The San Francisco call. [volume], October 06, 1899, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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VOLUME IAXXVI-KO. 128.
SECOND CUP RACE RESULTS IN FAILURE,
But Wireless Telegraphy Scores a Triumph
Question of Supremacy of the
Challenger and Defender
Remains Undetermined,
Owing to the Scarcity of
Wind.
NEW YORK, Oct. 5. -Given a little more time— a day or two— and with
such -weather as was about to-day, the Columbia ami Shamrock ma; yet
make a race of it, may at least get around the outer mark, which to-day
Fanned by a breeze, a listless, waning zephyr, the yachts stood across the
line with the wink of the starting gun, and then leisurely sauntering into a
zone of calm, whir for four hours and more — until a signal was made and the
race was off— the challenger and defender lay in a trance with naught to . do
but watch their own shadows in the tide rolling dreamily under foot. And
when at least the welcome signal came announcing that the race was off. there
still stretched a good three milt-s of further drift between the yachts and the
outer mark.
Of the two conclusions reached by those who followed this marine saunter-
Ing of the rival yachts, one is that when it comes to a plain case of drifting as
was the case to-day, the Shamrock can drift as fast if not faster than the
Columbia. The other expert opinion is that the weather ought to be ashamed
of v-
The pity of It, save for lack of wind, the day was perfect and warm, the
skies high and blue and the sea all that could be asked. Brought by an excur
sion fleet that seemed to have no end. a concourse of excursionists was there to
look a: this second fiasco of a yacht race. These looked upon It from magnifi
cent distances, the torpedo boats and revenue cutters keeping all craft well
away from the yachts and well clear of the course over which they were trying
Sir Thomas Lipton's steam yacht, the Erin, a guard boat by courtesy, was
carried too near the course, and heedless of tooting whistles from the watchful
revenue cutters; continued to drift athwart the path of the contesting yachts. Two
of the cutters opened their whistles in a long, loud, lingering warning, one
that seemed to have something of an apology in it. for it was clear to all on
lookers that the Erin was not a willful sinner, but had been carried out of
line through inadvertence of some une temporarily, perhaps, in charge. No
one realized that the noisy tooting was meant for the Erin until a gun boomed
from the cutter Onondaga. The smoke of the blank cartridge had hardly
cleared away before the Erin pick up her heels and scurried back to the line
of gunboats, . seemingly full of apology for the error of which she had been
There was promise of a fresh wind when the yachts stood out for the starting
lire— a promise held out by the Weather Bureau, and which the weather condi
tions did not ser-m likely to fulfill
.Over the lower bay lay a bank of mist, a silvery, gauzy vapor, that rendered
indistinct objects half a mile away. The vapor thinned as the hours wore on. but
with the lifting of the curtain there was still no hint of the promised breeze, no
suggestion that it was traveling on schedule time.
Singly ar.d by pairs, squadrons and divisions the excursion fleet came up and
gathered near the starting line. The two racers were there circling abo . the
jade.i lightship, a vessel ablaze with the memory of many such yachting scenes.
Under staysail; club topsail and mainsail, the yachts went gliding over the blue
•water, their amber-tinted sails barely swelling to the languid breeze, the canvas
looking as squalid as if it had been cut from out of that morning bank of mist or
sliced ironi ilie silver wind. The wind, what little there was of it. came from the
northwest, and the course was laid southeast by east, a fifteen-mile run to lee
ward and a beat back to the linish, if, perchance, there should be wind enough
to waft the yachts over that route.
