Oct. 38, 1893. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



87S 



New Eng'land Beagle Club All-Age Entries. 



Editor Forest omd Stream: 



Inclosed fiBd All- Age entries of the N. E. B. C, which 

 closed Oct. li with 21 entries, which, with the 11 Derby 

 eatries, make a total of 32 in all classes: 



CLASS A, DOGS AND BITCHES, 13 TO 15lK. 



LONIE riTZ Lee— H. A. P. Smith's dog (Pitz Hugh Lee- 

 Maid). 



Daisy— Thomas Shallcross's bitch. 

 Kitty— E. O. Comforth's bitch (Rowdy— Music). 

 Snow— Ed Marshall's bitch (Stormy— Lucy). 

 Model— Ed Marshall's dog (Stormy— June M.). 

 Jack Bannerman— H. L. Kreuder's dog (Bannerman— 

 Kate). 



GRAYBaEN" DAISY— H. L. Kreuder's bitch (Joe— Grayburn 

 Gyr), 



FaNnT Racer— H. L. Kreuder's bitch (Racer, Jr.— Nellie). 

 ^ GyI-sey a.— F. W. Chapman's bitch (Kenneally's Lee— 

 tone). 



^ MARaTiEijiTE- E. W. Chapman's bitch (Fitzhugh Lee— 

 Diao). ^ ^ 



J ENJTiE ot- ORlAnI)— E. W. Chitpman's tjiteh (Spot of Ot- 

 land — Fannie S.). 



Vice R.— H. V. Jamieson's bitch (Pitzhugh Leg- Neil). 



CLASS B, DOGS AND BITCHES, 13lN. ANiJ tNtiEli. 



Adam— Ed Marshall's dog (Sport— Trill). 

 Lady Novice— A. D. Fisk's bitch (The Rambler— Lady 

 Vic). 



ChAjipion Lou— H. L. Kreuder's bitch (Keno— Fly). 

 MOLLIE Dean— F.W. Chapman's bitch (Sam— Baby Dean). 

 Little Lee— F. W. Chapman's dog (Fitzhugh Lee— Dill), 

 Gypsey Fohest— H. V. Jamieson's bitch (Frank Forest- 

 Sue Forest). 



class E— CHAMPION CLASS, 13lN. AND UNDEE. 

 ZiLLAH— H. L. Kreuder's bitch (Racer, Jr.— Nellie). 

 Clyde— B. S. Turpin's dog (Frank Forest— Sue Forest). 



CLASS P— BASSETS AND DACHSHUNDS. 

 ROCADER— F. W, Chapman's dog (Mauprat— Lottie). 



W. S. CLARKE, Secretary. 



LtNiJENj toss. 



« • « i 



Makfe thfe f«^. ti & Coui'giiig' Club. 



ijrfitOr Forest aiid Stream ': 



I notice your paragraph in regard to A ptopiOsed Natltinal 

 Coursing Club and also your remarks about coursihg rheh 

 not being inclined to have their affairs controlled by oflficers 

 of a club which has little affinity with coursing. The idea 

 seems just, too. 



In England the principal coursing meetings are held under 

 the jurisdiction of the National Cour.sing Club, whose officers 



match, and no fair test, one way Or the other j and it would have been 

 nothing out of the common if one of the small cutters had drifted in 

 an hour ahead of the big schooner. The mere story of this one race 

 gives no proof of the America's superiority, and no justification for 

 the buncombe which has been printed for nearly haK a century. 

 Even if she had lost the race, the fact would have been none the less 

 patent that she was ye^rs ahead in design of the whole British fleet. 

 In order to understand fully the America's superiority, which was 

 fully conceded in England, it is necessary to follow her history from 

 the time she arrived at Havre until she was finally sold after the race. 

 On this showing it will be found that she repre-sented a new departure 

 and distinct advance iu designing. Important as they are, the great 

 points of difference between the America, and her British competitors 

 are unknown to most Americans, and her fame rests on one drifting 

 match and on the fondly cherished delusion that the America's Cup 

 was once touched by the hand of Royalty. 



The America's visit to England, her great superiority of model, her 

 freely conceded speed, and the immediate attempts to imitate her, all 

 mark an important epoch in yachting. The winning of one drifting 

 race sailed wtJiout time allowance at the request of her owners Is of 

 itself a trivial incident that in no way merits the fame which has 

 attended it. 



