New-York tribune., 1922-10-28
Death i'm Grew
Of Bluenose
Calls Off Match
Finding of Captain George
Demone's Body in Sea
Ends Discussion of Plans
for Mayflower Race
Schooner Sails for Home
Tragedy Brings Gloom to
Crew as They Stow Away
Signs of Ford Victory
BY Frederick B. Edwards

BY Frederick b. Edwards
GLOUCESTER, Mass, Oct. 27.-
Tragedy came to Gloucester to-day
and the petty pickering over the own
ership of the fishermens racing tro-
ply faded away in the face of more
essential fact. This morning, just be-
fore noon, the body of Captain George
Demone, member of the Bluenose
crew, was taken from Gloucester Har-
Dor. Demone, who was a relative by
marriage of Captain Angus Walters,
had been seen last night at o'clock
on the Gloucester main street. He was
not again seen alive.
The news of the discovery of the
sailors body was conveyed to the Har-
Dor View Hotel, where the last official
function of the series was being held.
Chairman H. r. Silver, of Halifax,
who is part owner in the Bluenose,
had just finished reading letter ad-
dressed to w. w. Lufkin, the chairman
of the International Race Committee,
explaining the Canadian viewpoint
| and announcing the intention of the
Canadian officials to leave Gloucester
disposition of the cup and the prize
money to remain in Mr.. Lufkin's hands.
Mr.. Silver cut his remarks short, and
a few moments later asked the mem
bers of the Bluenose crew to return
at once to their ship.
When the luncheon began the Blue
nose was flying the Canadian ensign
from her forepeak and her signal flags
were festooned from mast to mast.
| When the crew returned to the ship
they found the flag at half-mast and
| the. gay decorations slowed away in
their lockers.
No More Race Talk
This tragic accident finished all
match race talk, of which there had
been~a plenty. The suggested race with
the Mayfower was definitely aban-
doned. Captain Angus Walters, with
tears on his face, said: "I've got no
, more heart for racing and I'll race no
more this year in these waters"
1t was tragic and gloomy ship
afternoon and headed for Lunenburg,
, where Demone's widow and three chill
dren are awaiting the return of the
victorious crew.
The tenacious tendency toward con-
troyersy which has done much to ruin
the recent series Of races hung on
until the very last. This morning the
several protests filed against the Blue
nose on technical grounds were passed
by the sailing committee to the inter
national committee for settlement
During the afternoon the international
committee met in a two-hour session
and took up for consideration one by
one the points which had been ad-
vanced. On every point the protests
were thrown out, and the committees
ultimate decision was unanimous to de-
clare the Canadian the winner and
award her the cup.
Childish Discussion
This decision was the final word in
tedious and pitifully childish discussion
OF non-essentials which has lasted ever
since last Saturdays unfortunate fiasco.
It was the only possible conclusion
Objection was made to the Bluenose
sails, the claim being that they were
made in England of finer duck than is
customarily used on the Banks. This
was denied, and the makers names and
marks stamped on the canvas were sub
mitted as evidence of their legality.
1t was claimed that the Bluenose had
set staysail in Thursdays race which
was different from the one used in the
previous contests. This was admitted,
but it was proved that the sail SCI was
part OF the boats regular Banks
equipment, and was in fact smaller in
area than the one used in the first two
races. The charge that the crew of the
Nova Scotian had shifted ballast dur
ing Thursdays race was denied cate
goricaiiy, and the Bluenose skipper was
apsoived from blame for the absence of
the Ford's official observer during
Thursdays race.
That cleared up the protested points,
and the meeting ended in harmony.
In the official statement which was
issued by the committee following the
meeting there appears this paragraph:
I'm the lack of any specific evidence
to back up the protests, the Americans
took the ground that to uphold the
real sportsmanlike attitude which has
made Gloucester and New England and
the United States leader az all times
for fair play demanded that we award
the cup and the prizes to the Bluenose,
forget the unfortunate incidents that
have arisen and devote our energies
to winning the cup for next year"
This seems to be an excellent note
upon which TO leave the 1922 series.
winch nave broken several records,
both for the closeness of their de-
cisions and the amount of controversy
which has arisen because of them.
There is still possibility Of the
Mayflower- -Bluenose race 1t was hinted
tonight that Captain Larkin and Can
tain Walters might agree during the
winter to a match race to be sailed
in Nova Scotian waters. Meanwhile
the Mayflower's owners announced
that they would renew their challenge
for the international trophy next year,
and Captain Ben Pine came out with
the statement that he would build
next spring another Burgess designed
Puritan to challenge for the cup.
Pins's frst cup p ssibility was wrecked
on Sable Island last summer.