A gun boomed from the yacht Corsair— the preparatory signal— and the yachts
I edged toward the starting line, setting balloon Jibs as they neared It With the
final signal the two yachts crept across the line, and very nearly abreast, the
Shamrock dropping her spinnaker boom to. port before crossing. and eettißir.ihe
spm^aiser immcCTiTeir after. The Columbia, which had crossed the line with
for* staysail showing in addition to her .nher canvas, took in that sail soon after
crossing, and stood down the wind, showing the same sail the Shamrock was
wearing, ior a space of live minutes or so the two yachts kept well together
ne;ther losing, neither gaining. Then tne Columbia began to draw slowly he id'
so slowly as to be hardly perceptible, but gradually she drew away little by little'
bit by b:t. until at last daylight showed between the two. The tired wind droned
and died In flukes and patches. But it was more impartial than the wind of
iuesuay. and favored one yacht no more than it did the other
Realizing that the indolent air was a true Columbia breeze, the narrow-waist
ea lierreshoff boat did her best to improve her opportunity and to leave her
broad-beamed opponent far behind. But the Shamrock was not to be so easily
shaken off. and. persistent as the Columbia's own shadow, the Irish yacht hung
on the flank of the American boat. The wind hauled a few points and, taking in
the spinnaker, the yachts stood away on the broad reach, the Shamrock luffing
ciose up. evidently trying to blanket the Columbia by running under that vessel's
lee. To prevent that the Columbia luffed also and then came a series of jockey-
Ing, in which neither boat seemed to gain any advantage. But the two loitering
along the course, came to a zone where the weakling wind died Into a breathless
calm. The rest was drifting, an aimless, steerage, wayless pointing in one direc
tion and then another. The sea pull drew the yachts together, and for a time It
looked as though they would rub sides.
Finally there came idling by a lazy, listless breeze, a veritable Weary Willie
of a wn.,i. it bellied out the sails of the yachts, and the two headed down to
the taring mark, which then bore south by east, their Jockeying for position
having carried them right out of the straight course on Which they; had started
lu^ consl ;? erab ' y afttr 3 °' clnck when that wind ca ™c by; and "the mark was
still three miles or more away. They had proceeded but a short distance when a
signal was made declaring that the race was off. there not then being time In
which it could possibly be finished, the time limit of five and a half hours ha y
ing expired. l " ours> Ila *-
The two yachts were on nearly even terms when the race was declared off it
being then manifestly impossible to round, the mark and make the fifteen-mile
run back to the finish i:, the little time that was left.
,v, S »° L°u g as . the i wrinfl l *l<s the- Columbia steadily outfooted her rival but in
the battling airs that followed, when it was all drift and Jibe and beat and
reach to catch the streaky wind; the Shamrock worked close up to the Column
bia. .The puff of wind that came toward the end sent the Columbia beading away
on the port tack and with the evident intention of crossing the Shamrocks bow
It looked for a time a* if .he would do it, but as she neared the Emei
yacht Cantain Burr apparently thought better of it. and putting up his helm
passed under "•Shamrock lee. A few moments later the yachfa
assent to the committee heat's query] "Do you consent to a postponement of the
race? and the race was officially declared off. ' lelllenl OI the
, T , There has as yet been no indication as to what either boat can do with the
other in a brisk wind and lively sea. ■»»"• me
The next race, that of Saturday; will be the same old fifteen-mile run to lee
ward and back or a beat out and a run back, according to the direction It the
TECHNICAL STORY
OF SECOND FAILURE
'-' YORK, Oct. s.— The weather con- '
... the early morning hours,
:.; >re favorable for a race
than those of Tuesday morning. The
'. .g-ht from ■ I treat
. . unbia
by the tugs j
and Jam. k Lawrence i
lr moorings In Sandy
I
latins '
lIIs on the !
■
Ct from her tU|
minutes .
imbia changed t lub i
:-iar<l
•
rd was supported In
s. It waa
. ■ .
a wooden club
'.ard ■
■ ■
. tip ■■ her
The Columbia's sails seemed to set
better" than on Tuesday. She carried, as
then, a cross-cut mainsail, and her club
topsail Beemed to be the largest one she
has yet carried. There were four battens
In the leach of the mainsail. Just before
the start she substituted a balloon fore
stay sail for the small one, which she set
in place 01 her way out. Besides
Managing Owner C. Oliver Iselin and Mrs.
Isclir. there were on board Butler Duncan
Jr., Captain "Woodbury Kane, Newbury
Thorn Captain Xat HerreshofT, Herbert
Leads, Pailmaker Hathaway and Seth
Kelley, representing the Royal Ulster
Yacht Club. Captain Charlie Barr
steered the yacht and the crew wore
white working suits with watch cap«
bearing the Iselin colors.
