Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-18
CAPTAIN BARR'S BOAT IN LEAD
utowana and VaIhalla Make Bad Start
and Are -square.Rsaed
Vessels Handicapped in Light, Dead
Ahead Breeze Blowing at Commerce
ment of the Contest.
ORy Associated presa.l

NEW lOltN, May IA Snlplnid
fleet of sailing yachts swept across ii
starting line at Sandy Hook light ship
al l":13 y. H., today. and with the
quecnly American schooner Atlantic
leading the way. headed out into the
broad Atlantic ocean on n race of 1000
miles To the English coast for n S.. 600
cup offered by Emperor William. IF
Germany When last seen, rs they
vanished into The mist. they were
strung Dnt in line six miles long.
heading southeast ward and pointing
as nearly as possible to Il wind that
was dead ahead
a quarter of mil, astcrn of the
Atlantic was the 9O-foot American
yawl Ailsa. which was having Il hot
brush with the German schncncr Ham
burg. while all three IF the leaders
were slowly dropping the Philadelphia
sch"oncr iIildegarda. Next was The
Endymion. holder of the transatlantic
yachting record
Almost mile astcrn Of the Atlantic
AMI more than half mile asteru of
the Enllynio ion were the Thistle and
Fleur dnl.ys.
vaIhaIla Brings Up Rear.
Strung out behind were the Amcri
can bark Apache. the British lopsail
schooner Sunbeam. and five miles;
astnrn OF The leader was the Amcri
can three masted schooner Utowana.
bringing up the rear was the British
clipper ship Falhnlla. These two
lla1 been delayed ny bad start
l.cadcn skies, low hanging, mist.
!aden clouds, and moderate east
wind were The lmfavorable conditions,
under which the great ocean race was
started, and the three big square rig.
2ctl vessels were handicapped at the
very start; fer ut beating 10 windward
IN 4 ligh, air their spreading courses
and bulging topsails were not to be
compared with the hard fitting fore
ANA AFT canvass of the trim schoon.
er;
Despite the lowering weather con
ditions. the start OF the great and he.
ieroeoIccus feet was inspiring. AT
ter the poSip0ncment of the LAY before
the yachts lay i'm their anchcrner
within the shelter OF Sandy Hook lasl
night
The Fog Had Lifted.
The fog of the day previous had lift
cd considerably, but still hung low antr
obScnred The vision beyond few
c.ilcs. The German schooner Hamburg
was The first 10 leave the anchorage
and pass out through Geldncy's chan
nci. The Valhala. Ailsa and Thistle
followed and before 1890 the fleet was
streaming In tow out through The
channel toward the lightship and past
The stranded Cunarl liner Carnmia,
whose passengers crowded To the rails
IT, witness The procession.
The Blue Peter" giving warning of
the impending departure, was run up
OH the mast of the committee tug at
neon. there was flash and spurt of
smoke from the gun on her deck and
warning report rolled among the
ilcet giving notice that the race would
start in fifteen minutes.
Ten minutes later another gun
sounded and The prov Of every craft
SWING toward the starting line.
An Inspiring Spectacle.
II was an inspiring spectacle. Near
he line the small Ailsa, bearing every
mark OF the racer was engaged In n
iockeying match with the tIildcgarde
aud to avoid heing forced across the
line preinatlrely performed some
startling manoeuvers.
Behind them TO The north and east
the fleet was aprend ont in fan shane.
Close astern of the leaders was the
Atlantic. where Captain Charles Barr
had placed her in well-tmed position.
Tho Endymion Hamburg and Thistle
swept down toward the line from n
windward position and. crowding
close upon the quarter OF the latter