New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-07
MEASURING THE YACHTS.
AN INTERESTED CROWD AT ERIE BASIN.
AFTER THE PERFORMANCE WAS OVER THE TWO
YACHTS WENT OFF TO THE HORSESHOE
TO WAIT For TO-DAY's CONTEST.

AFTER THE PERFORMANCE WAS OVER THE TWO
YACHTS WENT OFF TO THE HORSESHOE
TO WAIT FOR To-DAYs CONTEST.
1t was measuring day for those great gladiators
Valkyrie III and the Defender. yesterday, and
some thousands Of people went down TO Erie
Basin drydock to see the champions stripped for
the performance and the application OF the steel
tape by John Hysop. The scene was an inter-
esting one. There they were stripped OF every
cloth and rope and spar that could possibly make
them settle down in the water and increase the
load water-lne-a young champion OF aluminium
and stanch craft that had travelled 5000 miles
to dispute the supremacy Of the seas with the
American.
Out In the waters surrounding the two fast
yachts could be seer gathering or steam yachts,
notably the Neckar and the Helvetia fleet Of
smaller sailing and row boats; and on the piers
were faces known in many parts of the world
| where Yachting is talked Of Prominent among
| the spectators were the rival designers, Watson
| and Herreshoff Then there were the two repre-
| sentative owners, the Earl of Dunraven and Mr..
| Iselln or course Mrs. Iselin, who has sailed on
the Defender every time the yacht has had race,
| was there and so Commodore Glennie, who
J has won many friends during his short stay here;
| H. Maitland Kersey. Colonel Kane and Mr.. Leeds.
| The rival captains Haff, Cranfeld. Sycamore
| and Terry and the two crews of the racers looked
| one another over and their boats with eyes that
| took In every possible elegance or flaw
| It was noon when John Hysop began his task
! and an hour later when he had finished 1t. Then
he locked up his Information In his little black
| bag Just as ne did when he had measured the De-
| fender previously and walked away with wise
| look.
1t was a little after o'clock yesterday morn
| ing when the caisson was opened at the Boston
! drydock at Erie Basin and the water began to
| cover the sides OF a beautiful English vessel
that had been for three days enduring the un-
restricted stare OF some thousands Of yachting
| enthusiasts Before 9 o'clock the boat was
| ahoat and ready to be warped out for the meas
uring and then for the trip down to the sailing
| ground.
BIG CROWD PRESENT.
BY this time the crowd had grown from few
hundred to at least three thousand persons. 1t
was busy scene; the crew OF the Valkyrie
mingled with the employees Of the drydock and
ran in and out busy with what really the
| final preparations for one Of the most exciting
yacht races that have ever been sailed The De-
tenders designer Herreshof. was on the dry
dock looking most carefully at every line and
| then at every move made aboard the challenger.
glance at the Englishmen as they moved
about the deck told WITH what respect they re-
gard the man whose work has so far baffied
! their best efforts.
! one of the last things done aboard the VAL
/ kyric was the slushing down OF her masts Sew
eraI sailors aloft In swinging chairs at
| tending to this. and then lot OF sandpapering
was done.
| The crowd watched the warping OF the VAL
! kyrie out of the drydook with breathless inter-
eat. and when the vessel foated free there arose
a great cheer. such as a spor-loving people can
give. Lord Dunraven heard the cry and raised
his hat In acknowledgment. II was graceful
| and spontaneous compliment. that cheer. and