The question of the merits of Valkyrie and Colonia has been raised 

 in the course of the Cup raCes, atld the Atlantic Y. C. even went so far 

 as to offer a prize of 8500 for a race between them, which offer, how- 

 ever, was not accepted. After the last Cup race, however, there is 

 little ground for doubt that Valkyrie would easily defeat the Herres- 

 hoff keel. - 



Ddring the week the Sun has published two contributions to history, 

 which we allude to elsewhere, both being incorrect. The best story of 

 the America's visit is that told by Mr. Q. L. Schuyler many years ago, 

 a story that is presumably correct. 



West should be a court of last resort and adjudicate upon 

 important points, which are bound to crop up when cours- 

 ing becomes more general. I would suggest, instead of 

 organizing a new club, that the name National Greyhound 

 Club be retained, but at the annual meeting elect only such 

 offict'rs as take part in coursing and let the list be largely 

 bOtnppsed of Western men, sucli as the Bartels, H. C. Lowe, 

 G. G.Page, Dt. Yan Hummel, and other men connected with 

 thb coursing blubs out Wfest, togethet with Messrs. Nelson 

 and Watson in the East. 



To preserve the bench element in the club I wotild suggest 

 that a dog show executive committee be elected composed of 

 those jnembers who are principally interested in dog shows 

 Btid who take no practical intere.st in coursing. In this way 

 the W'hole ground could be covered, the club be kept intact 

 and its membership greatly increased. At one of the prin- 

 cipal cout'sing meetings the club cotdd hold its annual meet- 

 lug, etc. The dog .show end of the club could hold its meeting 

 Utif titue lu New York and attend to what little business 

 thei-e Is in this connection The club could issue its own 

 stud book and Conduct its affairs exactly on the lines of the 

 National Coursing Club of England. 



The reports of coursing meetings past and notice of those 

 to cOhle sbQ\v that we may expect a boom in this particular 

 sport, and 1 think it w^ould be well to take time by the fore- 

 lock and organize now. I have only given my own impre.s- 

 .sions on tiie subject, but perhaps some other greyhound man 

 Of coursei- can suggest something better. Corsair. 

 Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 19. 



• • • • 



Northwestern Beagle Club of America. 



MxLWACKEE, Oct. 18. — The following entries were made 

 for the Northwestern Beagle Club's field trials, which take 

 place at Whitewater, Wis. , on Nov. 1 : 



Class A.— DUUugham & Rummele enter Base; G. A. Buck- 

 Staff; Royal Rover and Uwaco; Chas. Niss, King Lead. 

 _Clfiss B. — Dillingham & Rummele, Panic; Chas. Niss, 

 (^uefenSitiger; Ttu man Sears, Nannie; F. W. Bender, Lottie. 



Class C— Trtiraau Seal's, Rags; Theo. Zschetzsche, Judy. 



Class D.— G. A. Buckstaft", llwaco; Edward Bender, Little 

 Coouy Duke; Dillingham & Rummele, Mayfly and Dot D. ; 

 Louis Steffen, Tony W. 



Hotel accommodations have been secured for all that wish 

 to attend the trials. Louis Steffen, Sec'y, 



• • • • 



HUNTING AND COURSING NOTES. 



How easily errors occur in matters of history is .shown by the letter 

 of Captain Beckwith to the New York Herald, which we reprint this 

 week. Twenty years hence this same letter may be unearthed from 

 musty files of the Herald as conclusive evidence concerning Vigtlant 

 and Valkyrie. The letter in itself is a curious instance of inaccurate 

 obserf ation, hut what is most remarkable is the HeraWs course in 

 the matter. After publishing a statement which could not fail to 

 arouse general denial, it disposes of the whole matter as follows: 

 "The Herald is in receipt of scores of letters taking exception to Mr. 

 L. F. Beckwith's communication, 'Won Fairly by the Vigilant,' pub- 

 lished in the Herald of Oct. 20. While the Herald would like to oblige 

 all its correspondents, it does not care to open a controversy on the 

 subject." 



VoLXWTEER is now at Lawley's yard, where she is being altered back 

 to the cutter rig which she carried before being lengthened in 1890. It 

 is not known whether Com. Forbes will race her regularly next year, 

 but with a full racing rig her possible performances with the fleet of 

 1893 would be of the highest importance. 



James Ellis, Hyannis, Mass., one of the best known fox 

 himtcrs in southeastern Massachusetts, is dead at a good old 



Mr. H. W. Smith, of Worcester, Mass. , is at Mount Morris, 

 Avbere he is staying to indulge in ten days' hunting with the 

 Gen nessee Valley hounds. 



