New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-21
AT WORK on THE VALKYRIE
SHE WILL PROBABLY GO INTO DRY
DOCK TO-DAY.
THOUSANDS VIEW THE ENGLISH YACHr-sIIE Is
LIKELY TO HAVE A HOLLOW STEEL RACING
MAST IN PLACE OF THE PRESENT

SOLID PINE ONE.
The knowledge that the va.kyrie berhed in
the Erie Basin awaiting her turn to 60 into dry
dock drew large crowds Of people anxious TO get
their first view of the yacht TO the Basin yester-
DAY. Throughout the day the pier to which Lord
Dunravons boat is moored was lined for several
hundred yards. four FIVE deep. As was only to be
expected. a continuous fire Of comment. mostly. IT
IS to be feared. of irresponsible character, was
bestowed the boat by these gatherings OF on,ook-
ers Nor was criticism noticeable by its absence.
There many who thought the Na.kyrie much
TOO heavily built and of her curves formed
somewhat unscientifc lines But. generally speak
Ing the weight of opinion seemed to go in favor of
the challengers ability give the defending yacht
a hard and close race. if not succeed in winning
the cup. And toward evening. when the mainmast
land boom had been set in place and IT
what enormous spread of canvas the British pet
would carry. the strain of prediction grew
general
HOW THE VALKYRIES CREW LIVE
Before nightfa Monday valkyries rig
ging and ocean-going ss and spars had been
removed and she practically left in sufficiently
cleared state to allow of the important work Of
getting in her racing gear, being begun yesterday
morning. At colors Is a. m) yesterday morning the
Grew proceeded to the yacht with hard days
work in front of them The forsook their
quarters in the yacht Monday night and were
ihoused in the Vakyries tender the City of Bridge
port where they will sleep and be fed during their
this country. comfortable swinging NAM
tmock beds have been slung the covered main
deck of the Bridgeport for the men, and on this
deck also. on tables which have been specially
erected. they take their meals. NO arbitrary
restrictions placed upon the crew after their
DAYS work is over and their comfort Is considered
in every way The men owe large portion of their
contentment this satisfactory state Of things so
far as their domestic life Il concerned, 10 the kindly
nature and attention Of Arthur Glennie fact OF
which they are perfectly aware and grateful ac-
cordingly.
WORK ON THE VALKYRIE
The first occupation of the crew yesterday morn
ing was to remove the compasses and chrononeters
from the Vakyries deck TO the Bridgeport, and TO
replace the steering wheel with the orthodox racing
filler The glass coverings OF the hatchways were
also taken away and box-like traps flush almost
with the deck substituted. and the yacht was then
ready for the important task OF shipping her main
mast The steam scow with The Naikyries racing
spars had been brought TO the Basin from the
Anchor Line pier the previous night and was
therefore in readiness 20 lay alongside the yacht
The big floating derrick that was employed to re-
move the masts also brought alongside, ana II
was just about midday when the big racing mast
was hoised over the yachts deck. and In less than
an hour afterward ii had been firmly adjusted
Contrary TO expectations the mast was maze OF
solid pine and not Of hollow steel
The question as TO whether the Vakyrie would
ice fitted with pine wood or hollow steei mast
has for a week been widely discussed, and the
matter. for the present. rate, is more def
ini,elv settled in favor Of the former.
When Captain Crdniield asked by a Tribune
reporter whether the pine mast was a fixture until
a:ier the international races. he replied that ne
WIS not able TO give any information In that mat
Ter Although there no steel mast to DE found
on the scow II IL certain that the Nalkyrie has mad
a stick of this material made for her. Ii re-
ported that IL would arrive on the Circassia, OF
The Anchor Line. but IL not on the ship when
she arrived YESTERDAY.
MAY HAVE 4 STEEL MAST
An officer OF the Circasss. however. threw some
lght on the subject yesterday when he said tHat the
Jendersons were putting some finishing touches on
II and were unable get IT ready for transport b.
Inc crcassia but that it would come over on the
Anchoria. which Is the next steamer Of the Anchor
Line due 10 arrive In New-York
When the big mainmast had been shipped the peo-
pie along the docks at began drawing com
PARSONS between 1t and the Defenders and II was
generally conceded that IT was grea; deal higher
than that OF the latter
The BOOM which vast amount OF specula-
ton has been made next placed In POSITION
and several OF the crew were then set at work TO
tear away the burlap and canvas with which IL was
covered As the first yard or two OF this covering
stripped Off the spar, the peope on the shore
pressed eagerly forward. and hum Of surprise. or
likely OF satisfied expectation. went up as II
Was seen that the huge boom constructed on
the much-talked-of hollow steel plan II was OF an
octagon shape. with external rveted T pieces Al
though its appearance 10 the eye accustomed TO the
beautifully polished. rounded wooden spars hitherto
rsed Is clumsy and unattractve the utility OF the
hollow steel masts and boorns II apparent from the
increase which has followed the adoption OF steel
and iron spars I'm the merchant marine Undoubtedly
there is considerable saving In weight as
pared with the old wooden style, and as IL Is the
endeavor Of yacht builders to reduce the high
weights to a mining = In order To add correspond