New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-20
THE DEFENDER STRETCHES HER WINGS.
LAST SAIL BEFORE THE TRIAL RACEs-HER
TRIP FROM NEW ROCHELLE TO
THE UCRSFSIOF


All Yesterday morning the crack American yacht.
the Defender which for the moment has 10 divide
the interest with IL not play second fiddle TO.
Valkyre III. lay at her mornings off Mr. lselins
house at New Rochelle. Captain Half Mr.. iselin
and every man on board the beautiful soop were as
busy as II 1t the eve OF the cup races.
for is not the Defender in reality TO be given her
first real trial to-day? 1t at little after u
o'clock that the tugboat the Horace b. Flint came
I'D and threw the Defender line BY this time
every turnbuckle was screwed to Its utmost tension
and every rope and wire pulled just as 1t should be-
The Hattie Palmer and the steam launches had
made dozens of trips to the mainland, and Mr.
Iselns sail loft In his stables. had been stripped
OF all those sails prepared and specially recut
for the Defenders Captain Han had not one
thing on board the yacht that was not an actual
necessity for the race; everything else had been
carefully stored aboard the Hattie Palmer.
There were hundreds OF visitors. too. for the
Defender Is a boat that knows no let go once she
has taken your fancy. Besides the crowds on the
rocky promontory. which has been made into
pretty park by the town of New-Rochene there
we're other hundreds out in rowboats, In catboats.
In small Scoops and then about New-Rochelle there
are always a lot OF fleet steam yachts. All these
contributed 70 make the scene busy one Inc
Defender slid through the waters It seemed. more
easily and gracefully than ever when the tug
began the Journey to the Horseshoe All along the
route to the city there were crowds OF people and
snectators who waved handkerchiefs. while steam
whistles shrieked and bells kept up serenade OF
sautes.
At about o'clock the Defender drew under the
Brooklyn Bridge. and few minutes afterward
there was a murmur then buzz OF excitement
among her crew. Yes. II was" NO. 1t
couldn't be-
But yes II was Valkyrie III. The Defenders
crew broke into a cheer for the invader at al
most the same moment that the crew OF the for
eign yacht gave the Defender people hearty salute
ton all along 10 have sail stretchcr yesterday
afternoon try the Defenders wired Heres
hoff mainsall, and he was delighted man when he
saw the kind OF breeze he had fallen in with
her huge mansan was got ready TO hoist.
AS Valkyrie III was passed the Defender tod the
captain OF the tug to prepare 10 cast off the line
and two minutes after the boat was free. 1t took
her no time at all 10 gather Roadway. She stood
I'm first toward Staten Island. then came about and
could be imagined than the Defender presented yes
terday the wind caught her full when she made
that rafting quick turn and came about her
course The wind filed out her sails in manner
only witnessed at real championship yacht
or read about In story books.
The Defender took good hour and a quarter
wing -stretcher and then came to an anchor in the
Horseshoe not a sail out of shape or screw loose
anywhere Mr.. Iselin was highly pleased with the
way IN which the boat performed in the stin breeze
with the newly wired sails He expects to do bet
ter work than ever with the Defender to-day.
Right within sight OF the, Defender she lay at
anchor In the Horseshoe was her opponent the
Vigilant The Vgilant. with a newly cleaned GEN.
treboard. made better psrformance yesterday than
the old champion Will render good account OF her.
self to-day.