The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-07-26

Aohth o8taWn AolEt0ftOa alo
Of the European squadron 70 Capt. Potter.
The Admiral bad reached the age OF retire.
ment-e2.
On September 4 Mrs. Richard sartoris.
daughts- Of Gen. Grant. visited the Lam
caster.
1t was on a Wednesday. September n.
that q raoeboat OF eighteen oars called the
Black Diamond, belonging to q Southampton
club, caI1e alongside the Lancaster and
challenged for q five mile race In Southamp.
ton Water. The offer was quickly accepted
and ESQ put up.
The Americans we're. here at q disad-
vantage. for the Black Diamond was much
lighter than the Uncle Sam. She was
longer. bad less beam and pulled four oars
more. Her Soxswain was a Southampton
Of the hssbor.
The race started at 8 O'Clock from the
Royal Pier. the course being two and a
half miles down the harbor and back to
the starting. point. The two boats kept
Then the Englishman altered his course
q little award shore to take advantage
Of the slack water, the Uncle Sa m following
the same course that he had taken at the
start. During the race small boats were
and the coxswain had to alter his course
at times to avoid collisions. A deal Of
time was loet In this way and the Black
Diamond reached the home stake first.
on sixty x. pounds S'a nd Was , Immediately 81, raissd
for another race over the same course.
The race took place On October j. q fine
bright day. The American ooxswain was
given to understand that no fouling would
be allowed. Not q sound came from the
throng standing on the pier as the two
boats took their position for the start.
At the word Sol" Sam shot ahead. A
murmur OF disappointment arose, and
cries OF the Yanks have got emf were
heard on all sides.
The Lancaster's. rigging was blaok with
men. On tho bridge stood Rear Admiral
Earl English. who had two weeks before
taken command Of the European station,
Capt. Potter and the officers. Perched
~conspicuously on the flying tibboom was
large game rooster. which he was coaxing
to GROW.
As the American boat passed the Lam
caster q yell Of delight arose. The Uncle
Sam. with q determination to win, reached
the stake boat first and turned fifteen
seconds sooner than the Black Diamond.
Both boats now shaped their course so
they could q X an equal advantage OF the
elack water inGhore, when the referees
boat. q large s~idewheeler. following In the
between the Uncle Sam and the shore. thus
compelling the Lancaster boys to row
against the current. while the Black Dia-
mond was allowed TO pass through the line
Of boats that had quickly formed In the
wake Of the sidewheeler. thereby retaining
the benefit OF the slack water. Two small
steam launches manned by Southampton
pilots led the way for the Black Diamond
through h favorable currents over the
entire course.
the log book, shat no American boat. no
matter how well manned. could possibly win
In Southampton Water. The friendly feel
ing existing between US n the Black Dia-
mond previous to the race entirely died out.
It was plain to be seen that the South,
Uncle Sam IN the Anal race by foul means
II they could not by fair, which they sue
oeeded in doing with the aid Of two or three
Of their contaminated pilots
this timef Cheering for the Lanoaster's
boat and composing the narrative OF the
boat races as he set 1t up in type with his
own a eating, sleeping n meditating.
Here Ia what he put In his stick about an
eclipse:
In the evening OF October Z the eclipse
Of the moon was plainly seen from the
forecastle under exceptionally ine conditions.
. " . As the sun went down the western
atmosphere glowed with q crimson glare
n the moon rose with q pale. green CLEAN
In the opposite skies. As higher she rose her
silvery brightness increased until high In the
transparent heavens the 6rst contact Of the
black umbra broke In upon her brilliant disk.
And as the night went on the black incision
grew deeper and deeper. until the little patch
Of light remaining giittered like q small
bright star. Minute by minute the starlight
CLEAN grew fainter and fainter until the
eye had to seek 1t out like a nebula among
the stars. At this moment through the
Quartermasteris glass the aspect of the moon
was most lovely in Its delicate silver tracery.
Then as time wore on the light OF returning