The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-10
HARD TIME FOR MOTOR BOATS
All REACH BERMUDA SAFELY
LNU HEATHER WINS.
Mate Bowers on Ilys Washed Overheard
Boot Catches = Life Lin and Saves
lin Navigator Bieiing Overcome
by Ga Fumes Mercedes Out OF Fuel.

HAMILTON. !icrmuds, June 9.-The four
motor yachts that started from New York
harbor last Saturday afternoon reached
the finishing line Of the go mile race on
*. Bavid's Head to-day and now the crews
OF those vessels are r%esting. They need
the rest. They had little sleep from the
time they left New York. Their boats
were tossed and tumbled about In a lively
sea and all that they are thankful for IL
that the wind was not ahead until toward
the end Of the race.
one man was overcome by the gas fumes,
On another boat the heimsman had to be
lashed to the wheel. and they almost lost
the mate overheard. Seas broke over the
boats at times so hat all we're made wet
and uncomfortable, and in spite OF all these
trials the men say they have had a ~gloriois
race. aud some are anxious to arrange
another contest home.
The Heather won. That boat was the
largest Of the quartet and is owned by
Richmond lowering Of Cincinnati. but he
vas not on board. This boat had TO allow
time 10 the others In the race. She finished
80 far ahead that she did this with some time
10 spare. although had the Ilys and Mercedes
II. gone through without mishaps they
might rave beaten the Heather.
That thi nes were uncomfortable on the
racers Is show by the reports of those In
charge. Racing motor boat about so
feet long on Long Island Sound and on the
broad Atlantic are very different expert.
ences and when these boats have to ace nth
a wind strong enough to kick up a high
following sea it takes considerable skill
and nerve too to navigate successfully.
The seas on this trip were so high that there
vas always danger OF the vessel bein g
popped.
On this trip the ilys and Mercedes II. had
the hardest experiences. II was expected
that the Mercedes would have a hard time.
She WAS not IN prope shape for the race
ana the committee came in for some severe
criticism for allowing the boat to start.
She was launched only II week before the
and then among other things It was found
that she could not carry sufficient fuel for
the, trip, and two extra tanks holding 400
This weight. so high above the water, did not
tend TO increase the yacht 8 stability, and
even with this extra supply she had not
Waiter Murray B'elins was s"I IL charge Of
this yacht. He was mate on the Irene II.
last year and on that Yacht for twelve hours
with a small whiskey glass because the feed
pipe broke through the working of the
yacht. I his time Bieling had a more severe
bureter got out of order and he tried to tx
it without. stopping the motor: they were
racing and he could not a1ord TO lose anv
time. As a result he was overcome with the
tunes Of the g~asolene and II WAS SON e tin e
before he was revived and able to help in
the navigation of the Yacht. The Mercedes
II was ploushinS through hea w seas. so that
everything had to be battened down, aud
the stencil OF the gasolene below Was n wiui.
he engineers. however. stuck TO IN tir
posts
The Mercedes II. made the island at 7:s0
o'clock last, night and then ran out of gaso-
lene. She hal to set sail TO reach the line
her fuel supply lasted she would probably
have beaten the Heather. as she received
an allowance OF ! hours - minutes - sec
onds, and as IL was was beaten by only
81 hours. Then she tried to eute the har-
Dor Of st. Georges. but anchored near
North Rock. where she lost her anchor and
cable and was driven on the reefs. The
wine was blowing quite strong from the
sou!heast and the sea was running high.
eail again and were finally able to work
into the harbor. II Was a close call for the
yacht, and the pilots or me Guard at rs
go 10 pieces on the reefs.
The men on board we're accorded a hearty
exception this morning when they reached
they show ed Ia handling the Mercedes ii.
Navigator Bieling wa' unable 10 get a sight
all the way down as the weather wa bad
and the constant rolling OF the, yacht made
1t impossible to use the instruments TO find
out just where they were. The yacht was
steered well and in spite of all made a fine
course Those on board are anxious to
make a race home. They are confiden t
That Mercedes ii. wnen tuned up is the best
boat and Eili race witnout time allowance
ine LcAt BOAT IN was the, liys, ownec ny
!. G. Nae,le ,ni,akeJ Of the lachtsmen's
, lun OF PLiladelpnld. She o exactly
four days 10 make The voyage. Passing out
ut the hartor last IN urdAy she wa,the lead
Ing boat. but at 40 o'CioCk. Hnen. seven
rul e. southeast OF scotland ightship aud
,. ..,V, I,sA.y ~ Ila El,A. tl. .nNr .,tt a a.
rod Of ncr lorr ard y ihdeT smashed. lhe
accident was due to he car ell. s-npsS OF the
engineers. Iy 1880 O'Clock repairs were
rnade % that The !ach, could proceed under
thee e! ,inder- ana sac ran that way unit
uoon o. ,Sunday. 1hls reduced her si'eed
from o 10 q hrots and u II figured that the
She e~Npcrisnced strong northeast winds
and high seas all the way until this morning,
when the wind shifted TO southeast. The
those on board and wa dry for a long part
pie,ei, Knocked out,
worst the he'msman was lashed to the
Wheel. and one heavy sea caught second
mate Tnoma' ID. Bowers. who was the de
slgner OF the yacht, threw him across the
deck and through the rail. where he hung
with, his head ~ the water, his rubber boots
catching in 2 liis line Thomas Fleming
ing the noise and then seeing what had
happened he jumped TO Mate Bowers's a.
klslance Just as the yacht TOOK q weather
lnrch and he succeeded in pulling him back
Oh deck.
The daily runs OF the Ilys were 100. 10.
i;2. ISL miles. Thomas Fleming Day. who
promoted these races to Bermuda. on land
Ing said; 1t was a fine race. ] regret the
accident that happened to our motor very
much. as think that We had a good chance
did we'll and worked hard and pIuckiIy.
The weather was the worst | have ever
seen on this course and the race shows
that our modern yachts are perfectly safe
snd seaworthy ar and me men ne. who ,bem handle
where. The Bermuda race is established
as the chief Yachting race in the world and
next year ! hope that more yachtsmen' VIII
take part.
s nd c 'Rs ed's Re line R"e at sa 81. s's ceioeki She
reported northeasterly winds and heavy
seas all the way and had no accidents or
remarkable experiences. The boat was
fairly comfortable considering the condi.
tons and the sssoiepe AID motor were er al
side the Ilys and Mercedes.
When she reached her, moorings at : o'clock
this morning a crowd had gathered on the
waterfront and they cheered the yacht
fully 10 the race. This yacht was in charge
OF CAPT, Mauerhon. who made out 81;
Dayid's light late last night. and she crossed
the line at 1913 this morning. She ran
very consistently throughout the race;
then Is miles TO the finish. The yacht
had northeast winds all the way and the
were no accidents. There was no trouble
with the engines and the revolutions were
from avs to 800 a minute throughout the