Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-13
NAvYs FASTEST RACING BOAT.
Famous Victory Of the Cutter Daring,
Lost In the Samoan Hurricane.

| Famous Victory OF the cutter Oarihs,
Lost In the Samoan Hurricane.
The fastest racing boat that ever
brought shekels and glory to the Amer
lean navy, or to any other for the mat
ter was the cutter Daring. When she
went down with the Vandalia in the
great storm which sank almost every
vessel in the harbor at Samoa she left
behind her an unbroken record Of vic
tories. ~, =.
None of these was more sensational
than the one she easily plucked from a
crew of the Iron Duke, when the Dar-
ing was attached to the Wisconsin, then
on the Asiatic station. Appropriately
enough, the crushing defeat was ad-
ministered in Centennial year, 1875,
and it was the more significant because
the English boat had given the chal-
lenge and had fairly rushed upon its
fate.
When a bluejacket wants a race he
goes about 1t in his own peculiar fash
ion. He doesn't write out q challenge
and send it with due formalities. He
does not appoint committee to extend
1t or post notice in a conspicuous
place"
He simply lowers his boat, climbs
into 1t to the number Of twelve or four
teen, pulls toward the ship whose crew
he wants to race, and tosses his oars
as he comes under her bow. The chal-
lenge has been given in the sight Of
the whole harbor.
This sort Of invitation doesn't mean
that the other crew is to hustle into
its boat for a race right then and there.
On the contrary, there is lot Of pre-
liminary work yet to be done, much Of
1t being Of strictly financial nature.
Thousands Of dollars change hands
over these races. The officers them
selves are generally ready to back the
honor Of their own ship with a sub
stantial proof Of their loyalty. ,..,.
AS for the average sailor man he digs
up every cent he can rake and scrape.
AS winner of these shekels the Oar
ing, as before mentioned, Is Of blessed
memory-except to her rivals.
or these latter none. was more con-
fident than the Iron Duke crew. The
Wisconsin was already at anchor when
the British vessel came into the har-
Dor one fine day, her advent being
greeted with the attention every new
conner commands.
She hadn't been in very long before
she lowered a boat. The men on the
Wisconsin idly watched. They contin-
ued to observe, but without much con-
cern, as the British cutter was pulled
toward the Wisconsin, heading across
her bows.
Then the unexpected happened. To
the surprise and intense delight OF the
Americans up went the British oars
and little thrill Of excitement swept
the widening ripple around the harbor.
A challenge had been given. A race
was to come.
And 1t was a race that meant whole
lot more than a mere contest between
two crews. 1t involved contested
principle Of boat building.
+ The British believed in a substantial,
seaworthy. solid craft The Americans
made their cutters lighter and more
graceful contending at the same time
that the fine lines which made their
boats beautiful did not make them the
less seaworthy.
The day for the race was set, a
course of three and a half miles desig-
mated and the wagers piled up on both
sides. But when the day came there
was q high wind. making the going so