Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-07-09
The PrisciIIa Inspected.

NeN 1Ork Heraius July <.
A slender, straight spar, cloud reaching
in its perpendicularity MS defined against
the blue of the easterly sky, lowered alone
and seemingly unsupported among the
forest of masts along the East river
yesterday. It was the lofty topmast of
the iron yacht Priscilla, which craft had
been lifted ON the screw dock about
p. m. for cleaning, painting, &C., and at
its tip there futtered in the fresh
northerly breeze the deep blue and blood
red cross triangular pennant of the New
York Yacht Club. The modest insignia
of the club, in vivid contrast with the
soft white of the cirrostratus cloud which
it apparently pierced in its loftiness,
seemed to float in mid air when viewed at
short distance, naught of its delicate
connections with the hull beneath being
then visible. On nearing the dock, how
ever, the bright mast, snow white sail
covers, and thread like rigging stood out
in bolder relief above the drab colored
hull which, being now high and dry,
could be inspected by the critics to their
full satisfaction.
And they came, and they inspected and
they commented, and they discussed each
and every portion of her build and fittings
from her bowsprit tip to the end of her
main boom and from keel to truck all was
criticised. The people swarmed down on
the dock-yachtsmen, club men, long
shoremen, fishermen and men of all sta
tions in life, and they stood not ON the
order of their going" either, for it was
the defender of the Americas Cup that
they had come to see, and all seemed to
be interested in the common cause-to
keep the hard earned trophy here if pos
sible. Among the hundreds of visitors
who inspected the yacht yesterday there
were, of course, many different opinions
expressed regarding her ability. She was
this and she was that; here could be seen
an approving nod, there an ominous
shake of the head as her points of model
and rig were discussed, and had the Pris-
ella been made of putty or some other
plastic material, that each critic could
have had his will regarding her model
and design, she would have been queer
looking craft before sunset yesterday.
But the concensus of of opinion, as
far as Herald reporter could hear, was
highly favorable, for experts could see
that her model was fair, that her ends
were sharp, that her body was ample for
oNhoihby utth Scuboihb 1uuhtloo anu tiiut
her rig and fitting embodied all things
known to the best nautical practice of the
day. She will be scraped and sandpapered
from keel to rail, and then be given a
fresh coat of paint. Above the water
line she will be painted black, with a
gold ribbon II inches wide, and Is inches
below her rail that will define her sheer.
Friday evening she will be lowered from
dock ''ready for the fray" and as soon as
possible afterward, by hard sailing, hei
trim and rig will be put to some decisive
tests that the weak points may be dis
covered.
AS compared with the Boston yacht
Puritan, the Priscilla is little the larger
yacht and will have TO allow her, when il
competition, for about two feet of sailing
measurement. The Priscilla now has
about As tons of lead ballast, and no more
will be needed, it is thought, all rumol
that she is tender, &C., to the contrary
Notwithstanding.