Oct. 21, 
glimpse of sunlight was met just below Governor's Is- 
land ; over the city the sky was clear. 
The fog caused two collisions in the fleet, besides much 
trouble and delay to vessels on the Hudson and the Sound. 
The steam yacht Erin has carried many guests each day, 
they being taken down to her at the Hook on a small 
steamer from the city. On Thursday morning the steamer 
Wm. Fletcher had a large party, including Lord Charles 
Beresford, on board, bound for Sandy Hook, where the 
Erin was lying. Just off Governor's Island she came in 
collision with the Thirty-ninth street ferry boat West 
Brooklyn, the two striking heavily and the Fletcher driv- 
ing her bows under the guards of the ferry boat. There 
was some alarm and confusion at first, but the two were 
separated and towed off, both considerably damaged, Sir 
Thomas Lipton's guests being transferred to the tug At- 
wood. just as the fleet was starting home from the L' = . 
ship the steam j'acht White Ladye came in cohision w. 
the revenue cutter Manning, of the guard fleet, the yacht ^ 
bowsprit sweeping away the port rails of the cutter's 
bridge, her dinghy and davits, and tumbling a rapid-firing 
gun, a relic of the Viscaya, to the deck. The yacht lost 
her bowsprit and other parts of her headgear, but no one 
was hurt and the hulls were uninjured. The responsibility 
for the collision has not been determined. 
Fridaj' brought no change of conditions, the same calm 
weather and the same fog thron^h the night and morning. 
This time the fleet steamed direct to the point of the 
Hook, where the two yachts were lying at their moorings 
with sail covers on. The regatta committee tug was out 
at the Lightship until about noon, when it ran in and 
signaled that the race was again postponed. 
Friday night was comparatively clear through the 
evening, and though the fog shut in after midnight it was 
less dense than on the previous days. At 9 o'clock there 
even a light draft of wind from S.E., shifting a little 
later to S.W., and the oyster sloops and other small craft 
in the bay were visible with sails filled and good Avay on. 
With a bright sun above and weather like summer, there 
were hopes of a race, and many more people were present 
on the steamers, a number of the larger boats going down. 
All went well on the way, a nice little breeze from the 
southward was coming in, and all hands felt certain of at 
least a start. When the Lightship was in sight the fog 
was still pretty thick, the two yachts being dimly visible 
with mainsail and club topsail set and headsails in stops, 
but there was no wind. The usual wait followed, and 
just after noon the signal was set and the fleet started 
home. 
The continued failures have brought serious disappoint- 
ment to thousands of people who have planned for months 
to see the series of races. Many from nearby points have 
arranged to take their vacations during the race week, or 
to get awajr on those days set in advance for the races, and 
they have used up their time during the two weeks with 
no better result than three half-races. A large number 
have come from a distance, some from England, Ireland 
and Scotland and many from the West and Canada. They 
have spent two weeks in New York, and have paid out a 
good deal of money in steamboat tickets alone, and yet 
have had to leave" without seeing one race. Saturday 
marked the limit for a large number. They stayed over 
from Tuesday to Thursday with every confidence of a 
break in the weather. On Thursday they decided to risk 
one more day, and after that, unless they took the steamers 
on Saturday morning, they again decided to risk a final 
day and start for home on Sunday. There was quite a 
large Canadian contingent on the New York Y. C. steamer 
Republic, which had been faithful through aU the seven 
dreary trials, but they gave up on Saturday, and all left 
that night. Most of the Royal Ulster party are still here, 
those officially connected with Shamrock having engaged 
passage long ago by the Oceanic on Wednesday, Oct. 18. 
Sir Thomas Lipton. Mr. Ratsey and Mr. Fife, who is stfll 
quite ill at his hotel, will, of course, remain indefinitely. 
