The Portland daily press., 1895-06-10
THE DEFENDER INSPECTED.
Her General Construction Pleases the
Vanderbilts.

FanderbiltS.
She May Not be Put Overheard for Three
weeks-A Secret Launching Talked OF
-Bristolians Criticise the Material of
| the Sails-They Insist that the Cotton
Duck Might be Better-yal kyrie III.
Impresses Rhode Islanders as a Skim
ming Dish With Stationary Centre
board.
| Providence, June 5.-William K. Van
derbilt, of the cup defender syndicate
arrived in Bristol yesterday on the g. Il
train from New York and drove to the
Herreschoff Shops where he spent nearly
an hour inspecting the Defender. He left
on the 9. 30 train again. 1t is said that
Mr.. Vanderbilt was much pleased with
the lines and general construction of the
Defender He said that he would like to
remain longer, but imperative engage
naents elsewhere called him away. 1t is
the first time that Mr.. Vanderbilt has
seen the Defender since work was begun
on her.
He was accompanied by his brother,
Cornelius, and both came to this city in
their own private car
Judging from the appearance of the De-
fender it will be nearer three weeks than
one week before the yacht will be ready
for launching. Riveters are still at work,
and nc. attempt has been made at plank
ling. To be sure, the planks are being
prepared, but to lay them down will take
fully week. Again, there has been no
attempt made to polish or paint the body
| of the boat, and something Of that sort
will certainly besdone before she is put
overheard. -
| There is no relaxation of vigilance on
| the part of the builders to prevent unau-
| thorized persons obtaining view of the
craft. In fact efforts to obtain informa-
ton are more barren of results than ever
before. The advantage of all this secrecy
at this time really passes ordinary COM
prehension 1t may be that Lord Dun
raven S example in shrouding his boat in
mystery, even after the launching, is
considered a good one, and is to be fol-
lowed to the letter
In fact, it would not surprise many
Bristol people who have kept track Of the
| Defenders construction if the yacht were
4 to be slipped into the water secretly and
| by stealth. That the Defender will be
launched in secret is, however, an ex-
| treme view, and it is hardly likely that
the desired end would be achieved.
While Lord Dunraven managed to get
his boat into the water on the quiet it is
not believed that the Herreshoffs' could
| do the same thing. The work of con-
structing the Defender has been closely
| followed, and it can hardly be conceived
that the boat could be launched without
knowledge of the coming event getting
to parties to whom it would be of most
value. Again it is thought by some
that Mr.. Vanderbilt timed his return to
launching of the Defender. All things
considered, therefore, it is believed that
the boat will be launched with the same
| formality that attended the putting over
| board the Vigilant. But the tension of
secrecy, as stated, is up to the top NOTCH
and there is no indication at present that
the time for letting down the bars is any
where near.
1t is understood that the large sails of
the Defender are completed, and that
work is now progressing on the small
sails. 1t is to be noted that the question
of the material being used at Bristol has
| again come up. After the statement that
the Bristol sails were evidently of upland
cotton duck, instead of Sea Island duck,
was of upland cotton. But Mr.. Iselin in
sisted that the cotton was long staple
After the matter had apparently quieted
down it was stated that the Defenders
small sails, being made at Bristol were
assuredly of Sea Island cotton A sam
pie of what purported to be piece of the
duck of which the small sails are being
| made upon being examined, however,
proves to be of short staple upland cotton
| Just the same.
If the sails with which the Defender is
to be clothed are made of short staple cot
ton duck the American yacht is going in
to the contest for the cup under heavy
and unnecessary handicap. This has been
said before, but it will do no harm to re-
peat the statement.
Mr.. E. A. Willard, who has charge of
the Vigilant for the season, has rented a
house at Bristol, which would indicate
that the ex-oup defender is to be in these
waters good part of the season. 1t has
been reported that new sails for the Vigil
liant are being made in Bristol but no
confirmation of the rport can be OBJ
tanned.
The alleged details of Valkyrie III.
have been read with deal of interest in
Bristol. From what can be learned the
British boat is really nothing more or
less than skimming dish with a sta
tionary centreboard. Those who have
| oCC11 Wiicbo Pun w
of the yachts underbody say that she
bears very little resemblance to the De-
fender The deadwood of the Defender
is cut away deal more and there is
much more rake to the lead keel. The
rudder part of the Defender has rake
also, to which that of the new Valkyrie
bears no comparison. An idea of what q
tremendous rake it is can be obtained
from a knowledge of the fact that the
rudder post is % feet inches long, and
that it runs only from the water line te
the end of the lead keel
Everybody who views the Defender goes
away satisfied that the cup is safe. Tit
new yacht was designed to beat the Vigi
liant, and if she does that she will be do
| ing very well indeed But the Britisher
are confident, too, and it is believed they
will back their opinion this year with {
pot of money. At any rate there is every
reason to believe that there is to be M
walk-over, and when Mr.. Iselin statet
that the result would be matter of sec
onds it is believed that he fully appreci
ated the extent of the task to be set hin