On board the Shamrock, besides her
skippers, Hogarth and AVringe, were
Navigator Hamilton, Sailmakcr Ratsy,
Messrs. McGildowney, Sherman Craw
The San Francisco Call.
lot 6 end Henry F. Llppett, the last
named representing the New York Yacht
Club. Her crew were carrying: Sir Thomas
l^ptou's colors on their watch caps and
they wore white working suits. The com
mittee tug, Walter Luckenbach, estab
lished the starting line at 10:40 by anchor
ing a cable's length southwest of the
lightship. The course signal was imme
diately hoisted. It was southeast by
east. the wind being very light from the
opposite quarter, northwest by north. Un
der mainsail, club topsail and jib and with
balloon jib topsails and staysails in tops
on the respective stays, the two yachts
played for places for a good start during
the interval between the preparatory and
Btarting Bigcalg. The former was given
Ski ppera Barr and Hogarth made the
best of what Little wind they had |
their boats 1 turning capacity in the light
air. Five minuti the starting sig
nal the Columbia, with boom to
passed north of the lightship head
ing to the eastward, and the Shamrock
tg from the southward, met the
Bristol boat about on the line. She luffed
out across the Columbia? wake after hay
■.: tempted to pass her to leeward,
having their booms to starboard.
At two minutes after tli»- gun lire the
Shamrock set her staysail and dropped
I Innaker boom to port. She was
then ■ yards northwest of the
committee boat and heading to the south.
Columbia, coming from the south
had passed the Sandy Hook light
ship, leaving it on her port hand, at about
one minute before the signal. When
thirty seconds were left Captain Barr
rolled his wheel over to port, jibed the
Columbia, broke out her balloon jib top
■.:.d headed for the line. The Sham
rock's balloon topsail blossomed out at
the same moment as the Columbia's, she
w-.^ do the latter's starboard hand and
nearly a length astern when the starting
signal was given. Her spinnaker was
i<r<>kt;n cut while she was crossing the
line. The Columbia's* men rigged out her
spinnaker bf>..m while they were ap
proaching the line, hoisted the sail and
broke it out in just forty-five seconds. The
Columbia had the. better of the start.
The official time for the start was: Co
SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 18953.
The Wizard of Wireless Telegraphy.
MESSAGE FLASHED
TO MAYOR PHELAN
HIS HONOR'S REPLY WILL BE SENT TO MARCONI
The compliments of Signor Marconi and the New York Herald, vibrated wirelessly from
the ocean off the Jersey coast, were presented yesterday afternoon to Mayor Phelan a few min
utes after 1:30 o'clock, San Francisco time. Such a messagi was totally unexpected by the
Mayor.
"What?" he asked. "You don't moan to say that this came by wireless telegraphy?"
He was assured that the message had been started by nn less a hand than that of Signor
Marconi himself, who was even then on the steamer Ponce returning with the challenger, and
defender.
"Well, that beats me." he exclaimed. "How was it done?"
It was explained to his Honor that the message, like the bulletins of the race sent The
Call, had been sent out on Hertzian waves, produced by the Marconi apparatus. These trav
eled at speed until thty met the apparatus on the Xavesink Highlands attuned to the same key.
As the word waves vibrated against this apparatus it was set vibrating in key, starting in mo
tion a registering telegraph, the record rolling off on paper tape, from which it was sent San
Franciscoward instanter by the Western Union Telegraph Company.
"It's marvelous," said the Mayor; "nothing short of marvelous. I can hardly believe it
yet, although here is the evidence in my hands."
And the Mayor read the message again. He wanted to know how he should acknowledge
the compliment.
Mnyor Pheian
"Will The Call send a message for me?" he asked. He was assured it would, and he sat down at once to
write a reply, when he was stopped by the suggestion that it would be better to send the message Saturday dur
ing the progress of the yacht race, when there was a certainty that Sigrnor Marconi would be at sea on the Ponce.