Tt is a curious thing that the majority of those who have 
from the first planned to see these races will not do so ; 
on the other hand, many who had originally no intention 
of seeing them have had their interest awakened by the 
continued delay and incidental discussion of the merits of 
the boats, and are prepared to take advantage of the first 
change of weather to run on to New Y>rk for at least the 
concluding races. ' , t. j- 
The problem of a clear course seems t6 have been dis- 
posed of by the prompt and perhaps arbitrary action of 
the Government in patrolling the course and preferring 
charges against all offenders. One of these, the captain of 
the steamer Glen Island, has already had his license re- 
voked by the Treasury Department, and others will be 
similarly punished. There has been, apparently, but little 
deliberate A'iolation of the regulations; though through 
ignorance or carelessness some yachts and steamboats 
have broken through the lines. Whether through the fear 
of punishment or a higher motive, the steamboat men 
have accommodated themselves to the situation and in 
most cases kept well within bounds. There has been no 
time when either yacht was interfered with Such boats as 
have broken through the lines have been driven back 
before they were near the yachts. The lines themselves 
have been so drawn as to keep the inshore and oftshore 
divisions of the fleet so far apart that they have little 
effect in breaking or banking the wind. On one or two 
occasions an unexpected change of course on tlie part ot 
the yachts has caused the fleet to scurry away m haste, to 
its own temporarv inconvenience, but without harm to 
the racers It is probable that through the disorganization 
of all plans bv the long delay and the consequent falling 
off in attendance, many of the smaller steamers and tugs 
have given up; and even though a large number of people 
may turn out for the final race or two, they will find room 
on a comparatively small number of large steamers such 
as the Peck, Lowell, Monmouth, Columbia and Republic 
All set pans both on the part of the steamboat owners and 
their patrons, whether individuals or clubs, have been dis- 
organized; and the business is likely to readjust itself on 
new lines, a certain number of large steamers and some 
of the medium-sized ones following every day, at lower 
prices than first arranged. . <t.„ <!:^ <t^ 
The prices as first set ranged from $20 to ?io, $b *5 
and down to $1 on the smaller steamers for a single daj^. 
For the sum first mentioned, one could boast that he had 
been on the same steamer as Mr. Marconi the wireless 
telegraphy expert. He could send some silly message by 
wireless telegraphy to friends ashore and have it printed 
POHEST AND STREAM. 
next day wirh Iiis name in a mofiiin;^ paper, and he might 
possibly nave his photograph taktri 3,nd similarly be made 
knovi't! to the world. 
The steamers charging $5 pt r trip were practically equal 
to the higirer priced ones so far as viewing the yacht 
race was concerned, and as a rule they were not over- 
crowded even on the first days. In some cases these 
steamers sold series tickets at reduced rates. The 
steamers which charged $3 were in most cases very much 
crowded at first. By the middle of last week the steam- 
boat business had gone to pieces and the prices were 
broken. Many boats after the failure of Thursday sold 
tickets at reduced rates for Friday and good for Saturday 
if no race was sailed on the former day ; and some con- 
tinued to carry Thursday's passengers free for the other 
:\vo days. One of the largest of them, which started at 
'is for a single trip, has announced a rate of $3 for (iie 
L-alance of the races. 
As a rule the patrons of the steamboats seem io have 
been fairly treated, though some which have advertised 
to be at the line in good time have missed several starts. 
One notable exception is the steam.bcat Georgeanna, of 
I'hiladelphia, chartered to some unknown parties and run 
?s a $2 boat, though some tickets were sold for less money 
and some Avere distributed free. The boat, in charge of 
Alexander Sterck, an alleged licensed captain, left late on 
the morning of the first race, with a large party on board. 
