Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-20
THEY ARE NOW OFF.
Defender and vlgiIant in
Friendly Battle.
w. G. ROELKER'S OPINION.
Yachts Started at 1888 But Were Soon
Lost to Sight in the Haze.

NEW YORK, July 20.-The trip OF the
Defender from New Rochelle down
through the East River and to Bay Ridge
yesterday was sort OF triumphal process.
sion. The tender Hattie Palmer and the
sloop Colonia came down with the De-
fender and her tow. Before the start the
Defender was stripped OF all her useless
furnishings 10 as to leave her mere skele-
ton without an extra ounce OF weight to
carry In today's trial. A new gan was put
on board before the Defender left her
moorings, and also the new sails that
have been received since the Defenders
arrival at New Rochelle. These had been
stretched during the day on the lawn at
Mr.. Iseiin's home on Premium Point.
The crew Of 25 men were increased to q
trial crew Of 80 men with the addition OF
ten experienced yacht racing sailors. Her
staysaii and jib were changed for others
OF different make and about 4:20 p. N.
she got away In fine style, with q moder-
ate wind about south by southeast, on the
port tack, and stood close over to atatsn
Island when she went about on the star
hoard tack, showing very satisfactory
quickness In stays and stood away on q
fairly close reach through the nsrrows
bound for short spin of Sandy Hook, af-
ter whis b she returned to the Horse Shoe
at Sandy Hook and came to anchor.
Mr.. Rocker Talks.
Mr.. w. q. Roeiker, one of the leading
lawyers Of the State, and near relative OF
&. Oliver Iselin, said yesterday that the
Defender was an experiment originally,
but this remark did not tt the situation
now. "She Is all right" said Mr.. Roel-
ker, Sand she Will win."
Mr.. Roelker further said: "You can
say that the Defender is now In the hands
OF the syndicate, and that she Is all that
the owners expected. In building the
yacht the syndicate backed the HERES
hoffs, without limit on the cost, again st
the world. Many new features are found
in the Defender which have never been
tried In sailing craft of any sort or size,
and the different experiments haye all
| proved successful and OF the greatest ad-
vantage to q racing yacht"
| Mr.. Roelker said in conclusion that
both Capt. "Nat" Herreshon and Mr.
Iselin came to well considered eonclu-
sion while sailing the Defender on the
trial trips that the sail area could be en- :
| larged enormously, and that the yacht
| would then meet all the calculations on
stiffness and swiftness. There has been q
| good deal Of secrecy about the Defender
while at the Herreshoffs, and rightly so,
| for the British builders were eagerly seek
| ing all the latest novelties In yacht build :
ing, particularly as keel boat was being
constructed on this side.
Defenders Sail Mystery.
PROVIDENCE, July aO.-Conditions are
very quiet around Infantry hall where the
Defenders sails are being made. Workmen
are seen going into the building, so work
has probably begun, the sailcloth having
all arrived. Greater secrecy is maintained
than during the construction Of the hull
at Bristol
A Close Start.
HIGHLANDS LIGHT, July 20, IL :33 A. M
Both yachts passed Scotland light on port
tack, standing southeast. Both close to :
gether. Weather very hazy. Wind south.
west.
At 11:i5.
Both yachts still on port tack. Wind
ward yacht appears to have lead Of about
ten lengths. Both yachts disappearing In
haze and are about four miles over the
course.
Wind Decreases.
SANDY HOOK, June 20-The wind has
decreased to four miles an hour.
-