The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-02
THE DEFENDER AELOAT.
The American Yacht Pulled from
the Ways by a Big Tug.
TIE VESSEL ESCAPES INJURY,

Nat the Cradle on Which She Rested was
Prevented the Launch the Day Orig
4 inaIiy Decided Upon.
BRISTOL, r. l., July 2-The new yacht
Defender upon which tho hopes of Amer
ica depends for victory over the English
beat with which she Is to compete next
fall, rests gracefully in the waters of Bris-
vol bay at the dock of the Herrcshotf
works, having been released yesterday
afternoon from the position into which
she became fastened during an attempt to
launch her on Saturday A thorough ex-
animation of the hull by divers has been
made. and the yacht Is pronounced unin-
fired by her forty eight hours suspension
near the end OF the ways. The yacht was
released by the powerful tug Right Arm,
after repeated attempts made during the
time since she became fast.
All efforts to move the yacht during
Saturday night and Sunday having proved
useless, 1t was determined to attempt to
raise her from the cradle by the use Of
pontoons. Accordingly preparations were
begun to accomplish the work Of lighter
ing the obstructed yacht. The pontoons
were expected to arrive from Newport at
To'clock yesterday morning, as they were
60 be put in at low tide, but owing to q
Misunderstanding they did not arrive
until after the tide had reached the flood.
The tide served well, and shortly after
moon, when the water was pretty we'll up,
Captain Davis, Of the tug Right Arm, told
Mr.. Herreshoff that he thought 1t worth
while for his boat to have another pull at
the Defender. He was told to do so.
Gaptuin navia and hia man than plaped
net work of cables about the yacht, in
she form of huge cats cradle. This was
done not only to give additional purchase,
bnt also to avoid possibility of toppling
the Defender over.
The Right Arm then got up steam and
gathering the cables together, when the
word was given, started ahead. The haw-
Eers became taut. but the Defender did
not move. The strain was again applied
with no apparent result, and third pull
was also unsuccessful.
Captain Nat Herreshoff and G. Oliver
Iselin, who were watching the operations,
looked even more serious than before A
conference was held with Captain Davis,
OF the big tug. 1t was now nearly 3 o'clock,
and the tide was turning. At 1865, Cap
tain Davis, having resumed his position
on the tug, again began churning the
water and the cables once more began to
straighten and crackle with the strain.
At this point the eager eyes on the dock
noticed slight movement of the yacht,
followed by decided motion towards the
end of the ways, and in another moment
the Defender took the water with splash,
floating easily along in the wake Of tho
tug. AS the boat slid off into the water
Captain Herreshof and Mr.. Iselin seized
their caps and flung them joyously into
the air. A loud cheer burst from the
spectators, and at the same instant a can
non at Charles Herreshoff's, across the
bay, doomed out salute. The steam
craft In the harbor took up the sound and
for several minutes there was noisy joy.
As soon as the yacht floated the cradle,
separated from the keel, floated alongside
II was badly scratched and splintered,
showing that had not the builders placed
IL under the Defender she would have
been seriously damaged in the attempts to
Eelease her. Divers Bradley and Duncan
/ went down q few minutes after tho yacht
was freed, but were unable to find the
least injury to the bottom of the boat
Tho cause of tho mishap to the Defender
As now known to have resulted from pro-
trading bolts used In the construction of
che ways. Those bolts extended through
the tinbers of the ways, so that as the
cradle came down upon them they became
Embedded in the woodwork to the depth Of
from AN inch to an inch and half. By
the repeated strains to release the boat
they were drawn through the wood split
ting and shattering 1t, as was seen after
ward.
The opinion is given on good authority
that it will be six weeks before the De-
tender will be ready for trial trip.