As soon as she was clear of her dock different gambling 
layouts were set up in all parts of the boat and the pas- 
smgers were invited to play. When the Hook was 
ii-ached, long after the rest of the fleet had gone to the 
line, the captain refused to go any further, and ultimately 
a fight ensued between the deluded passengers who had 
been first swindled and then robbed, and tke gamblers who 
had possession of the boat. These, it is charged, num- 
bered about sixty, the whol? affair being apparently a 
dc-;. berate scheme of robbery. The ensign was set Unicn 
do >\ n as a signal of distress by some of the passengers, and 
thc; in turn were assaulted by the gamblers in the effort 
to re store it. Before the boat was inside the Narrows on 
her return in the afternoon, word was sent to the police, 
and the captain and some of the alleged gamblers were 
arrested at the dock. The captain is now under examina- 
tion, charged with having no license and with being in 
league with the gamblers. 
\ >e New York Y. C. has provided well for its members, 
the lublic, a large and fast side-wheel steamer, running 
down -very day and - -ing members free, while tickets 
are scid to members 101 .he use of their friends. An 
orchestra and an excellent luncheon by Maresi have 
served to divert all hands from the serious side of the 
question. 
The unprecedented vagaries of the weather have broken 
the proud record held by Marblehead since 1886, when 
Galatea and Mayflower waited there day after day through 
the latter part of September for the breeze which never 
came. The following table, compiled by Mr. Emery, the 
Weather Bureau expert, shows what might reasonably 
be expected at this time of year : 
OCTOBER, 1S96, 
Date. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
?,. 
4, 
5. 
6. 
OCTOBER, 1889. 
, 9 
11 
, 9 
12 
, S 
41 
7 
5 
14 
8...,.,., 
5 
9 
13 
11 
4 
6 
14 
6 
5 
«.«■«.>« IS 
....... li 
7 . _ 
5 
S 13 
15 
30 
, 9 
9 
22 
14 
13 
5 
12 
12 
6 
16 
at 
11 A. M 
. 6 
8 
. 4 
16 
. 19 
. 16 
. 12 
. 12 
. 9 
. 7 
. 10 
. 13 
. 22 
. 8 
. 16 
. 17 
. 9 
. 8 
. 17 
. 10 
. 4 
, 8 
. 5 
. 10 
. 18 
. 15 
. 13 
. 10 
. 9 
. 27 
. 16 
. 13 
. 16 
. 18 
. 10 
. 4 
10 
Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity Velocity 
- at 
at 
at 
at 
at 
. Noon. 
IP. M. 
2 P. M. 
3 P. M. 
4 PM. 
9 
14 
11 
11 
14 
7 
14 
17 
21 
23 
10 
11 
9 
9 
14 
13 
10 
9 
8 
9 
20 
• 18 
18 
19 
20 
15 
15 
15 
16 
15 
15 
19 
19 
17 
17 
16 
20 
16 
19 
18 
8 
12 
15 
16 
16 
7 
11 
11 
10 
12 
OCTOBER, 1890. 
6 
9 
16 
14 
11 
16 
15 
12 
17 
17 
21 
21 
15 
16 
16 
7 
9 
9 
9 
13 
17 
14 
14 
19 
17 
16 
17 
13 
12 
13 
6 
5 
5 
4 
3 
9 
6 
16 
9 
10 
19 
20 
15 
13 
15 
9 
11 
9 
10 
n 
OCTOBER, 1891. 
4 
6 
8 
8 
6 
8 
12 
10 
9 
10 
7 
8 
15 
2S 
29 
10 
9 
9 
9 
8 
18 
15 
13 
16 
17 
16 
IS 
17 
16 
17 
12 
10 
7, 
4 
6 
9 
10 
10 
13 
12 
S 
10 
112 
14 
22 
23 
23 
21 
19 
22 
OCTOBER, 1892. 