• • • • 



An adjourned meeting of the new San Francisco Coursing 

 CI lib was held Oct. 13, Dominick Shannon in the chair. Ten 

 new nieniluTs were elected and the whole membership is now 

 tweniy-three, in.stead of fifty as stated last week. An open 

 meeting will be held at Newark Park on Thanksgiving Day 

 for all-age dogs with a $5 nomination, also a puppy stake for 

 members at $2..50 entrance. The stock of hares already in the 

 park will be increased by a strong lot from the plains of 

 Merced. 



Tbk letter from Col. Norton in another column is interesting in 

 bringing to light a certain foundation of which we, in common with 

 many others, were ignorant, for the story told after every interna, 

 tional race. At the same time the fact remains that the origin of the 

 Cup is unknown to most Americans, and they still cling tenaciously to 

 the royal flavor with which Time has incrusted the Royal Yacht 

 Squadron Cup. The letter, which wo reprint from the Sun, gives a 

 new and picturesque version, for which we believe there is not even 

 the foundation of a comic cartoon. 



In view of what we have repeatedly written about the America and 

 the first race, Col. Norton's charge of belittling the part played Ly the 

 American yacht is hardly called for. Leaving aside all heroics and 

 patriotic feeling, the first race was on its tecbnical merit? a drifting 



THE INTERNATIONAL RACES. 



Not only are the races for the America's Cup finished, but the two 

 competing yachts have been laid up, their crews have been disbanded 

 Lord Dunraven and his friends have left for home, and the yachting 

 world, with a feeUng of relief that the excitement is at last over, has 

 settled quietly down to talk first and think afterward through the 

 winter. The contest has been marked by the best of feehng on each 

 side, the visitors have made many frieods here and no effort has been 

 spared in making their stay in New Y^ork a pleasant one. The Atlantic 

 Y. C, with its very convenient house and station at Bay Ridge, has 

 been in a position to render special courtesies to Lord Dunraven and 

 his party, and by invitation of the club they have made their head- 

 quarters during the races at the club house. Messrs. Watson and Rat- 

 sey staying there all the time, while Lord Dunraven slept and dined 

 there very frequently. 



The New York Y. C. has not been lacking in its accustomed hospi- 

 tality, and on the Monday after Lord Dunraven 's arrival a dinner was 

 tendered him by Mr. J. D. Smith, of the Cup Committee, at Del- 

 monico's. There were present the Earl of Dunraven, Marquis of 

 Ormonde, Vice-Commodore Royal Yacht Squadron; Lord Wolverton 

 Hon. Hercules Robert Langrishe. Hon. Arthur Paget. Com. E. D' 

 Morgan, N.Y.Y.C.; Vice-Corn. W. Butler Duncan, Jr.. N.Y.Y.C.; Rear" 

 Com. Archibald Rogers, N.Y.Y.C.; Sec'y J. V. S. Oddie, N.Y.Y.C.; 

 Latham A. Fish, J. Frederic Tams and A. Cass Oanfleld, of the 

 America's Cup Committee; Charles Kerr, brother-in-law of Lord Dun- 

 raven: ex Com, S. Nicholson Kane. Chester Griswold and Irving Qrin- 

 nell, the Regatta Committe, N.Y.Y.C. ; Gouverneur Kortrighr. Fleet 

 Captain, N.Y.Y.C: C. Oliver Isehn, Charles J. Paine, R. Suydam 

 Palmer, H. Maitland Kersey, Fleet Surgeon M. J. Asch and E. T. 

 Gerry. 



On the following Sunday Admiral Belmont, of the Corinthian Y. C, 

 gave a dinner on board the flagship Ituna to Mr. Watson, at which 

 were present Messrs. N. G. Herreshofl, A. Gary Smith, Geo. A. Stew- 

 art, Wm. Gardner and John B. Paine. On Oct. 10 Messrs. Watson and 

 Ratsey were the guests of Mr. John Macrea, of Bensonhurst, at the 

 Montauk Club in Brooklyn, there being present J. Rogers Maxwell, 

 Col. Ketchum, vice-commodore Atlantic Y. C. ; Major J. Fred Acker- 

 man and H. J. Gielow. On Oct. 12 Vice-Corn. W. Butler Duncan, Jr.. 