The Mayor fell in with this idea at once and promised to prepare a message Saturday morning for transmission to
the Italian scientist to testify his wonder at the perfection of wireless telegraphy. The Call will send the Mayor's
message, and out on the bosom of the Atlantic Ocean, in the heat of the next struggle for the America's cup, it
will be carried to those on board the steamer Ponce.
lumb'a. 11:00:53; Shamrock, 11:01:06.
The first ten minutes after the start
were anxious ones for those directly In
terested In the Shamrock ;md the Colum
bia. In two minutes the Columbia's bow
sprit began to creep past the Shamrock's
bow, and in ten minutes the Columbia
was clear out ahead of the Shamrock.
Both took In their staysails and jib, so as
to give the immense balloon sails plenty
of draught.
So light was the wind at this time that
only the balloon sriils seemed to be doing
service for either yacht. The main sheets
hunt slack in between the bows and the
booms and the great mainsails hung flat
.nis from over the starboard side of
each yacht.
Mile after mile the yachts traveled slow
ly to the southeast, the Columbia gaining
slowly but steadily all the time. At 5
minutes to 12 the wind freshened a bit,
canttng at the same time a couple of
points to the eastward. Captain Hogarth
saw it first and his crew took in the spin
naker smartly, the Columbia's men follow
ing suit a minute later and setting their
forestay sail at the same time.
Fearing that the Shamrock would try to
luff out and pass him to windward, Cap
-1 tain Barr began to luff the Columbia.
j Both kept it dp for fully ten minutes,
: until they were both heading east. Cap-
I tain Hogarth kept the Shamrock's spln
■ r.aker mast headed, with a couple of men
I holding it half way down the mast, ready
; to be shot out at a moment's notice, until
I 12:02 o'clock, when he let it ru: down.
Finally, at 12:06 o'clock, the Columbia,
still being 50*) yards ahead, kept broad off
! for her course again, the Shamrock Im
mediately following suit. The wind hela
in the same quarter until 12:40 o'clock, the
Columbia meanwhile Raining on her rival.
; At that time the wind backed around to
i the northwest and the Columbia jibed,
; the Shamrock following her two minutes
later.
At 1:18 the Columbia's crew sent her
■ spinnaker out to starboard, and two mm■
■ utes later the Shamrock's was set. Far ,
! away in the blue haze the outer mark was
, sighted at 1:16.
With th<? weather prevailing at that timo
I there was little chance of finishing the
i race within the prescribed limit of live j
and a half hours. During the next half
hour the wind dropped out almost en
tirely.
At 1:30 the spinnakers came in on both
yachts, and they were jibed to starboard.
At 2:10 the Columbia set her spinnaker to
port, taking it in again five minutes later.
Both jibed to port at 2:20, and a few min
utes later a light breeze came in from the
southward. Sheets were trimmed down
and both yachts were soon close hauled
on the starboard tack. The Shamrock set
her baby jib topsail at once, but the Co
lumbia was held some five minutes before
being set.
At 2:38:30 the Shamrock went about to
port, the Columbia following suit twenty
seconds later. The Shamrock then ap
peared to have a slight advantage. The
wind was very light, and the Shamrock in
this smooth water seemed to be doing
very well, her larger sail plan proving a
little too much for the Columbia. When
the later went about to starboard at 3
Continued on Second Page.
By the Aiarcorf system
The Can ueFt flti Rivals
Behind J!"i sivths the
News and secured the
"Scoop" oF the Century
IN addition to the wonderful triumph of wireless telegraphy in reporting the
international yacht races, the world applauds the slap in the face the new
discovery ha? administered to yellow journalism. In this city the mask of
fake and false pretense has been torn from the jaundiced front of the Ex
aminer, the leader on this coast In the ranks of the saffron hued; and, painful
as was the task, the grandmotherly visage of the ancient Chronicle was also
exposed, blstanced by the enterprise of The Call, which first harnessed ;ne new
electrical current to the car of journalistic progress, the very elderly but very
religious Chronicle contented itself with an unavailing effort to convey intelli
gence of the great international yacht race through the agency of Associated
Pr< ss bulletins. It failed ignominiously, but it saved its honor.
