The Washington herald., 1907-05-05

lengths the members of the picked crew
OF the British cruiser Argyle pushed their
racing cutter TO victory over the Ameri-
can tars from the Illinois late this after
noon and won the Battenburg Cup.
The cup, which Prince Louis of Batten-
burg put up for competition between
American and British crews at the end of
his stay in New York two years ago. was
not the only thing that went with the
Argyie's victory, as the sad faces and at
tenpated pockets of every man in the At
lantic fleet from captain TO gallery boy
attested
About $5oO00, in round numbers was up
on the boat race, according to the state
ment Of one OF the Illinois men. II was
all at even money.
The Illinois crew contributed $3.50 alone
TO swell the sum that fattens British ditty
boxes tonight.
The American rockies had more money
TO offer than the Bridshers cared TO
cover and for this fact prayers of
thanksgiving are ascending from hun
dred hammocks this night.
The race did not take place until 3
O'Clock. The American jackies from the
hudles, were on the starting line at 2:S0
o'clock. the scheduled hour The British
ers did not come. Inquiry on the Argyle
at a few minutes before O'Clock drew
the mildly startled comment from the boy
officer in charge of the after deck: why.
the race isn't until 8 o'clock. you know
The winds too high, and the waters a bit
too rough"
Americans Make Remarks.
When the English officers remark was
carried back to the Illinois by the nervous
news seekers. there was decided express
sion of opinion on the part of a naval
lieutenant.
That's the first We knew of the time
being changed - he said. our boys have
gone down there, and they are ready for
The race at the scheduled time.
i don't like this business much, espe-
cially considering the interest the boys
of our fleet have in it,"
He did not say financial interest II de-
vcloped later, however. that on one of
The nervous battle ship launches that had
been putting back and forth over the
waves, there mad gone to the representa-
tive of the illinois crew an emissary from
race be postponed until the strong south
west wind went down near sundowu
This was accepted, and after all the ex-
cuTsion steamers and the small fry Of
gasoline launches had put back 10 Nor
folk and Old Point In disgust the race
was rCWed.
The two racing cutters We're drawn up
just about the stern of the battle ship
Kentucky, down at the end of the line,
with the three-mile course stretching
straight up between the two lines Of bat I
lie ships and cruisers 10 the finish boat
near the Georgia. There was d judge
boat there. too to run alongside and keep
an eye on fouls.
See Is Choppy.
When the pistol snapped. the two crews
jumped from the line and into the choppy
sea together The wind had died down.
but there was a ragged sea kicking up.
with following waves. the tide was lust
about on the turn. Everything was pro
pitious for a fair contest and "a speedy
run. The sailors on the ships along the
course had been hanging over the rails
and lounging on the turret tops pretty
much all afternoon I'm expectancy. and
when the word was passed around that
the race was really on, the rails of the
ships paralIelng the course were blue
with men.
The Kentuckians We're the first 10 let /
out a ripping cheer which was taken up
by the Iowa, of 20 the port, and the old
Texas, Wall0Wing over az the frayed end
uf the line of steel
The two cutters kept up together, stroke I
for stroke down the lane of ships There
was not "a yard Of blue weter between 1
them after they had passed two Of the /
battle ship squadr0ns and were drawing I
down on the Good Hope, first in the line /
Ol BriJ.sheTs
British Rockies Cheer,
The British rockies put just ii little
more strength in their oars when the /
Good Hope was near al hand. and Tie
rear that went up from the decks Of /
Rear Admiral Neviile's flagship put blood 1
into their hearts. even The sailors Of I
The Italian cruisers Farese and Etruria.
which arrived in Hampton Roads this
morning and dropped anchor on line with
the British ships, caught the enthusiasm
and pipcd 'yiyas" from the smoky quar-
ter decks or their ships
When the straining crews beat their way
down opposite the Illinois. the BrIgishers
were almost two boats lengths ahead
But there was no enthusiasm wanting
from the Illinois
The sailors jostled their officers for
places at the rails and on the turret tops,
and both alike sent out hoarse pleadings
TO their men TO keep up the pace.
Hi, there, Sullivan. the maseOt's get
his eye on you" piped one big tar from /
the forward tUrret top as he swung the
head Of William the goat with the gilded
horns, around 10 bear on the water.
Yes, and for GaWd's sake, don't let
that Britisher make a goat Of you fell
lows, roared out a sailor who was dang
ling over the side with "a paint pot
But the Illinois men could not help be-
ing the goats The long. steady chop
chop of the Argyie's oars in the waves
carried St Georges flag farther and
farther into the fore, though the Brit
ishers did not seem 20 be working their
utmost.
visitors Increase Lead.
Down past the remaining ships went the
two cutters. the Britishers gradually in
creasing their lead Near the Georgiafs
stern, the Illinois men tried a squirt. and
they cut down the distance between the
Two boats by q length. but the ArgyIe's
never wavered on their steady sweep Of
the oars and when the stake boat was
passed. right up near the veranda of the
Chamberlin AT Old Point. their cutter
was good hve lengths in the lead.
The Americans took their defeat like
gentlemen. The tired sailors stood up in
their cutter and waved congratulations az
the Argyle's men, and when the British
crew was towed back to its ship, there
were cheers for it from every American