 gave a dinner at the Union Club to Lord Dunraven and his friends. Oii 

 the evenuig ef Oct. 17 Lord Dunraven was the guest of Mr. C. Oliver Ise- 

 lin at the Knickerbocker Club, a number of yachtsmen being present, 

 and after dinner the party repaired to the New York 'ST. C", where a 

 reception in honor of Lord Dunraven was held. On Oct. 14 three of 

 the visitors, the Marquis of Ormonde, Lord Wolverton and Hon. Her- 

 cules R. Langrishe, sailed for Liverpool on the Lucania, and on Oct. IS 

 Lord and Lady Dunraven, with their daughters, and Mr. Charles Kerr 

 sailed on the Majestic. Messrs. Watson and Ratsey have been on a 

 trip aroimd Lake Ontario during the past week, and will sail on 

 Oct. 25. 



On Oct. 21 Captain Cranfield and Valkyrie's crew spent the evening 

 at the Union Square Theater, by invitation of Mr. Keith, the manager. 

 On Monday night a grand dinner was given in their honor by the 

 Yachtmasters' and Engineers' Association, of South Brooklyn, and on 

 Wednesday they sailed on the Teutonic. 



On Oct. 16 the New Roehelle Y. C. held a reception in its club house 

 in honor o£ Mr. Iselin. a large number of yachtsmen being present. In 

 spite of the modesty of Vigilant's designer, it Is quite probable that an 

 attempt will be made to do him honor through a pubUc reception in 

 Providence. 



Lord Wolverton is reported as a part owner with Lord Dunraven in 

 Valkyrie. The full list of the Vigilant syndicate has only lately been 

 made public, as follows: E. D. Morgan, C. Oliver Isehn, Perry Bel- 

 mont. August Belmont. Oliver Belmont. Charles B. Flint, Chester W. 

 Chapin, George C. Clark, Henry Morris (representing the late H. Astor 

 Carey), E. M. Fulton, Jr., Cornelius Vanderbilt, Dr. W, Barton Hop- 

 kins, A. Iselin. 



In the races Mr. Charles Kerr, Lord Dunraven's brother-in-law, 

 sailed on Vigilant as the representative of Valkyrie. Rear-Com. Archi- 

 bald Rogers sailed on Valkyrie in the first four races, m: R. S. Palmer 

 representing Vigilant in the final race. Mr. Lloyd Phcents was origi- 

 nally requested to act as referee in case of any dispute, but declined 

 to do so and no other was chosen. 



The management of the races was entirely in the hands of the re- 

 gatta committee, Messrs. S. Nicholson Kane, Irving Grinnell and 

 Chester Griswold, but with them on the May were the four members 

 of the Cup committee, Mejssrs. J. D. Smith, A. Cass Canfield, J, Fred- 

 erick Tams and Latham A. Fish. 



Vigilant was taken to New Roehelle on the Saturday after the last 

 race; she was gaily decorated with colors from truck to boom and 

 bowsprit end, and both of her tenders, the Commander and the Hat- 

 tie Palmer, were similarly attired in her honor. All the way from Bay 

 Ridge to the Sound she was greeted by whistles and lowered colors, 



It has from the first been Lord Dimravan's intention to send Val- 

 kyrie home as soon as the races were over, but at the last moment | 

 he changed his mind and decided to lay her up here for the winter and ' 

 to fit her out in the spring for the regular races on this side. This de- | 

 cision is likely to prolong the brief life of the four American boats, or 

 at least of three of them, and to \ea.4 to the racing of the class in the 

 club regattas of 1894, a matter for general congratulation, as in the 

 ordinary course of events the class would probably have disappeared 

 even more rapidly than after former races, the various syndicates I 



naturally having no interest in racing other than for the Cup. As 

 matters now stand it is probable that .Jubilee will be properly rigged 

 and that Colonia will be deepened in some way, by more keel or a cen^ 

 terboard, while Vigilant wiU be kept in her present form. 



With them and Valkyrie, the racing next year should be far more 

 exciting than in the present season. Thus far the four Cup defender* 

 have been handicapped by late completion and faulty constrtietion. 

 and all will be In far better condition next spring. It is very doubtful 

 whether any attempt to improve Pilgrim will be made. 



It was decided by Lord Dunraven to lay ap Valkyrie at City Island, 

 hauUng her out on Hawkins's ways, but thus far she has laid at 

 Tebo's, beside the new wharf, where she has been stripped by Capt. 

 Cranfleld and her crew. 