The Examiner, equally up a stump, was true to Its policy of fake. fake, al
ways fake. True to its history of fake, it also blundered, this time, however,
beyond all recovery. It was caught red-handed, but instead of sneaking off and
lying quiet until its faking was forgotten, it attempted to brazen it out. At
11:80 o'clock, San Francisco time, it put out its first bulletin on the yacht race.
It read: "Columbia leads; wind twelve miles an hour." For more than an hour
The Call had been continuously posting bulletins on the event that was engag
ing the attention of two worlds. For the next fifty minutes the Examiner did not
post another bulletin. The Call, thanks to wireless telegraphy, still sending
them forth. The Examiner was getting sore, and, yellow journal that it is,
turned positively green with envy. In absolute jealousy at the coup of The
Call, it decided to take a petty revenge on Marconi. 3i"Xi miles away. It was so
blinded with rage at the fact that he was in the service of a rival that it was
blinded to the great scientific value of his achievement. Instead of hailing him
as the greatest discovery of the century, it resolved to scoff, as the world once did
at Galileo and Columbus. In lieu of any other bulletin, it had the extremely bad
taste to post the following:
BY WiRELESS-Macaroni.
12:20 p. m.--The Race Is On.
What a magnificent revenge! Poor Marconi! Great Examiner! Great
heavens!
Fifteen minutes later, having unloaded this gob of bile, the Examiner gave
forth another bulletin. It said the Columbia was seven-eighths of a mile in the
lead. The fake staff had evidently returned from a hasty lunch and was a little
off on distances. Marconi's bulletin of even time said the Columbia was only an
eighth of a mile ahead. Of course, three-quarters of a mile difference made no
difference, according to Examiner calculations, and so that there might be no
kick coming to the adherents of either racer it immediately posted another
bulletin that the "Shamrock is apparently in the lead. "
At the Examiner office, it appears, "you pays your money and you takes your
choice. Which'll you have?"
"While The Call was putting out bulletins right along the" Examiner contented
Itself with just three more until 2:25 p. m.. New York time, when it posted:
"Boats are on home run. Columbia one mile ahead." At 2:45 p. m. it said the
yachts had covered twenty miles and .he Columbia had a good lead. The faker
In chief, not content with this fast sailing, went himself one better. Five min
utes later, or, to be exact, at 2:45 p. m., NeW York time, he posted a bulletin read
ing: '•Shamrock rapidly overhauling the Columbia— a few lengths apart."
Half a mile gain In five minutes. Whew, how the wind must have been blow
ing through the faker's whiskers! Or. maybe, he was onl^- trying to make his
log jibe with the erratic wanderings of the mimic boats on the outer wall.
Half a dozen other alleged bulletins equally dopy and contradictory were
posted,, -probably to keep up appearances. • ■ !£***>
At 3:12. New York time. The Call posted a bulletin that, with the Shamrock
pointing higher, the stakeboat was still two miles away. One minute later the
Examiner posted a bulletin, time New York. 3:15 p. m., which read: "The two
racers are about six miles from finish. Shamrock seems to have gained a little."
That bulletin could mean nothing else than that the boats were on the home
ward reach, racing for all they were worth. The management of The Call wired
Marconi: "Examiner bulletin to the effect that yachts have turned stakeboat and
are on the finish." In the briefest possible period the answer came back:
Examiner bulletin fake. Yachts have not turned the stakeboat.
MARCONI.
At 3:17 P- m.. New York timf. the Examir.fr posted a bulletin saying, "Very
exciting finish probably." At 3:45 p. m.. New York time, the yachts swung around
and headed for home, before they reached the outside mark, and The Call pub
lished a bulletin to that effect, with the statement that the race was declared
off At 3:49 P- ni.. while the Examiner, apparently bewildered, was trying to discern
tbe boats through the haze. The Call posted the bulletin announcing "No race."
