1904 APBA Gold Cup [second running]
North River, New York City, NY, September 22-24, 1904

Vingt-et-Un II Wins Gold Challenge Cup
Vanderbilt's Auto Boat Breaks Down in the Hudson River
Rough Water For Final Race
Hamilton Steers the Winning Boat
Macaroni Burned and Only Fiver Starters Complete the Course

Races for Power Boats Record for Auto Boat New Speed Record by Automobile Boats Auto Boats Race Against Heavy Sea Two Men Rescued from a Blazing Boat Boat Burns in Race Vingt-et-Un II Wins Gold Challenge Cup Autoboat Winner for Ormond Races Macaroni Will Race Again

W. S. Kilmer's fast auto boat the Vingt-et-Un II, which Mr. Kilmer purchased during the Summer for use at his country home in the Thousand Islands, won another notable victory yesterday by finishing first in the third and last race for the Gold Challenge Cup offered through the American Power Boat Association. This victory gave the owner possession of the valuable trophy until six months, at least, when challenges may be received for the cup. Mr. Kilmer entered the boat from the Chippewa Yacht Club, in the St. Lawrence. He was present at the Columbia Yacht Club, foot of West Eighty-sixth Street, yesterday and saw his boat win. C. M. Hamilton, who steered the boat throughout the season, handled the craft, and, although the weather conditions were far more severe than on the preceding day, he made almost as good time and won by a big margin

All of the ten boats that originally entered for the event when the first contest was held on Thursday started but not all were fortunate enough to get back to the club. It was a severe test for the frail, high-powered craft, for a stiff southwest wind was blowing that churned up big white-capped waves out in the river, while reports from the five boats that finished stated that the river above Yonkers resembled the open sea.

W. K. Vanderbilt Jr.'s boat, the Mercedes VI, which won the first race when sailed by her owner in fast time, met with more trouble yesterday. Mr. Vanderbilt was not present. The boat lost over six minutes in getting across the line, for, although close by, something was wrong with the machinery. When she reached One Hundred and Fifty-first Street the boat broke down, her motor failing to work with regularity, and put into a nearby dock. H. A. Lozier's Shooting Star, the challenging boat from the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, broke her clutch after running seven minutes and was towed to a neighboring dock. The worst misfortune of all befell the Macaroni, entered by C. H. Tangeman of the Atlantic Yacht Club and steered yesterday by William Wallace. When off Dobbs Ferry the boat caught fire and was abandoned by the two men managing it. When word to this effect was brought to the club, there was considerable consternation among the auto boat enthusiasts. The Josephine and the Challenger did not finish.

Although little was to be seen of the actual race, the Riverside Park embankment overlooking the club was crowded with spectators for an hour before the start, and, as each of the puffing boats went off loud cheers greeted the progress of the racers up the river. Few of the crowd, however, remained to watch the finish. Both the Vingt-et-Un and the Speedway showed admirable seagoing qualities. In fact, for some of the boats it was absolutely impossible to race. Vanderbilt's boat, for instance, while a fast one in quiet water, offers practically no resistance to a small sea and rapidly fills with water. Had the water been like glass throughout the three races, the result might have been different.

For the future utility of motor boating it is well that a good all-around test was given, for unless pleasure craft can stand the water off the Hudson as it was yesterday and the preceding day, there would not be much pleasure in owning a motor boat.

The Vingt-et-Un mad a splendid spectacle above the clubhouse as she came down to cross the finish line. The water fairly flew from her sides in long, clean-cut volumes, and was thrown high in the air like a fountain. The course, which was said to be 32 knots, despite various criticisms to the contrary, was covered by the winning boat in 1 hour 30 minutes 24 seconds, giving the excellent average of 21.24 knots per hour, or 24.43 statute miles, only a shade poorer than she did on the two preceding days. Her designer, Clinton H. Crane, was particularly pleased with her excellent showing. With the additional ten points that the victory gave her, the Vingt-et-Un finished the series of three races with a total of 25 points

Charles L. Seabury's Speedway was the second boat, scoring a total of 21 points. She made excellent time, doing the course in 1 hour 45 minutes and 37 seconds, and H. L. Bowden's Mercedes U.S.A. was third with 19 points. The Flip, owned by C. H. Holmes of Hartford, scored 18 points, and the Marcerine II got 14 points.

The cup was formerly held by the Columbia Yacht Club, having been won last June by the Standard, which has since been sold and is now in the St, Lawrence. At that time there were only two competitors. The interest in motor boating, as shown by the increased number of starters in the recent events, is clearly growing and preparations are being made to build several fast boats for racing next year.

The Mercedes VI, Mercedes U.S.A. and Macaroni were protested on the score of measurements, and new measurements were ordered by the committee, although in the case of the Macaroni, such action is now unnecessary. The summary:

(Transcribed from the New York Times, Sep. 25, 1904, p. 9.)

[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page. —LF]

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