The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-13
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS


 Yankee yacht" which in a field of fif- teen English racing craft showed them all her heels and won the trophy for Uncle Sam which John Bull hasn't won back after more than half century of effort. It was during this month in 1851. when all the world was on tiptoe. to see the great exhibition at Crystal Palace. Lon- held ss one of the side events. The yes sells of various types had taken up their stations off Cowes and were ready for the signal to start.
 Among the crowds came majesty itself. as the royal family and the court shared in the universal curiosity as to whether the strange looking craft from the United States would by any fluke or piece of luck outsail her English competitors. The royal yacht the Victoria and Albert, bore it's distinguished namesakes down to the | Isle of Wight in order that they might witness the race.
 The fleet started at 10 o'clock at the lNo Mans buoy; the yachts were in Icluster, "volante'' leading, then Freak" Aurora 'Gipsy Queen" America" Beatrice" Alarm" "Arrom" and "Bac- channte," in the order named. The other | six brought up the rear, and the Wy vern' returned to Cowes. Passing out to the eastward. the America" went in side the Nab, course which was, ac- cording to an English authority. con- trary to the printed programme, but this was not counted against her. Before the smoke had cleared away from the signal gun fired at the club house, the fleet was under way, moving steadily towards the east, with the tide and a gentle breeze. The only laggard was the America which did not move for a second or so after the others Steamers, short boats and yachts of all sizes buzzed along on each side of the course, and spread away for miles over the ripping sea-
 | She soon began to creep up on her op- ponents, passing some of the cutters to the windward. The Aurora was the second boat. The "volante" sprung her bowsprit and gave up. The Arrow ran ashore and the ''Alare1'' went to her as- distance, so both were out of the race. tn a quarter of an hour she left them all behind, save only the constance l"Beatricep and Fairy Queen which were well together and went along smart Ky with the light breeze. Abreast of Ven tor the American schooner was mile ahead of the Aurora which was the Hast British craft to keep her in sight in lthe thick haze that blew up from the southwest late in the afternoon. I Off sandown Bay, the wind freshening, she carried away her jibboon. but as she was well handled the mishap produced Inc i'll effect, her competitors gaining ltrifle, but not approaching her. From lthe moment the America" rounded St. lCatherine's Point the race was practically lover At the Needles the wind dropped until it was very light. and she was then some miles ahead of Aurora" the time being about 6 D. III.
 
 "Pshaw, sir! Catch herr said an old sea dog to the New York Herald core Ispendent You might as well set bull tdog to catch a hare" When the Amer lica" finally reached the starting vessfll at |S:35 D. m., there was no competitor ln sight. She had out-traveled and dis ltanced the pick of the English navy and Ishipyards. but twenty minutes after her larriyaI the Aurora" reached the stake boat, and was awarded the second prize. The British heart, which had beat with such pride at the start, had to slow down because an American boat, manned oy American seamen, had administered a crushing defeat to the pick of the English navy and shipyards. IT. the Illustrated London Journal, few Idays later, appeared cartoon wnicn showed the interior of the royal yacht lThe Queen was at lunch, waiting the re- lturn off the Needles of the racers. Her majesty says:
 l signal master, are the yachts in
 sight?"
 "Yes, may it please your majesty"
 Which is frst'"
 The America"
 .'Wbich is second?"
 "Ah, your majesty, there is no second.' The English. while chasrinned over the victory took if on the whole with good . Inatured regret I'll give some verses which appeared at the time in Lon ldon Punch. It is headed, The Battle of lthe Yachts or the Victory of the Yankee Yacht America.S~A Pathetic Copy
 of Verses Made by British Tar at Spit
 head" I give three of them to show the , prevailing sentiment among the British
 sailors:
 , l.Oh, weep, ye British sailors true
 Above or under hatches
 Heres Yankee Doodle been and come
 And beat our crackest yatches. They started all to run a race, And wor we'll timed with watches; l IRut oh. they never had no chance. 3 Had any of our yatcheA
 
 $ They say she didn't go by wind, / But wheels. and springs. and satches. And that's the way she weathered on Our quickest going yatches.