Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1908-01-08
AN UNDEATEN CUTTER
The Daring Was tine Fastest
Racer In Our Navy.
HER MOST FAMOUS VICTORY.
IL Was Over the Crew Of the Iron Duke,
a British Msn-of- war, and Was De-
eis'Ve Why the American Band
Played the British National Air.

* was over the Crew OF the Iron Duke,
British Man-of -wsr, and Was De-
eisiVe Why the American Band
Played the British National Air.
The fastest racing boat that ever
brought shekels and glory 10 the Amer
lean navy or to any other. for that
matter. was the cutter Daring.
When she went down with the Van
dalia in the great storm which sank
almost every vessel in the harbor OF
Samoa she left behind her an unbroken
record OF victories.
None OF these was more sensational
than the one she easily plucked from
crew or the Iron Duke when the
Daring was attached TO the Wisconsin.
then on the Asiatic station. Appropri-
atcly enough. the crushing defeat was
administered i'm centennial year. 1876.
and il was che more significant because
The English boat had given the chal-
ienge ana had fairly rushed upon its
fate
When a blucjacbet wants a race he
goes about II in his own peculiar fash
Ion. He doesn't write out a challenge
and send &c with due formalities. He
toeS not appoint committee TO extend
II. lie does not post notice I'm n CON
spicuOus place"
BE- ~fmpiy lowers his boat. climbs
Into IL 10 tine number Of twelve or four
iecn. pulls toward the ship whose
crew he wants 20 race. losses his oars
as he comes under her bow. and there
you are. The challenge has been Civ.
en- I'm the sight OF the whole harbor.
This sort OF invitation doesn't mean
that the other crew * 10 hustle into its
boat for race right then and there
on the contrary. there is lot of pre-.
iiminary work yet 10 be done. much
Of ii being OF Il strictly financial ma.
turc
Thousands Of dollars change hands
over these races. The officers them
selves are generally ready TO back the
honor Of their own ship with substan
tial proof of their loyalty.
As for the average sailor man. he
+ digs MP every cent he can rake and
I scrapc As a winner OF these shekel:
the Daring. as before mentioned. IS o.
blessed memory. except 10 her rivals.
OF these latter none was more conf
dent than the Iron Duke crew. Th,
I Wisconsin was already ut anchor whel
the British vessel came into the har
Dor one fine day. her advent beIn:
greeted with the usual attention ever,
+ newcomer commands
She hadn't been In very long befor
she lowered n boat. The men on tn
. Wisconsin idly watched They con
tinucd 10 observe. but without mucl
concern. rs the British cutter wa
pulled toward the Wisconsin. headin
across her bows
Then the unexpected happened 7
the surprise and intense delight of III
Americans. up went the British oars
and little thrill OF excitement swep
the widening ripple around the harbol
y challenge had been given. \ rae
was 10 come.
And Il was race that meant
whole lot more than a mere contes
between two crews. II involved Il cor
tested principle OF boat building.
The British believed IN 4 substar
tial. seaworthy. solid craft The Amer
leans made their cutters lighter an
more graceful. contending ut the sam
time that the fine lines which mad
their boats beautiful did not max
them the less seaworthy.
Tho day Tor the race was set.
course of three and a half miles desis
mated and the wagers piled up on bot
sides. But when the day came ther
was high wind. making the going 5
rough that the Americans. thinkin
that il wouldn't be Il pretty race. Pre-
/ posed putting IL off.
Not much, The British thought the
saw through the proposal. They imag
/ incd the Americans were afraid. an
they saw Il glorious opportunity I
] prove their wisdom in sacrificing beau
I ~ 10 ScoworthinesS. They were n
! firm aS nobody hat an Englishman ca,
he. The race must 90 on.
And IL did. You bet il did, And III
/ Daring came skimming in a whole hal
mile ahead-a half mile. if you please
While the Iron Dukes crew wer
/ pluGS..g through the waves 10y mai
force the Daring cut across them an
over them like the thing of delight sh
was. And. while she was as dry as
/ parlor car. the Iron Dukers were bal
ing 10 keep themselves afoat
Wen. YOU can imagine whether Their
was JOY aboard the Wisconsin. Blu
the officers could afford to be generou
in victory. So the band was ordered I
I play God Save the Queen"
y British naval officer was standin
with an American officer on shor
watching the finish. and when III
band struck up he turned 10 the Amer
lean in bewilderment.
That's funny" he said. Your boa
comes in ahead. and yet they're play
ing God Save the Queen don't III
derStand"
Well" said the American, If Go
won't save the queen now she Nigh
as well give up. Nothing earthly can.
The Daring was built at New Yor
about 1871 and was 80 far superior I
the boats she competed with that al
other cutter was constructed on yer
much the same lines. but with wha
were thought 10 he some improve
1entS. She was called the Magic. anC
next to the Daring. she was the hes
/ racing boat in the navy. But up to III
| time Of her loss the older boat was III
beaten even 10y her newer rival
/ Washington Post