The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-29
LAST EDITION
STUCK FAST.
The Yacht Pulled
by Tugs.
When Part Way Down the
Ways Defender Stopped.
Not Enough Water TO Float the
New Craft.
Magnificent Harbor Spectacle-a Sight
Never to BE Forgotten.

BRISTOL, June 29-The Defender was
launched at 1:21 O'Clock.
When part way down the ways she
stopped. Three tugs are now pulling her
off and the prospects are she will go in.
Every one of prominence who Is inter-
ested in yachting, and hundreds OF resi-
dents of the surrounding country who
know nothing of the sport, were in town
to attend the launching
When John Is. Herreshoff made the
official announcement yesterday that
nothing but a serious accident could pre-
vent the floating of the new racer at 12:45
p. m. today, all the -yachtsmen in New
heard OF it promptly, and prepared to be
present. Their jaunty boats began to APP
pear in the harbor yesterday afternoon,
and many more enthusiasts came by train
and by carriage. Long before4 A o'clock yes
terday afternoon, every room In town
was engaged, and scores of visitors
sought accommodation aboard the yachts
of their friends in the harbor.
The following are the yachts measure
ments:
Length on the water line, SO feet, 8
inches ;length over all, 124 feet; In draught
Is feet, inches; beam, "a feet. Main
mast and boom are 9S and 100 feet in
length, respectively; the mast, 35 inches
in circumference at the heel and 1S inches
at the step; topmast, "a feet long; the gaf
81 feet, and the bowsprit, AZ feet. The
spinnaker pole is 70 feet in length, and
the club topsail pole 81 feet.
The work on the sails of the Defender
is progressing steadily, and the riggers,
who are to put everything in order on the
boat, are on hand to complete the fitting
out of the boat. 1t Is expected that the
yacht will be In commission in less than
two weeks.
II was Just :55 o'clock when the cup
defender slid gracefully down the ways
into the harbor. Mrs. c. Oliver Iselin
stood on the wooden platform that had
been erected in the shop, and as the mag
nificent craft passed her she broke bot
tie of champagne across its stern, saying,
as she did SO, 81 christen thee De-
fender"
Slowly the new yacht passed down the
well creased ways, and the sight from the
piers was one that will never be forgotten
by those who witnessed 1t. High up In
the shop was the raised platform, and
upon this stood the gayly dressed people,
who had been invited to stand by Captain
Nat Herreshoff's SIDE when the boat was
started. In front of them was the De-
fender, a towering mass OF white and
gold, the graceful lines showing up dis
tinctly in front of the dark background
of the shop.
No portrait or description that ha yet
been published has done the Defender
| justice, for no one had Imagined Thar
much wider beam than any OF the boats
| that have vet been built and II is much
| deeper while no boat ever had such nm
| keel. The keel of the boat Ia made OF
manganese bronze, polished until 1t
| looks like gold.
| Above the water line, the boat is covered
with a coat of white paint over the
| aluminium plates.
The boat appeared stern first, and as she
passed through the doorway that had been
| cut in the end of the building, the crew
| who had been lying upon the deck arose,
| and one man, rushing to the stern raised
| the Defenders colors,
Instantly asaute was fired from Commo-
| dore Il. II. Morgan's steam yacht Sheer
water, and 1t was answered by guns and
| bombs from every yacht and sloop be-
| tween the mainland and Pappoose-Squaw
Point. The crowd broke out in rousing
cheers, and amid the shouting and wav-
| ing OF bats, handkerchiefs and flags,
struck the water. Along the ways she
| slid, but suddenly stopp ed and, IT was
realized that the tide had not been high
| enough, and that the new boat was stucS
| fast in the mud.
The boat did not stop with q shock.
but pushed her stern into the mud and
stayed there, resting about foot below
her regular water line.
One OF the Herreshof foremen,. was
asked the cause of the trouble, and he at
|
the cradle.
For three-!ourths Of the distance, the
Yacht slid down the creased surface. The
yyas n pause Tho Defender paused In
her flight, and with @ crunching OF TIM
bers, and sqesk, the structure came to
full stop.
The boat was hanging on the verge OF
the water, partly submerged over rst upon
her cradle. The gentlemen In charge had
miscslculated the height OF the tide, and
there was not water enough 10 float the
craft upon which the hopes OF so many
patriotic Americans are resting. Then
Tor time confusion reigned. There
were tho hurried shouts, encouraging
cheers, laments and q hundred voices
Joined in advice to the workers.
The tugboats Aquidneck OF Newport and
Bay Point OF Fall River, which had been
Iaiyng of the end OF the pier, were hast
ily called into service, and ropes were
passed about tho Defenders hall, and
gently but firmly they began OF pull. IL
was useless for the time The tide was
slowly rising but not fast enough to sat-
isfy, and after a fow minutes the tug de-
sisted waiting for more water.
| As near as can be estimated at this WRIT
ing, the boat has not suffrccd material
damage. She IL resting easy upon her
| cradle. and the expectations OF all are
more than she can be successfully. pulled
into her natural element, when the tide
Is at the food. The launching wasunder
the personal direction Of Captain Net
Herreshoff and his foreman, Albert Almy,
while ON board as she slid from the stays
was Mate william Barry OF the Coionia
acting as captain, and the Defenders ssn'
! tire crew.