The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-24
DEFENDER SOUND As 4 DOLLAR.
Too Near Cup Racing Time to Fool
with Astor's Cup.


with Astor's Cup.
Bristol. r. L. Aug. 23.-The Defenders $
mast was unstepped this morning and
now lies on the pier at the works, where
a gang Of men are at work stripping
1t. The new steel gaff is all ready and
the steel boom is not expected to be fin
ished before next Tuesday. and viii not
be used in the trials with the Wig
liant The steel gaff will probably not
be used either until arter the races next
week
The new mast for the Defender will be
stepped tomorrow, and the work Of rig
ring .her will be rushed.
The boat will be ready by Monday,
and will at once leave for New York.
She suffered not the slightest injury by
touching the mud yesterday afternoon.
All on board the Defender expected that
she would ground, as there was very
low tide
Mr. Iselin was seen to-day and while
he did not care to talk very much. said
freely that there is absolutely no truth
in the story that the hull Of the boat is
any way injured. The mast was simply
weak. As to the boat going aground
at low tide. it is almost TO be expected
here.
all right and the trouble was not with the
huh. but with the mast, which was tride
light and showed signs OF buckling"
Mr. Herbert Leeds was positive that the
boat was not strained a particle He said.
do you think there is anything wrong
with a boat that carried all her sail In n
good, fresh southwest breeze and logged
1215 knots an hour from New London? II
her plates were strained IN the least. no
chances would be taken sailing round Bris-
tol.
I'VE have long known that the mast was
too light, and when It began to show its
weakness 1t was decided better TO with
draw from the race and not risk the taking
the mast out of her with a possibility Of
its going over the side, straining the alumi-
mum plates and perhaps putting hole
through the boat.
Mr.. Iselan cared nothing for the Astor
cup. and thought 1t was better to take no
chances He could have kept on, and 1 am
satisfied the Defender would have beaten
the Vigilant. but the boat was withdrawn
because 1t is too near cup racing time to
have to repair accidents and there is plenty
to be done on the boat yet"
New York, Aug. 23--Word was received
in this city to-day stating that the De-
fender could not leave Bristol before Mon
day night. This means that Il will be i'm
possible to have any race on Tuesday.
one may be held on Wednesday, IN which
case the boats will also race on Thursday.
Otherwise, 1t is very probable that races
will be held on Thursday and Saturday.
Mr.. Newberry Thorne this afternoon, In
speaking Of the Defenders mishap on
Tuesday last said: "It Is not at all
surprising that the Defenders spars weak
ened. If you remember they were built for
her first suit of sails. AfteBward we dis
covered we could carry a much larger
suit. We used the same spars, conse-
quently, the strain on them was much
greater In regard to the Valkyrie, Mr..
Thorne said
Il don't like to venture a conclusive
opinion upon her in dry dock She is a
powerful craft, however, and splendidly
rugged"
Providence, r. J.. Aug. 23-The new
topmast and mainmast for the Defender
arrived this evening. Both sticks were
much admired. The tOpmast is a little
larger at the heel, but about the same
length as the old one. The mainmast
head is two feet longer, and the diameter
near hounds is two ahG one-half inches
greater Work will be pushed, and she
may be ready to take trial spin Mon.
day, but ii Is not expected that she will
be able to leave Bristol before Tuesday.
The new spars and rigging will make
some difference to the trim of the yacht.
and she will be again measured before
the cup races