15 
15 
18 
18 
17 
16 
14 
14 
13 
15 
20 
20 
19 
20 
20 
21 
19 
19 
17 
16 
11 
14 
13 
12 
9 
3 • 
4 
4 
5 
10 
11 
12 
10 
14 
IS 
8 
9 
8 
10 
10 
11 
11 
11 
7 
7 
9 
8 
7 
5 
5 
OCTOBER, 1893, 
6 
7 
9 
10 
8 
9 
8 
7 
6 
7 
S 
S 
7 
4 
4 
9 
'11 
12 
U 
12 
15 
12 
13 
13 
12 
5 
6 
6 
6 
7 
16 
19 
15 
21 
18 
14 
15 
13 
12 
12 
4 
4 
7 
7 
8 
5 
7 
7 
8 
8 
OCTOBER, 1894. 
10 
11 
6 
5 
9 
9 
9 
10 
10 
8 
20 
21 
18 
19 
17 
16 
15 
14 
15 
IB 
6 
7 
7 
5 
5 
13 
13 
15 
12 
13 
13 
12 
10 
11 
11 
29 
29 
26 
24 
21 
30 
27 
27 
21 
23 
11 
11 
10 
10 
11 
OCTOBER, 1895. 
11 
9 
7 
10 
11 
20 
20 
24 
19 
20 
11 
11 
16 
13 
15 
11 
11 
9 
9 
9 
6 
8 
10 
9 
5 
13 
14 
20 
27 
25 
14 
19 
18 
16 
19 
e 
6 
5 
7 
6 
16 
19 
24 
30 
34 
34 
10 
10 
14 
3- 
4 
5., 
« 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
7 
6 
5 
8 
8 ■ 
7 
ID 
14 
.14 . 
■ iiy 
13 
14 
IS 
14 
11.0 
9 
to 
■ 
•'9 • 
, 7 - 
1 
19 
19 
2ti 
23 
2fl 
23 
22 
23 
25 
24 
23 
24 
1" 
11 
'.} 
g 
10 
8' 
18 
IS 
IP 
14 
14 
17- 
30 
28 
27 
2S 
28 
31 
29 
29 
29 
27 
27 
OCTOBER, 1897 
11 
11 
12 
IG 
13 
13 
7 
1 
S 
g 
e 
0 
6 
6 
6 
7 
7 
10 
10 
10 
13 
7 
■ 5 
5 
5 
(5 
4 
'l 
7 
8 
5 
8 
4 
7 
12 
15 
19 
21 
22 
24 
22 
7 
5 
5 
6 
11 
9 
6 
5 
6 
10 
13 
22 
29 
28 
13 
15 
If! 
12 
OCTOBER, 1898. 
6 
7 
fi 
(J 
9 
7 
10 
f. 
11 
S 
4 
7 
21 
20 
20 
20 
15 
17 
12 
16 
14 
17 
14 
13 
12 
. 12 
12 
11 
11 
12 
5 
6 
6 
5 
7 
in 
7 
7 
6 
10 
8 
10 
9 
8 
11 
13 
12 
14 
19 
23 
24 
24 
28 
31 
15 
17 
17 
16 
16 
15 
From the above it will be seen that the present pro- 
longed period of almost complete calm is abnormal and 
unprecedented, and that moderate to fresh breezes, largely 
from N.VV., might confidently be expected. At the date, 
of writing, the fog is shutting in thick for the seventh 
night, with an increase of humidity and no wind, while 
the reports from all parts of the country give no promise 
of any change for the next few days. 
First Race — Windward and Leeward.. 
EIGHTH DAY — MONDAY, OCT. 'l6. 
Columbia Wins by 10 Min. 8 Sec. 
The outlook on Sunday evening from the Highlands 
was promising, a light westerly wind having driven off 
the fog so that the Scotland Lightship, nearly four miles 
away, was plainly visible. About New York it was very 
discouraging. At 10 o'clock the moon was shining brightly 
in a sky that was apparently cloudless, but the fog was so 
heavy that the moisture condensed as it touched the trees 
and fell in great drops like a heavy rain in summer. There 
was no wind and little promise of any. The morning 
was worse than ever, save for a light N.E. breeze over the 
city, the fog was thick, with an excess of moisture that 
almost amounted to rain, and there were no signs of the 
sun. The chances of a race seemed so small that few 
turned out, about sixty being present on the big Republic, 
with small parties on the Plymouth, Shinnecock, Dolphin, 
Mount Hope, Grand Republic and a few other steamers, 
and about fifteen steam yachts. 
