Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-09-02
THE LAST TOUCHES
Being Given Defender Before
Meeting VaIkyrie.
'he New Boat Admired by Thou
sands, Sunday,
Is in Pink OF condition-Vakyrie Also Ready
Tor the Race.

New York, Sept. 1.-The Defender at
| tractcd Thousands OF people to the Erie
basin, where she was drydocked. this morn
ing, to have her hull put in shape for the
coming contest with Valkyrie Ill The
yacht was taken in dock before 6 A. M
! The pumps were Set to work and at o ths
hull was dry.
Captain Half and small portion of his
crew were present Mr.. Iselin and his
guests and the bulk of the crew were at
New Rochelle. They arrived later, and
the sailor boys were set at work rubbing
down the hull
The manganese bronze under body was
In very good condition, but the men
worked at 1t all day, polishing the metal
with sand paper and filing down the bolt
heads until 1t presented a perfectly smooth
and shining surface.
| Tbe upper part of the hull, which Is
made of aluminium, was rubbed down
and given a coat Of white enamel paint
Instead of being dead white the paint
has decidedly blush tinge.
! While this work was going on below.
the other men wero busy on deck. The
goose neck was strengthened by rivetting
Hat plate To it SO that the great strain
on the strap that attached the boom to
the mast will be amply met There Is
absolutely no signs of injury to the hull
! from the groundings of the Defender at
Hog Island and Newport.
Aside from the work ON the new boom
ana gaff and rubbing down and painting
the hun, there was nothing done on the
boat today. Early tomorrow morning,
the Defender will leave the dock and 20
to Sandy Hook for a spin.
The Nalkyrie remained at the dock
close to the Defender. all last night, Al
the storm prevented her from being lowed
to the Horseshoe, yesterday afternoon At
80 O'Clock, this morning, she was towed
from the basin and across the bay to an
anchorage off Stspleton
AT lilo \. M the mainsail was
hoisted, jib and staysail broken out, and
the Nalkyrie sailed down past Quarantine
out through the rarrows and with light
westerly wind reached down the lower bay.
At l."o p M, the Valkyrie anchored in
the Horseshoe.
The following, bearing upon the inter
national match for the Americas cup,
was posted at the New York Yacht Club.
Saturday;
According to agreement between Lord
"ih tAlO CUP CDlnIllbGec, bno
match for the Americas cup will consist
OF three out of five races, over courses 80
nautical miles in length, with time limit
Of six hours
The match will commence on Sent :.
and will be continued on alternate days.
The race will be started off Sandy
Hook llghtship, the preparatory signal
being given at 10 minutes at IL A. M,
and the starting signal at IL A. NJ"
Captain John Holly, skipper of the
slhop yacht Hildcgard, owned by Rear
Commodore James G. Bergen, n Y Y.
y, Will not be the pilot of the Valkyrie
during her coming races, as was re-
ported. Captain Holly has long been in
the employ OF Rear Commodore Bergen.
and purposes to remain there without any
upon his part
The old champion Vigilant was lying
OH the Atlantic Yacht Club housc.
Bay Ridge, Saturday morning. She was
towed there from the Horseshoe by her
tender, the Aernonaut Some of her
stores were sent ashore under CAPTAIN
Bars orders during the afternoon, and on
wednesday of this week she will be laid
up for the season.
MIR. Willard yesterday, did not say
Just where the Nigilant will go into win
ter quarters, but it will probably be at
Port Jefferson, where she was lying when
MIR. Gould purchased her
Whatever may have been the feeling n
week ago in favor of the English yacht
chances for the America Is cup,
The fact remains that during the last few
lays the men who have felt gloomiest
have had change of heart. Their
thoughts are now oil running toward De-
lender
The reason for this undoubtedly lies In
ne splendid showing made by the De-
ender in her recent races with the Viei-
ant. In the minds of most betting peo-
Die yacht that can stand UP like a dis
'iple of Allah in blow and sneak along
Ike the astral body of horse thief In n
calm is worthy of enthusiastic support.
No matter what the Englishman can
10, most men are satisfied as to the capa-
'ilities of the Defender That she can
20 fast in all kinds Of weather, there
GEMS too be no doubt, and even with all
hings equal, American betting men
you'd doubtless plunge on her merely as
matter of patriotism
Up to the present time the be ttinR has
'een somewhat sluggish, owing to the
larcity and backwsrdness of Defender
Importers. Although they can get 2 to
on Defender in many places, they want
reater odds. Small bets of 8 to and
ven to have been made in some quar-
ers, but the favorite bet seems to be at
ven money that Valkyrie Will not take
eat
This is practically betting on the
Weather, In the pinions of great many
[Continued on page 2.