New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-21
PREPARING THE BIG FLEET.
yAcHrsMEN GETTING READY FOR SUMMER
RACES.
UNABLE 10 TAKE PART IN THE CENTENNIAL
NAVAL PARADE - MANY NEW CRAFT
LAUNCHED-THE AMERICAS CUP
UHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

the Naval Parade has received only few entries. and
there is promise of the small number increasing
materially. Tho most conspicuous vessels in the
yacht fotila viii be the steam-yaehts, Of course.
Thus far only hafa-dozen have been promised prom
lnent among them being Commodore Gorry's Electra
and soseph stickney's susQuehanna Captain John
y. Kepnedy's little beauty Viola will be there, for
the Captain IS always Of the first 10 put his
boat into commission. OF the sailing fleet, few
important yachts Will be In commission that the
representation will DO Insignificant both regards
number and character. There is months work yet
before majority Of the yachts win be in the water.
number Of the smaller clubs the North and East
Rivers and down in Newark Bay, have passed reso-
utions deciding send delegations of catboats and
sloops, but can expect much splendor from
such display. Captain Erben, u s. N, In charge
of the United States office Of Marine Engineering, in
the Posofco Building, expresses regret that he can
give no moro sanguue reports on the prospects Of the
yacht parade Aaron Vanderbilt OF Admiral Portcrs
staff has visited all the principal yacht clubs regard
Ing representation and states that all the yachtsmen
whom he has seen coincide with the view that the time
Of the parade is too early in the year to find many
yachts in commission This is deplorable, for, as
visitors to the American Yacht Club regattas can
testify, there is no graceful sight than fleet
| Of modern American steam-yachts.
Last week was week Of launching, and some Of
the finest additions to the feet arc now in tho water
The craft have all slid OF In graceful and we'll
behaved manner and mishap has been recorded
| week ago yesterday DIR. W. Seward Webb's steam
yacht Elfrida launched by moonlight at Whining
ton She is a beautiful vessel, finished exqusitely,
and will be the largest yacht OF the Lake Champain
beet Her peculiarly of construction, namely. NOV
ability OF and to enable her TO pass through
tho locks OF the lake. has been described. On Tues
day the first OF tho new Burgess fortes, j. Arthur
| Bebee's Verena, launched In Lawleys yards In
Boston, in a rather quiet way. It was found that
she sts low In the water her artual waterllne being
only about three inches below the designed water
line. When her masts stopped, she is liable to
sink below the designed line, and some changes may
have 10 be mado to save her classification with the
| forties. On Wednesday morning probably the most
interesting forty' of all, Gordon Princes Helen, was
launched at Frisbeo's, Salem The Helen is tho yacht
designed by A G. Mcvey, tho yaohtiDgwriter OF Tho
| Boston Herald, and the accuracy with which she
was planned was shown by the fact that when sho
settled I'm tho water It was found that in all prob
ability her designed and actual water-lines Will coin.
eide exactly. Groat feSts are expected from her
| win good reason. Tho same morning the Burgess
Hshingsohoonor Fredonia, Commodore Forbes was shd
on at Essex, In the presence OF largo company OF
| distinguished yGchtsmen. The Fredonia slipped INTO
the water With such speed that she ran against the
| high shore on the other side Of the yard IL was
feared she had sustained INJURIES bue an examination
at low water proved those apprehenslons uniouhued
The schooner made a fine appearance and loked as II
she had some speedy qualities She Is now oehs
fitted out in Boston, and viii make two monthS
! cruise to Fayal.
Tho discussion Of the defender question OF course
| continues and Arguments made on both sioes
In New-York IL seems the Volunteer is the favorRe'
and tome yachtsmen 90 so far TO docry the actlon
| OF the Americas Cup Committee in announcing uia'
| races at ALL In the meantime, It Is not AZ al cel
tain that tho Volunteer Will sail in the trial races
| II would, Of course be deplorable u the "ohue'iu
| sloop should not have opportunity TO demonstrate
her remarkable speed against the latest development
| n, sneed clements Yet there is little outward
| ign here of any one purchasing or chartering the
yeh,nteer as there is OF any one building seventy
toot defender General Palue maintains his position
and f. firm in his determination not to taBe inc sio"P
out this wear He declares that he mas reSeNoo no
offer for her. and that unless he does Sho VIII not
appear In the trial While tie General Is say
inc ,his be Is devong his attention To the new inter
national cup for seventy Ooter, and his energy il
sufficiently well known TO warrant ono In expecting
/ Improbable results Contrast the GeneraPs wilhs
ness TO sell or charter the Volunteer to NeW-lork
| vaebtsmen with his refusal TO defend the Americas
Gun and II looks Just little a. II he himsen was Con-
WINGED that tho most glory of tho summers races
! would be attached to the Newport International con-
test ~ Nev.York elects 10 secure the Volunteer and
| MT her against tho valkyrie 1t may DO that mo
CREATION OF this cup and the cold reluctance Oh
Dos,on people to show much Interest m the old arc
echoes OF the feeling which vas caused In the Eastern
Yacht Club last summer, when the NewYork captains
| doo,dnd AT Cottage City not 10 go To Marbleheid,
though they had already accepted the invitation ana
had caused all preparations to be mace
In this connection a Boston letter, under date OF
| April IL is " interest. IL reads as follows;
The following circular issued to-day by the Eastern
Yacht Club is the result Of General Paynes oner to sec
that Gun for seventy fooers Is forthcoming chal'
,enge cup for International matches between yaehS MOI
exceeding seventy feet water line meaAureuehs mas H
sered 20 the Eastern Yacht Club By one OF It's members
Al meeting hsld yesterday the council OF the CLUB hold
| a., az n,lo, that ths Americas Cup represents The
OF the world be raced for by the fastest
Yachts within the prescribed limits voted to accept the
oner and now announces that match OF one or more
raees will be sailed the above international Challens'
CUP after the races fer the Americas Cup"
Previous % tho oer the cup assurance was obtained
that the yalRyrc would compete for IT, Among the few
yachtsmep yet OF the proposed races the above
circular has created greatest enthusiasm for they sec
AZ last the probability Of cup races In the East Though
no deas as vet are settled the sentiment OF the club
ia favor Of MaTbehead the place for the races and
| strong effort will be made 70 have them there Pre-
dctons are that the for the cup Will b.
quite a. interesting those for the Americas Cup ant
possibility Of new seEentyooter being built In the
East is being discussed
| Ono OF tho most hourishing Of tho smaller yacht
| clubs I'm these waters is the Harlem Club. II
gaining members every day and its feet is growing
oorrcspondngly The increase Of membership took rapid
| strides from tho time tho club bought the property
Of the old Boulevard Club, No. $40 East One hundred
and-twenty first st. This includes large clubhouse
and river frontage OF full block During The
winter the clubhouse was open continually and the
members frequented II in ell kinds Of weather Every
month the club held reception and hop, and the
social intercourse between tho members' families
aided the popularity Of the club to great degree
Tho club-rol now contains 200 names and tho fee
consists OF forty sal. The sloop Gipsy, Captain
Ebermyer was the first to be launched this year
and was followed in day or two by the sloop
Cathleen, Captnln Petri; Una. Captain Towner; Cor
rect, Captain Sherwood, and Ider, Captain Rosenberg
The Peerless Commodore Labor; Nereld, Captain
2. W. Fuller; Iule Captain Conklln, and Torment
Captain Creegan, all soops, are being prepared