The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-18
STAY, SAYS THE FOG
And the Big Yacht Face
Now Waits.
II is Set For Noon Today if the Wealth
err Conditions Will Admit of the
Start Across the
Atlantic.
lBv the Associated Press.)

New York, May 16.-Eight of the
eleven Yachts which had been entered
for the 5000 miles race across the
Atlantic ocean for the $4,000 cup OF
fered by the German Emperor lay
snugly at anchor within the sheltef
of Sandy Hook tonight for the start
of the race had been postponed until
noon tomorrow because of the tog.
A dense blanket of mist hung all day
over the hook and the sea outside,
whore the start was to have been
made, and at nightfall there was moth
ing to indicate clearer weather to-
morrow.
The smallest yacht in the fleet, the
American schooner Fleur De Lis,
owned by DR.. Lewis A. Stimson, OF
the New York Yacht Club, had been
run down by a scow in tow while
the yacht was at anchor in the lower
bay before day light today, and so
damaged that repairs were absolute
ly necessary before she could have
started in the race. DR.. Stimson and
his guests were on board the yacht,
and asleep when the scoW ripped
away a portion of the yachts bull
warks. She was towed into Erie
Basin and the damage was repaired.
DIR. Stimson announced that he would
De ready 10 start IN tire race toiIIol
row.
Though the starting committee had
announced that the boats would be
sent away unless the fog was of the
pea soup" variety, the conditions
were clearly dangerous. For part of
the time the crews were hardly able
to see two hundred yards, because
Of dense fog. There was a splendid
sailing breeze outside the hook, but
it was dead ahead, and to have at
tempted to send the yachts away in
it would probably have resulted in
collision as soon as they began to
beat to windward.
The start of the race had been set
for 2:15 p. M, but at that hour only
six of the racers layIat anchor within
the hook and tugs and excursion
craft were slowly gathering to get a
look at them. They were the Brit
ish ship Valhalla and the American
schooners Utowana, Atlantic, Thistle
Hildegardc and Endymion.
The government tug Vigilant with
Commander Hebbinghaus of the Ger
man navy, the Emperor's official rep
rcscntative on board, joined the fleet
and two excursion steamers heavily
loaded with passengers and dozen
tugs circled about among the racers
as they lay at anchor while their
passengers cheered American, British
and German craft impartially and
their bands saluted with the "Wacht
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 American cup defenders, together
with the fact that the yacht is known
to be able and speedy, led many to
regard her as a likely winner.
Meantime the fog held thick, lift
ing only occasionally, and giving the
crews a glimpse of the hook and the
Jersey shore across the bay. Shortly
after 8 p. M, the Hamburg and Ailsa
arrived and joined the fleet At $40
the committee boat went alongside
the Valhalla and notified the Earl of
Crawford that the race would be
postponed until noon tomorrow The
nimble sailors quickly manned the
yards and slowed her sails Other
yachts were notified by the commit
tee and were quickly snugged down
for he night. All are expected to be
at thv starting line tomorrow.