There is so much to be learned from the series of races, each yacht 

 displaying so many points of excellence, that any waste of time over 

 idle excuses is to be deprecated as obscuring the real facts, but each 

 side seems intent to have its say. Lord Dunraven has made a most 

 favorable impression by his conduct throughout the whole negotia - 

 tion and the subsequent races, but this good opinion has not been im- 

 proved by the following statement, left by him to be given out after 

 he had sailed: 



"The first races, which ought to have been to windward and back, 

 were reaches. On the first day the Valkyrie had a fluke and came ouf- 

 ahead. On the second day the Vigilant had a fluke and came out- 

 ahead, winning the first race. 



"The first day's race was void and the second day's was won by 

 Vigilant. That made a vast difference in the contest for the Cup. but 

 the merits of either boat were not determined. Looking at it from; 

 that point of view the first and second races should not be considered 

 in judging the merits of the ships. 



"In the third race Valkyrie was fairly beaten, but Valkyrie was out 

 of trim and had not enough of ballast. In our desire to conform to 

 the 85-foot limit we sacrificed t-oo much. We need not have been so 

 sacrificing, for Vigilant was practically S7ft. long and we should have 

 increased the length of our boat. This would have helped us much. 

 Further, we were greatly interfered with by steamers, not being able 

 to sail Valkyrie at times as we wanted to sail her. But Vigilant would 

 have won anyway, it is my opinion, yet if it had not been for all this 

 the difference in time at the close would not have been necessarily sa 

 great as it was. 



"The fourth day's race was a single-reef breeze race and 1 think 

 Valkyrie would have fairly won the race if our two spinakera had 

 held out. This v,'as very unfortunate, and it was very singular, too. 

 Such an accident seldom happens. In fact, I have never known it to 

 happen in England. 



"As a total result, I don't consider that the relative merits of the' 

 two boats have been determined. I shall leave Valkyrie over here 

 with the intention of racing the yacht next spring in America, if I can 

 make arrangement for yacht races. I understand quite a number of 

 cups were not raced for this year. For these I will try. The course 

 from here to Marblehead is most excellent and Valkyrie, I think, 

 would do more than well on them. 



"I have been asked if five out of seven races would not be fairer in 

 the matter of contest for the Cup. To be sure the element of chance 

 would be lessened in five out of seven races, but I consider this of 

 insuflicient importance. 



' To refer to the recent races again, I think the majority of them 

 should be to wuidward and back. Only one race complied with that 

 condition, and that was the last one. But nobody was at fault. Per- 

 mit me also to say that I was never over-confident, although I thought 

 Valkyrie had a good chance, and I think so still. 



"Jubilee, Colonia and Vigilant— any one of them, or all— should 

 come to England to race. In fact, I am anxious that they should do 

 so. I do not know which would win, but it would be splendid sport, 

 and it is for the sake of sport that I desire it." 



On the other hand, while many Americans are willing to give Val- 

 kyrie credit for her performance in the last race, there are some who 

 are busy making excuses for her coming so close to Vigilant as she 

 did. The following letter to the Herald from a member of the New 

 York Y. C. deals with one important point of the race: 

 To the Editor of the Herald: 



In to-day's issue of the New York Herald, in the editorial article 

 entitled "We Shall Keep the Cup," you say most correctly and ap- 

 propriately: 



"It is claimed that the Valkyrie would have won but for the splitting 

 of her spinaker. While this is not certain— for only nine minutes 

 elapsed between the first split and the final setting of her balloon jib 

 as a spinaker— it does not detract from our victory. If the spinaker 

 had not been so light it would not have split, but it was made light 

 purposely for such advantage as might be gained thereby, and if Lord 

 Dunraven chose a light sail when a strong one was needed he must 

 take the bitter with the sweet." 



With the single exception of the splendid article in your valuable 

 paper and the account of the New York Tribune, the entire daily 

 press of New York have hastil}^ taken the ground that the accident to 

 the Valkyrie's spinaker lost her the race. This universal inference 

 could only come from people who did not see the race, as it is false as 

 to the facts and hasty as to the erroneous conclusion. 



I was present on the steamer St. John during the whole race and 

 carefully observed every course of the two boats. 



When the accident occurred the Vigilant had some time previous to 

 it passed the Valkyrie, taking the lead which she kept to the end of 

 the race. She was about a mile ahead of the Valltyrie at this moment, 

 and the accident to the English boat in the rear could not have any 

 possible action whatever as affecting the Vigilant, which had already 

 taken the lead in a glorious victory. 



