Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-15
DEFENDER AND VlGlLANT
Have Friendly Brush Off Newport-The New Yacht Showed Up Well-foIowed
 by Fleet.

Providence, R. l., July 1.-The big sloops Defender and yigilant met outside of Newport, between Weaver Tail Light and Point Judith today, and although the wind was not very strong, yet there was interesting work done on both boats in the few hours friendly brush.
 The Defender and Colonia were lowed down to Newport from Bristol in the ear ly morning, and both dropped anchors at 8 a. m. in the outer harbor west of Tor pedo station. The tug Aquidneck was sent for by MT. Iselin Saturday, and she lay at Bristol all night in order to be in readinesss Sunday morning. The Wig liant arrived off Newport shortly after the Defender did, and held her way out through the channel past Fort Adams, but slowed her pace and waited for the Defender to get under way. The latter boat hosted the mainsail, and then the anchor was taken to the bow. Her 1ib and staysailS were soon set, and she was away on the port tack, heading towards the eastward, with a good breeze from the northwest. She tackled once or twice, working a shcrt distance up to wind ward, and was then kept hard up be- fore the wind with her sheets off, passing close to the shore off Fort Dumplings.
 The Colonia remained at anchor, only few men being left aboard.
 The Nigilant was running along by Castle Hill, while the Defender was a couple of lengths astern, bowling along at a good rate of speed, and gradually picking up on the Vigilant.
 On board the Defender were c. Oliver Iselin, Woodbury Kane, Herbert c. Leeds, J. B. s. Herreschoff, the designer, and a friend of MT. Iselin. Captain Half was at the wheel, watching every point, The designer was hanging on the lee arf heaa yesfp ffat1 o1n the light sails to see if they shivered in the wind. The private signal of c. Oliver lSelin, the Syndicates manager, was fly ing from the topmast, which went to show that that gentleman had the boat in his possession, and that she had been turned over to him by the builders.
 The parties who were on board the Vigilant were: Manager E. A. Willard John Sawyer, New York; the sailmaker and H. C. Wintringham, who designated the recent changes in the Vigilant The two latter gentlemen came on from New York. A large fleet of both steam and sail yachts followed as closely as possi- ble the two white-winged racers as they sped along before the northwest breeze
 The wind was light all the forenoon, and died away almost entirely by o'clock, when the yachts separated, the Defender heading for Newport.
 Captain Half in an interview said that the Defender is as stiff as church, i, and that she will carry all the canvass required. Her work today proves that she is a good light weather boat, and Mr. lselin was pleased with her performance.
 He says the programme as laid out at present is sail tomorrow afternoon, af- terward going up to Bristol to finish work on her. which is expected to be completed by Tuesday. Wednesday there will be another trial and then she will be taken to New York for the com pletion of tuning up and she will be en- tered in every race possible in order to give the crew plenty of practice.