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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 3 October 1901, Page 3

[Our contemporary is in error in stating that the Columbia actually beat Shamrock 11. by 2 minutes 6-7 seconds. The Columbia came in 35 seconds ahead of the Shamrock, and to this has to be added the allowance of 46'7 seconds, conceded to Columbia, making the win 1 minute 21-7 seconds, The telegraphed completed time which includes allowance was Columbia 16,224 seconds, Shamrock 16,304 seconds ; giving the former a win of 80 seconds.] What the Cup is Like.

It would naturally be supposed, from the great interest taken in the race for the Cup, and the vast amount of money spent in the effort to secure its possession, that it is a trophy of considerable value. Yet wo are told that it is only a little misshapen silver mug, of no particular design and so out of date and commonplace that a first-class jeweller in these days would be ashamed to confess it as his workmanship. The bottom is out of it, its csrving inferior, and if malted down it would be worth, according to the present quotations for silver, just £ls. A junk dealer would think hard before offering that. It was made by R. and R. Gerard, of Panton street, London, on a hurried order when the yacht America went over in 1851 and beat the English boats at Cowes, It weighs 134055, is 27in tall, measures 86in around the waist and 24in at the base. The decorative work on it is very simple. Nevertheless (says an American paper}, thousands of persons from all over America will visit New York shortly, and, standing before the Tiffany window on Broadway, gaze at this mug long and deferentially, for, after all, it is the most historic trophy of its kind in existence, and has cost so much money that it gives the average American a thrill to think of it. Such enormous sums have certainly never been spent before on a like object.

A member of the New York Yacht Club, in looking over the inscriptions on the cup the other day, to refresh his reminiscences of the bygone contests, figured roughly that the Englishmen had spent something like £850,000 sterling in behalf of this trophy, and the Americans probably a little more, owing to the expenses incident to the trial races. This, of course, includes only the money spent in striving to defend the cup. When one figures on the expenses of the public in witnessing and belting on the races, an approximate estimate is impossible.

The only things about the Cup itself, however, tell of these millions spent on account of it are the inscriptions, carved in different styles and type. In looking back 50 years these brief legends inspire awe in the heart of the veteran yachtsman. They tell him of one struggle after another when the country was all in a flutter over the approach of a challenger, and when it seemed sure that Yankee supremacy on the water would be snatched away by the Britisher. On each occasion the result of the contest has been the same. The nearest that the game challengers have ever been to the Gup is to look at it in Tiffany’s window, or perchance view it on the banquet tables at the New ?ork Club-house.

Tiffany is now concerned as to wnere he will carve these inscriptions. There is only one small panel below the six large shields about the body of the Cup chat is not filled. On these shields is told the story of the trophy. And the narrative has taken all the space available there for inscriptions, also on the panels underneath, with the exception of one, leaving just enough room to contain the account of this year’s races, should there be more than two. That number can be crowded in and still leave space for another contest. More than that will fill the Cup.