New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-23
DEFENDER WAS AGROUND.
STUCK ON THE END OF HOG ISLAND YES
TERDAY AFTERNOON.
SHE FLOATED WITH AN HOURS RISE OF THE
TIDE AND WAS SAID TO BE UNHARMED-
NEW sPARs ORDERED FOR HER-THE

WEAKNESS OF HER PRESENT MAST
Bristol r. l.. Aug. 22-The Defender wens
aground on the southeast point Of Hog Island
this afternoon, just as she was entering Bristol
Harbor. She had only her staysail set and she
went on easily. She lay near the channel.
She came off the end Of Hog Island unaidec
about an hour after she grounded. The tide was
low but an hours rise released her. There was
absolutely damage 10 the boat.
Nat HerreshofY arrived home yesterday ana
as usual was reticent about the mshap to the
Defender in Tuesdays race. He was inclined
to make light Of It. Preparations had been made
10 begin to overhaul the boat soon as she
should arrive. She will be taken Immediately
into the deepened slip at the Herreshon pier
and stripped and a force Of riggers from Bill
mans, OF Boston. will go TO work on the rigging
It Is understood tha Captain Haff was op-
posed to having the weakened mast in her from
the start. the eyes OF the rigging cut Into the
after part OF the mast through the steel protect
ing band siackening the eyes and consequently
slackening the standing parts OF the rigging
down to the deck. The hounds Of the mast that
were fitted at the time the mast was finished
were never used there a new-fangled
masthead which did away with the hounds. The
only thing that held the turn Of late at the
masthead was us cDlDedulng ltScll III the dileT-
part of the mast.
The big tug Wallace r Flint. which left Pre-
MUM Point the same time as the Defender yes-
terday, came into the ha rbor this morning with
the new hollow steel gaf on deck It was never
used and It was decided 10 bring IL back to
Bristol again. as the steel boom may be ready
when the Defender starts again for New-York.
An order for a new spar placed yesterday
with the Boston Spar Company. and work viii
be rushed on Il so that 1t will be here by Satur-
day The new mast will be about the same
length the now in USE but will be about
two inches greater In diameter. This will in
crease the weight considerably but IL will be
counterbalanced by the hollow steel boom and
gaff so that there will be no material difference
in the trimming Of the yacht.
Besides the mast the Defender will have q
new topmast. 1t will be made ty Winslow, Of the
diameter than the in use. The top
mast will be two feet longer than the old one.
Much regret expressed in this city last night
the running aground OF the Defender 1t 10
hoped and believed that the mshap is a serious
one. and that nothing will occur to prevent tbs
Defender from getting In perfect trim for her next
trial with the Vigilant Tuesday Experts
say that attention should be paid the ground
ing OF boat like the Defender with her twenty
feet of draught. Such accident might occur 70
way IL will be remembered that Captain Haf,
when asked about the grounding OF the Defender
Clubs squadron had left Newport, said the De-
fender had simply met with one OF those accidents
that all deep-draught yachts meet with, and arG
none the worse for, every summer.