Print, <i>Mischief</i> vs. <i>Atlanta</i>, America's Cup, 1881
date: label: date made
content: 1882
name: label: artist
content: Cozzens, Frederic Schiller
label: maker
content: Caldwell Litho. Co.
notes: label: Description
content: This print is very similar to an 1884 watercolor by Frederick S. Cozzens entitled <i>For the America's Cup, The Start</i> showing the <i>Mischief</i> and the <i>Atlanta</i> in the Fifth America's Cup Race on November 11, 1881.
label: Description
content: The original painting depicts the start of the race between the <i>Atlanta</i> and the <i>Mischief</i>. The 1881 challenge was received from Captain Alexander Cuthbert, who had designed and built the centerboard sloop <i>Atlanta</i> for the Bay of Quinte Yacht Club owners in Belleville, Ontario. <i>Atlanta</i> was plagued by a lack of funds and sailed to New York via the Erie Canal and the Hudson River. Stripped of its spars, the yacht was heeled over as far as possible on the bilge to permit passage through the locks, which was bad for the hull's structural integrity.
label: Description
content: <i>Mischief</i>, an iron sloop owned by J. R. Busk of New York and designed by A. Cary Smith, was chosen to be the defender. Built by Harlan & Hollingsworth, it was deeper than most of its competition. It was nicknamed “The Iron Pot," because it was the second all-metal yacht built in the U.S.
label: Description
content: The first match race on November 9, 1881 was started off Manhattan; <i>Mischief</i> won by thirty-eight minutes. Cozzens pictured the start of the third and final race, which was held off Staten Island.
label: Description
content: One of the onlookers described the start of this race: "Just before the start, storm clouds began to gather over the hills and the Island and with such a threatening look that both yachts made preparations for a heavy squall; but with a splatter of rain this burst over and shaking out the reefs, both waited for the preparatory signal. <i>Atlanta</i>, having no windlass, was a long time in picking up its anchor and getting under way and when, at last, it stood toward the line, another light squall knocked the ship over so far that its lee-rail dipped and its sailing master was forced to take in the gaff top sail which had just been set. Both boats maneuvered a little bit at first, running down to the line and going about. <i>Mischief</i> crossed with a good headway and the <i>Atlanta</i> a little over a minute later." In the end, <i>Mischief</i> victoriously defended the America's cup challenge.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
topic: label: Subject
content: Maritime
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Maritime
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content: Cigna Maritime Collection
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content: Transportation
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content: Art
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0279.098
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0279.098
label: accession number
content: 2006.0279
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lithograph
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paper (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall with frame: 17 3/4 in x 24 3/8 in; 45.085 cm x 61.9125 cm