The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-24
And Topeka Minister Knows
the Yachting Game.
PULPIT WAS SECOND THOUGHT
Entering Navy Was DR.. Kulp's
Life Ambition.
Met Sir Thomas Upton Aboard
the Shamrock II.

yacht race with complete intelligence,
and is even able to detect errors in
the terms used in the press dispatches
concerning events. That Topekan is
Dr. Edmund ]. KuIp. pastor of the
First Methodist church. who before
coming TO Topeka, had spent nearly
all his life on the Atlantic coast, had
been a professional sailor him
self, and had witnessed every inter-
national yacht race, except the pres
ent one, since 1885.
Doctor Kulp watches the press re-
ports eagerly for the outcome of the
race, which is the most interesting
one in history. he says.
ITO me sailing is the best sport of
al" Doctor Kulp said. There's a
thrill in such a race for me that I've
never received from any other contest.
It's beautiful sight, too-more beau
uful than any other sport can offer
U. S. VIII Keep Cup.
Il think the United States will keep
nificent yacht of Sir Thomas Upton
gave the Resolute,' Doctor Kulp
prophesied. The Resolute never
would have lost the first race of the
series if it had not been for an acct
dent. If the Resolute wins the first
fifteen miles to windward in the final
race-which it probably wilI-being a
much swifter boat in beating to wind
ward than the Shamrock IV-the race
is ours.
Sir Thomas Upton is a true sports
man., Doctor Rulp declared. TT has
been insinuated that he is promoting
the yacht races, or taking his part in
them, for the sake of advertising Lip
tons tea, but 1 think that's an unjust
insinuation. In the first place spend
ing at least two million dollars in this
venture is a reckless method of adver-
Using tea. In the second place Upton
has too much love for the sport to
care how it affects his business. And,
by the way, he is not the idle rich man
that many suppose. He has gigantic
business to which he devotes much
of his time, and it is because of his
business ability that he was awarded
the handle of Sir to his name"
Doctor Kulp met Sir Thomas Upton
in 1901 aboard the Shamrock II the
year it raced the American yacht Co.
lumbia.
Living as a boy on the Delaware
river in New Jersey, Doctor Kulp
learned much of sailing from being
allowed to take trips with sailors in
oyster fishing sloops. When about l 2
years old he built a canvas canoe and
fitted it with sails. But what he
thought was the climax of his sailing
career came when he was 13 years old
and had saved enough money to buy
a sailing boat of his own
Ministry a Second Thought.
81 had saved thirty dollars-a large
amount in that time-and invested it
in a. 20foot boat. In my first sail my
boat broke squarely in two and had
to swim two or three hundred yards
to shore.
Il had a great desire to go to the
naval academy at Annapolis and could
have done so, but my mother objected
to my entering the navy and 1 gave
up what 1 had cherished as my life
,T-f--x
entirely a second thought with me-"
Doctor Ku1p is able to review with
ease the international yacht racing
history, since its beginning in 1851,
when the American yacht America
crossed to the English coast, where it
was more than a match for any of
twenty or more boats England pro-
duced, and the America came home.
with the cup. The Resolute and the
Shamrock " now are contesting for
the same cup
American Has Advantage.
America has a little advantage in
the yacht racing, for England must
build a boat that will make the trip
across the Atlantic, and also be able
to compete with the American yacht.
Doctor kulp can describe graphical
" the Volunteer (American) Thistle
race in 1885; the Defender (Ameri-
CAM -Valkyrie race of 1891; the Co
lun bia- Shamrock I race of 1899; the
Column bia-Sham rock II race of 1901,
and the Reliance Shamrock III race
of 1903
lone of the most interesting of the
races was that of the Shamrock II
with the Columbia Doctor Kulp
said The race began with the Con-
stitution, a new American yacht. which
this country had built to replace the
Columbia. But it readily was seen
that it could not sail faster than the
Columbia and the older boat was put
in the race. Capt. Charley Barr COM
manded the Columbia. and no sailor
can beat Charley Barr. Altho the
Shamrock rounded every stake in
every race ahead of the Columbia, it
her."
Was Tinekeeper on Race.
The American success in holding the
cup for so many years against English
yachtsmen lies in the fact that Ameri-
can sailors sail closer to <vindward and
excel in beating to windward, Doctor
Kulp said. The English crafts are
usually larger, heavier and much
harder to handle than American boats,
he said.
The Resolute was designed by Her
reshoff, son of the famous blind Her
reshoff, of Bristol, R. L, who built
! the American yacht Reliance and
| many others. The blind designer drew
l plans for yachts and sailed on them,
giving instructions to the crew.
Doctor. kulp owned 3e-foot sloop,
| the Isonomy, while a minister at Den
nisviile. n. J., until just before he
came to Kansas. The Isonomy had
won the worlds pennant in races be-
| tween boats of its size. In a contest
among American yachts to determine
| which should represent America in