position. The EndymiGn,I
Hamburg and Thistle swept down to-
ward the line from a windward posi-
ton and crowding close Upon the quar-
ter Of the latter was the majestic VAL
Balla. whose every mast was a lean-l
ing spire of towering canvas gently
believing before the breeze and sweep
ing her toward the line. Still further
away were the SnnEeam and Apache
taking plenty of searoom to pile III sail
and get under way.
Almost at the flash of the starting
gun TIE Aflsa and Hildegarde went
across the line. with the yawl slightly
i'll the lead, and in the windWard posi-
ton. Crowding close behind them came
the Atlanti'. Endymion. Hamburg,
Thistle. Utowana and Valhalla in that
order.
As the vessels crowded together at
the winGward of the starting line. each
captain anxious to secure the weather.
position. the %sehooneTs in the lead
crowded the Utowana and Valhalla so
badly that they We're unable to cross
the line without a collision They ap~
preached the line from such a direction
that the other yachts were crossing