And there wasn't. The Examiner was no nearer to the truth in any of its
fake bulletins than were either of the yachts to the finish when the last bulletin
was posted. The Call had distanced it as it has done many times before. The
j, ,',',,. „;,; Chronicle threw up its withered hands early in the game, and with the
ted Press, once the greatest news-gathering agency on earth, took off its
hat to The Call and Marconi.
For the benefit of such as wish to make the comparisons The Call submits
below a number of the bulletins on the races received by this paper, and all of
tho*e posted by the Examiner:
THE CALL BULLETINS.
10-40 a m.-Wlnd blowing at rate about six
miles an' hour from west, very flnky. Haze dis
■ii't%»rine ssea Binooth. Va hi race will start
il a m Hare will be over straightaway course
to windward and return Mtten mile* Betting
In Fneland even money. In New York, even
rnWy ori i to-day' s race; 5 to 3on Columbia for
Se io e M a. m.— Preparatory gun fired.
10:54 a in— Yachts jockeying under mainsail,
club topsail and jib. Columbia to windward
coming about for start.
10:55 a m.— Shamrock swings to get windward
n. tut Columbia swings around In time
°10:57 a. in.— Shamrock crosses line first, Co
lumbia overlapping. Spinnakers set on both
boats.
n a. m.— The? are off.
11:02 a m.— Both yachts standing about near
line under mainsail, flub top-ail, jib staysail.
They are quite close together, but have, very
littii- headway.
11:06 a. m.— Both yacht? have spinnakers oft
to port, matnbooms to starboard; wind north
east, very light
11-1' a m. — Yachts went over line about on
even terms Columbia in better position.
11-22 a in.— Yachts only 100 yards away; slm
plv dri.'tinf,' with breeze. Wi:id must be much
fresher or there will be no race.
11:80 a. m.— Columbia now about a length, her
mainboom squared off to starboard, spinnaker
suuared oft to port, its sails catching little
wind Prospects for finishing very slight.
11-31 a. m.— Clear water between yachts. Col
umbia leading, her balloon, jib and club top
*aiU doiim' light work. Wi.id strengthening
n w, filling sails. Spinnakers also flopping
considerably. .
11:35 a. m.— Columbia now good two lengths
ar.d In better position.
11-4° a m.— Both yachts now about two and
a haff knots Columbia's advantage thus far,
due largely to better luck getting wind Into
h< U-50 Si a b "m.— Columbia four lengths in tead.
Wind freshenir.g somewhat. Both crews are
mussed on quarters.
11:14 a. m.— Only two and one half knots sali
ed In one hour.
Ncon-Columbla's jib drawing well, bo Is
a hamrock'" Columbia has balloon staysail
set Shamrock has hers in Mop*. Columbia has
increased l<*ad slightly In consequence OI shKt
of wind. Yachts heading easterly.
jo.j 0 p m —Both yachts taking in spinnakers.
Columbia taking in balloon staysails. Both now
under mainsail top, club topsails, balloon jib
topsails.
■\"> n % r i" — Wind about northeast; both
yachts moving between five and six knots Co
lumbia about an eighth of a mile In the lead.
Yachts doing very well. Course remarkably
Cl f| r )' s _c ta k-boats going southeast. Yachts
about three miles east by north of here. Co
lumbia full leading. Shamrock on inside near
■„nr«-e held by the stak.-boat.
v' 44 p m —Both yachts held to the north
ward of the course, giving advantage of wind.
They are now heading for the mark, with spin
nakers taken In and main Fails to port
IS-B1 v m —Immense fleet is following races.
I*'a3 P m.— Columbia continues her lead;
wind so light that shivers run up and down
•-ailF of both yaehi?.
" jo" .7 p m.— Cunarder Servla, bound in, passed
"^ « m.— Wind freshening. Columbia
widens the gap. Yachts still several miles from
cutt'r mark.
106 p. m.— Both yachts are sailing under
mainsails, ciub topsails and balloon jibs. Co
lumbia's staysails are in stops.
1:11 p. m.— Wind died out, so that Columbia's
sails hang like bags. Shamrock doing a little
better.