It is absolutely necessary to dispel at once the erroneous general 

 impression of tfie public, and I respectfully ask your assistance In 

 setting forth its correction and calling the attention of the public to 

 it through the editorial colunms of your great paper. It cannot be 

 done too' soon before the wrong impression becomes established. 



Every person who attended the race cannot, if his testimony is 

 called upon, do otherwise than support my statement of the facts, 

 and as a yachtsman myself, owning a sailing yacht, the sloop Vixen, 

 I am fully competent to give my opinion. 



Leonard Fojujes Bkckwith, 

 New York Y. C, Oct. 18. Captain sloop yacht Vixen. 



Unfortunately for the observer who would correct so many others 

 equally well placed and equally competent, his statement of the oc- 

 currence is contradicted by well-established facts; he is doubtless per- 

 fectly honest in his belief, but he saw very imperfectly the various 

 incidents of the race. Our own observation is borne out by many 

 printed accounts, as well as by the testimony of many spectators. 

 Referring to notes taken with great care from a position just abeam 

 of the two yachts, we have recorded that at 3:S9 Vigilant ran to wind- 

 ward of Valkyrie, the latter's spinaker coming iu as Vigilant came on 

 her beam. At 3:32 a spinaker was set on Valkyrie which instantly 

 split, falling into the water and dragging under the bow, and not 

 until 3:38 was the third spinaker set. From our position to leeward of 

 the big jibtopsail, it was not possible to distinguish just which 

 spinakers were set, and the tear in the first one was not visible, though 

 the whole performance of taking in the first sail and setting the 

 second and third was distinctly seen. 



The exact order of events, as determined afterward by careful inquiry 

 was as follows: The first spinaker, set at the turn, was of heavy 

 Scotch hnen, and very strong, quite the equal of anything used on 

 this side. The sail was set flying, in Enghsh fashion, a serious mistake 

 in so strong a wind, and the foot caught on the steel bowsprit bitts, 

 making two tears each about a yard long, and close together. Each 

 of these tears was hastily lashed with twine at the hem and the sail 

 sheeted out, but one lashing shpped off, and with such a strain on a 

 raw edge of cloth, the sail could not be properly sheeted down, but 

 was constantly lifting and bellying far out. 



Valkyrie ran for some 50 minutes with the sail holding, but when 

 Vigilant covered her the spinaker lifted and went over the stay, catch- 

 ing in a ropsail hank and starting a tear half way up the leach. When 

 the sail filled suddenly after Vigilant drew ahead, this tear ran across, 

 rendering it useless. It was mstantly taken in and the only other 

 spinaker, the very light one, of a finer grade of Scotch linen, was set 

 in a manner that does credit to the crew, but almost as a matter of 

 course it burst under such a strain, for which it was never Intended. 

 Some time was lost in getting it aboard, and in all nine liiinutes 

 elapsed before the third saU, the "bowsprit spinaker," or what is 

 called here a "balloonjibtopsail," was set. 



This we beheve to be the true statements of the facts; but if any 

 proof be needed of the incorrect judgment formed by Captain Beck- 

 with it may be found in his estimate that Vigilant was about a mile 

 ahead when Valkyrie's spinaker split. The average speed of Vigilant 

 down wind was 12 knots, or say 13 for the last few miles, at which 

 speed she would cover one mile in about iy^ minutes. She crossed the 

 line 2 minutes and 13 seconds ahead of Valkyrie, or less than half a 

 mile in distance, and yet Captain Beckwith claims that when Valkyrie's 

 spinaker split, some twenty minutes before, Vigilant was a mile in the 

 lead. 



The mere winning or losing of a race by a few seconds more or less 

 speaks little for the merits of a yacht, and the present question has 

 received so much notice only from the fact that this was the closest 

 race ever sailed for the Cup. While the matter is hardly worth dis- 

 puting, it does seem that 40 seconds might very easily be lost to a 

 yacht for 9 minutes without a spinaker, a torn sail dragging under 

 ner bows for a part of the time and her crew running about the deck. 



The fferaWs statement that the first spinaker split because it was 

 t«o fight is all nonsense; the two sails were probably confused by the 

 Herald writer. While we believe thoroughly that Valkyrie would have 

 won had her spinaker held, we are just as firmly convinced that if Vig- 

 ilant had been handled in the same way as Valkyrie she would have 

 never passed the other. We did not at first credit the statement thai 



