New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-12
HER NEW TOPMAST UP
THE DEFENDER READY TO TRY 1T AGAIN.

porH THE BIG YACHTS IN DRrDOCK fESTERDAr-
LEAD OFF THE vAixYRIEs KEELING
DISCUSSION OF THE REGATTA
COMMITTEES DECISION.
The big crowd that gathered early yesterday
morning to see the Defender In drydock after her
noIshap Of Tuesday had an exciting day. In the first
nIace thew had an unexpected view OF Valkyrie Ill
The vallyrie got the forward berth in the drydock
when the two racers came UP from Bay Ridge. and
"a soon az the waters about her receded. her crew
began work on her copper while the pot-leading
was brushed up The Defenders topmAst was on
deck and was at once put ashore while the old top
mast from the Colonia was made ready beside 1t.
Tho Defender had new topmast Of her own at
CITY Island but after a careful examination It was
decided TO put up tho seasoned stick the Coonia had
used Nat Herreshor directed the ships car
penters In fitting up the new topmast
Tho crowd watched the Defenders preparations
and then turned from her broken spreader and
dangling shroud to the valkyre. There were ex-
cited people among the spectators for It was
r,roored that the valkyrie In case OF the Regatta
Committees decision being given against her would
return 10 England without giving the Defender
other
The crowd made a circle from three to five per-
sons deep around the Defender as she lay propped
I'D at the lower water end OF the drydock. She was
repainted, for the aluminium of which she is built
NJ the sun and salt water The Defender Is now
bluer-looling boat than before; every time Mitchell
puts on a new coat OF paint It makes her come out
a deeper blue. The broken shroud was All interest
ing thing to replaced but the old and new top
masts drew close attention. The toughness and
strength of the oregon pine stick was proved by the
splinter thrown out. This was over nine feet long,
and showed conclusively that the topmast was not
brittle piece Of wood. At the base there was less
than two inches OF tough wood by which the mast
held together.
The new spar is a stifr timber so feet 2t inches
long the same length as the old topmast. but only
10 instead Of II inches around II the old topmast
was a strong, tough and solid bit OF timber, the
present one has these properties In even greater
perfection for its size And It Is lighter. which is
IN one sense a decided advantage. The new top
mast was used by the Colonia IN the trial races Of
1895 Tho general idea is that the Defender would
REQUIRE a much longer topmast than the Colonia.
This Is not the case. as the Colonia's main mast
head extended up from the spreaders only ~ rect,
while tho Defenders mainmast has length there
Of "a feet. Captain Half is not entirely satisfied
with the new topmast. He wouldn't say Just what
It weighed, but he is sure 1t Is too light FOR the
sails the Defender should carry.
The starboard spreader not broken so badly
as to require It to be replaced 1t was taken down
and a new brass cap put on It's end' ana the
spreader replaced in position. The crew or the
Defender awaited news OF the Regatta commit
tees decision regarding Mr. Iselin's protest 80
d,a N. vaIkvr,e people The crowd extremely
anxious to know how matters stood at the New
York Yacht Club and what the prospects were Tor
q race to-day The Valkyre people were not al all
slow In telling visitors that the Earl OF Dunraven
had declared his intention OF declining all further
dealings with American yachtsmen II the decision
went against him.
CAPTAIN HAFF ANXIOUS TO WIN
The reporter Of The Tribune had short talk
with Captain Han Just before the waters were
turned into the drydoclS at 4 o'clock. Captain Han
was anxious TO know about the decision and de-
clared with a good deal OF feeling that while he
has TO work hard for his money he VIII feel just
as keenly as any member Of the syndicate the
hardship of losing Tuesdays race.
There isn't money eLorgh In the country tell
you" went on Captain Han. ito get me to lose one
of these races give all the credit In the world to
the Members OF the syndicate VINO built the De-
fender and are spending their money for the honor
Of America but none OF them takes greater pri1e
in the winning Of the races than do assure you
I have tried to give these Enslishmen every far
chance. and have had i:es OF trying to out
manoeuvre them at the start The Deiender Is 100
fast for me to have to do that
Mear,rer Hysl,p came aboard the Defender Just
before O clock when the crew were getting scale
over the gangway Cor the purpose OF weighing 'he
new topmast. As soon as the top'ndst was wegheu'
and II scaled about $50 pounds less than the broken
ons had II was learned It was sung up alongside
the mainmast and preparations Wee mace lot se,-
ting # aloft Mr.. Hyslop rapidly concluded MS
measurements 1t was said that by them the De-
fender will gain several seconds in the time allow
ance Every time the Defender Is measured she
becomes a little smaller. Yesterday her measure
ments were materially decreased, for one thlng, by
the taking of OF a cap from the end OF her boom.
which made that spar one and three-ouarter inches
other wa
vess., nv the change IN the topmast Mr.. Hyslop
would only say that he verified his previous meas
urements to satisfy himself. that there were ho
protests or discussions as to the figures previously
established and that any changes to be announced
must come through the New-York Yacht Ciuo' lie
said the differences were inhntesimal ones
THE DEFENDER MAY NOT TAKE THE RACE
When II was announced TO Captain Han that the
Regatta Committee had decided in favor OF the
Defender. ne exclaimed: That's right! And no"
the Defender will refuse 70 take the race on fou
and will offer 10 rail It again" When the
Yacht wa. foated ,ast evening she was taken if
tow and started for Bay Ridge
THE yAIKYRIEs MASCOT NOT ON BOARD
Tho ya,kvre left Bay Ridge about o'clock yes
,e,dav morning and was :CUed to the Erie Basin
where she was drydocked about two hours later
The Defender was also placed In the same DOCK th'
Yalkvr,e occupying the top BERTH The tender OF I'M
English yacht, having LORD DunraVeh OH ooaru' ac
COMMANDED the Valkyrie to the Basin II seems afte
all. that the runor that the British sailors had OBJ
| tanned mascot had certain element OF truth IT
1, When the Bridgeport hove alongside the whar
the of little nanny goat was seen run
ming abou. the decks The sailors admitted that they
had bought the goat-a little white and black AMI
mal-for the purpose Of counteractins the luck o.
! the first race Only. unlike the Defenders famous
yellow dog, It is not allowed on the yacht itself
| Lord Dunraven is evidently not OF superstitlou
turn OF mind. as. while giving permission Tor tn
roa, 70 roam about the tender. he refused TO coun
,enance the presence Of the animal on the Valkyrie
Pubic opinion upon the merits OF the confrovers,
as TO which boat was TO blame for the unfortunate
| mishap on Tuesday was strkingly exemphed yes
terday while the two crack racers rested in thu
dock Hitherto the crowds which have attended tn
Erie Basin have generally distributed their favor
with most creditable impartiality In almost eaua