1:15 p. m.— The race is now a drifting match
THE EXAMINER BULLETINS.
11:30 a. m. — Columbia leads. Wind
twelve knots tin hour.
Associated Press boat says that at
12:20 Columbia leads seven-eighths
of a mile.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
and unless breeze springs up the yachts cannot
finish within the time limit.
1:29 i>. m.— Shamrock set spinnaker. Columbia
followed suit five seconds later. Wind is right
aft.
1:24 j.. m.— Shamrock unable to close gap. Ex
cursion craft giving yachts plenty of rwra.
:o-boats doing pood service. Course clear
for two mile* side.
1:30 p. m. — Yachts scarcely making steerage
way. Columbia keeps lead, but does not in
crease it.
1:36 p. m— Pea like a millpond. Both yachts
are in the doldrums.
1:61 p. m.— Yachts slowly drifting toward th»
outer mark, with the Columbia still holding
her I»ad.
1:66%. m.— Columbia took in spinnaker and
sm bosm over the starboard. Shamrock dropped
her spinnaker, but kept her boom to port
\\ md still lacking force to fill sails.
2p. m. — Wind freshening slightly. Shamrock
jibed_ and is gaining a little on ""olumbia.
p. m. — North Atlantic squadron, cruiser
New York leading, passes the Mackay-Bennett
headed for the yachts.
2:OS p. m.— Yachts set spinnakers to port.
Shamrock closing up the gap.
2:13 p. m.— Columbia's lead, which was fully
half a mile, has been cut down M 100 yards.
Shamrock's sails seem to be drawing better.
2:2" p. m.— Shamrock has main sheet eased
off. Continues gaining and less than a hoat'3
length of open water separates the boats.
2:2n p. m.— Wind veered around to the south,
heading Columbia off. Spinnakers were taken
in and Columbia crossed Shamrock's bow on
port tack.
2:30 p. m. — When the wind shifted about, the
Shamrock was to windward and near the outer
mark. Both boats are now heading toward
Long Island on starboard tack.
2:40 p. m.— Columbia worked through Sham
rock's lee. taking the lead and going on port
tack. Shamrock also on port tack a moment
later.
3:05 p. m.— Shamrock on starboard tack was
about to cross Columbia's how. when Colum
bia came about on the starboard tack Sham
rock drew up a'tngside and passed. Columbia
being a short distance to windward.
2.1U p. ni.— Shamrock retains windward
tion, although very close together. Both fly
ing special No. 2 jib topsail.
3:12 p. ni.— Shamrock seems pointing higher.
Sta.keb.iat about two miles away. Boats can
n"t possibly finish in time limit.
3:15 p. m.— Shamrock ccmes about on port
tack. Columbia at once follows. Shamrock's
sails fill quicker than the Columbia's. Sham
rock apparently holding her lead about two
lengths. Yachts close together, making pretty
picture.
3:20 p. m.— Columbia makintr srreat effort on
Shamrock and is slowly succeeding, appar
ently nearly lapping challenger's stem.
3:30 n. m.— Shamrock eats her way ahead a
bit. Columbia's effort does not succeed. North
Atlantic squadron follows wake r.f yachts.
3:34 p. m.— Columbia comes about, on star
board tack holding southeast. namrock holds
port.
3:37 p. m.— Stakeboat in plain view. Both
yachts on starboard tack. Shamrock to wind
ward position and leading.
3:38 p. m.— Columbia comes about <■-. port
tack.
3:45 p. m.— Swinginer around and heading for
home. Columbia drop? Jib topsail. Shamrock
drops staysails and jib topsail. Race appar
ently declared off.
3:49 p. m.— Another failure through the lack
of wind. Shamrock has again showed won
derful ability in lieht airs. She is fully equal
to Columbia in this respect. She showed sur
prisingly well in pointine. Conditions po un
even that day's ra I >t settle which is
better boat In lighter weather.
Long Branch. 12:20 p. m. — Sham
rock apparently in lead.
12:35 p. m.— Columbia leads half a
mile.
New York, 1 :06 p. m— Wind fresh