South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-11

ln1u undisuay,d by a daily charge
through New york-s subways, by the
1agaries OF Coacy Islands most
boisterous scenic railway and by the
uncertainties Of glare ice under dull
skates-Would feel perfectly al ease
ON che Shamrock ~ racing Tor tho
America cup this month.
A reprcscutatise OF the Associated
Press invited b. Sir Thomas Upton
- experience "a trip on the 13-meter
Shamrock during one OF her many
trial races with the challenger off
the Jersey coast found that, as
passenger this was al he had 10 do,
J. Dodge safely down a cOmpau-
ionway when tho crew. in adjusting
sails. dashed madly from stem 20
stern with a speed that would have
ch1Erincd even veteran subway
lalfback
2. Get used to the feeling OF one
moment clingiug 90 the windward
Euuwale many feet above the At
lantic and the next. as the sloop
came about, finding himself TO lee
ward with every chance of soon be
ing many feet below sea level.
%. crawl cingcrly over sea
splashed decks to that spot at the
moment Boosting the highest alti-
tude-comforting himself with the
recollection that with so odd tons
of keel underneath her. IL would
be a bit difficult for the yacht 90
sapsize-
No Ceremony az Start
After these three requirements
had been met. ne could settle down
10 AN impersonal study of alien SUI
I0uudIugs.
There was no ceremony 20 the
hulled as the challenger, anchored
"a short distance away, was tldlnS AT
anchor with her malnsall and Clue
1Opsau set when the boarding
launch came alongside.
SiT Thomas had a short chat with
Colonel Duncan T.. -. Nell and
captain Alfred Diaper. who We're
handling the trial horse and pushed
off. The slOOp then slipped her
|. mornings and slowly heeled over as
she ran out for the start.
At first there was no commOtion
aboard. The crew-a score OF
weather beaten tars, looking like
brownies dressed in white-lay on
the deck. Ropes were neatly cOiled
and every ghing seemed simple.
AS the yacht worked out from, be-
hind the shelter OF the Hook, she
began 20 get the full force of the
until everyone on his feet was lean
ing over toward port at an angle
that seemed perilously close TO A.
degrees
u the cabin even a stranger sight
met the eye. Table-tOps and lamps
arranged on the gravity system list
cd with the boat, yet kept level. To
the uninitiated the first glance at
the inteEior was as mucI OF shock
as that r. a maze where concave or
convex mirrors play pranks with
ones physique.
Yacht Like a Bull Dog
suddenly the yacht came about.
Headsails which had been run UP
since the start Tapped in the breeze.
Indeed. the yacht seemed very like
a bulldog shaking a rag In his teeth
As little waves slapped the slOOp's
bows sailors crouchlng at the bow
working on a tackle were drenched.
It was not unlike men trying 10 tie
u uretty bOWknot under a shower.
Outside the Shamrock met the
Shamrock ~, which had been tow
ed out By a tug AS the two craft,
shaking out more canvas. chased
each other about, a warning flag
was raised aboard the steam yacht
Victoria, Sir Thomas flagship, The
apparently aimless chase became
even more frantic as the rival skip
pers manOueVrCd for the start. IL
was like nothing so much as a game
Of tag.
Then the signal TO start was Given.
AS the Shamrock came about and
orders were given 10 break cut the
ibtOpsail, the crew which had even
befose been milling around the deck
increased their seeming efforts 10
create u scene Of confusion. A man
would give "A tug at one rope and
then go gallOplng forward 10 tWitch
another. while his mate came tear
ing aft on the other side of The
craft Everyone seemed 20 be train
ing for spirits and the deck was a
mass Of writing ropes. Meanwhile
orders came Ike machine gun bull
lots.
But order came out Of seeming
chaos. As the two craft crossed the
line and straiEhteued out for the
fAst leg of the triangular course
10-uile reaCh-the crew. their
hardest work for the moment done,
dropped 20 the wl1dWard side OF the
deck and chung TO the rail- It's com
paniOn piece on the other side was
later awash.
For the moment there was a
chance 70 look around. Ii was a
moiaent of quarterback strategy
The trial horse was a short distance
behind the challenger. Directors
cf the Shamrock's fate viewed
through their glasses the quarter
deck crew OF the shamrock III and
glasses in turn Ievelled at the sham
rock.
Why Numerals Are Omitted
Just an explanation as 10 why
the Shamrock does not bear any
numerals after her name. she
should. By right of birth, have been
the shamrock IN. but she was never
buIit TO dght for the Americas cup
and Sir Thomas refused 20 give her
this magic number which. indicat-
ing the leaves Of q shamrock he in
tended should be carried only by She
craft which he Gopes TO carry or
the coveted trophy
The navigator spent many mir
utes which parallel rules and chart
stopping now and then 20 glance
sloft at the sails and off the port
quarter at wind -rufIed waters
Then he would confer with the skip
rer and 81 headsail would be trim
med These TRIMMINGS seemed as
vigorous as the tug which wom-
am sometimes would give disor-
grr.F TrCk az her hair. But it had