The yachts left the point of the Hook about 10 o'clock, 
towing out to the Lightship, where the wind, about S.E., 
was blowing six or seven miles an hour. The fog stiU 
hung over the water, but objects were visible at a distance 
of a mile or more. The committee boat, with the mark- 
boat, guideboat and the extra tug, was at the line about 
10:20, and the course signal was set at 10:30, the wind 
then being east, making a windward course. The yachts 
carried whole mainsails and club topsails, the latter being 
smaller "i:an in the first trials. 
Tbe preliminary signal was given at 10 :45, and the 
prcpa.„:,.ry at 10:55. Shamrock came for the line ahead 
c- Ccl iribia, both on starboard tack, the baby jib topsails' 
being set in stops. When the gun fired at 11 Shamrock 
was near the line, with Columbia just astern of her, both 
moving slowly. Shamrock crossed first, at 11:01:03, and 
Columbia, luffing well out on her starboard quarter, went 
over three seconds later and a short distance astern, with ' 
much the better start. The wind had freshened to eight or 
nine miles an hour, with fairly smooth water, and the 
conditions were perfectly fair and good of the kind, for a . 
light weather race. The start was a very tame one, in nr. 
way exciting, but nevertheless interesting from the clever 
berthing of Columbia on Shamrock's weather. 
Though they moved slowly, Columbia was sailed from 
the time she crossed the Une, going away with sails 
drawing and a show of life. She began to weather out on . 
Shamrock at once, and as the event proved, had hei 
beaten within five minutes, for the rest of the day it was a . 
procession, and a rather slow and stupid one to the specta^ 
tors, whose appetites had been whetted by days of disap- 
pointment and the favorable showing of Shamrock at 
different times. To summarize briefly what scarcely de- 
serves to be told in detail, Columbia, well handled through- 
out, made a steady gain for the whole fifteen miles of 
windward work, making nearly ten minutes in three 
hours' sailing, while off the Avind she gained a little more' 
The many tacks and rapid changes of position made ii 
impossible to estimate any very small gain or loss from 
time to time, but at no time was it certain that Shamrock 
was holding her own.- Her work was of a very dift'ereni 
order from that shown on several occasions in the firsi 
three days, when she pointed high, footed fast, and 
fetched vvell to windward; noAV she most noticeably failed 
to point, Avhile she failed to hold on beside Columbia, it 
was impossible to see who Avas at the tiller, but she was noi 
sailed as in the first trials. Her trick seemed to be to fooi 
ahead without regard to AvindAvard position. 
The wind at the start Avas flawy and headed one and 
the other in turn, but it was evident that 'Columbia wa 
climbing out steadily on Shamrock's Aveather. Shamrock 
was the first to tack, at 11 :x5, Columbia at once fbllo'wing. 
being noAV on the Aveather bow instead of where she 
started on the weather quarter. Shamrock footed qhead 
very fast, and was soon in the lead in mere distance, biii 
woefully to leeward. At 11:33 she came on starboard 
tack, but Columbia Avas about on the instant, and furthei" 
ahead than on the first tack. They held this leg- for twelve 
minutes, Avhen Shamrock went back to port tack, Columlra 
following, but before she Avas fairly about Shamrock wi ; 
back to starboard. Before Columbia was on starboa'd 
Shamrock was back on port, and as Columbia came about ^ 
again Shamrock went on starboard. This fool businr - 
kept up until Avithin seven minutes the pair had made si^: 
tacks, Shamrock always leading. Whether or no ?' - 
gained any in mere quickness in tacking, at the end of the 
bout Columbia was quite as far ahead as at the start. 
