New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-30
LAUNCH OF THE DEFENDER.
CROWDS VISIT BRISTOL TO SEE THE YES
Sell ENTER THE WATER.

PART OF HER CRADLE STICKS TO THE fAChI
AND VAIN EFFORTS WERE MADE TO PULL
THE VESSEL FKEE-NAMED BY MRS
C OLIVER IsELIN.
rBY TELEGRAPH TRrBUNE1
Bristol r. l.. June 2e.-Old Bristol was for
merly an important maritime town. and In the
days when the foundations OF many OF Rhode
Islands great fortunes were laid by exporting
New-England rum and importing slaves and
whale oil many a stanch ship was launched In
Bristol Harbor. Never before. however, was
there such launching occurred here to-day.
which was witnessed by many thousands OF peo-
pie and In which many millions not present felt
a patriotic and vital interest. Last Monday the
Herreshons departed from their plan Of studied
secrecy enough 10 announce that the launching
would take place to-day at l2A5 p. m.
The weather was delightful. the sun shining
brightly for the first time In several days. Bris-
toll Harbor In the vicinity Of Herreshoffs shops
was thronged with craft OF all sizes and condi-
tlons. from the fiatbottom skin to the great ex-
cursIon steamers Among the yachts present
were Commodore E. d. Morgan's Shearwater. w.
X. Vanderbts Conqueror and John Nicholas
Browns Ballymeno These and other yachts and
steamers were gayly decked out with flags and
bunting Steamers from Providence were crowded
from the same city brought large contingent OF
siehtsecrs Colonel William Goddard and his
daughter Mrs c. Oliver Isen came down on
this train The south dock was reserved for the
guests Of the Defender syndicate and the build
ers Of the boat. The north dock was opened 70
the general public At l?:3O o'clock the space IN
front OF the boathouse was finally cleared OF the
little boats. which then formed a fringe all
around Portentous sounds began to be heard
from the boathouse indicating that the shores
ware being knocked away Just as the yacht be-
gan to move Mrs. Iselin cracked bottle OF
champagne over tho nose OF the vessel. which
was decked with the colors OF the New-fork
Yacht Club The beautiful hull slowly slid down
the ways into the sight OF the waiting thou-
sands. piping voice shouted Here she
comes" and then amid the strident DIN OF steam
whistles. the booming OF cannon and the cheers
O. the people the Defender gracefully went into
tho water al a few minutes after o'clock.
She ploughed the water for 200 feet and then
suddenly slowed up and stopped AZ her water
line was ten feet on OF water II was known at
once that something was the matter. Hawsers
were attached and a sturdy tug tried 10 pun her
OF the cradle. n part Of which had not dropped
aside according 10 calculations ana wh'ch re-
malned stranded. The Defender would not oudse
an inch. Then two tugs tried II ana proved
TO be unavalling. diver was sent uo""
and made a report that there seemed TO De
nothing wrong further than that the Detender
had become wedged a little. Main force' he
Thought VAS all that was necessary. The big
Vanderbilt steam yacht Conqueror was the next
oddition IN IN. lie, OF tugs Two tugs abreast
cavc A hawser to She tug Eben Hodge. The lat
ter passed a line 70 the Conqueror. new ha"-
ser was connected with the Defender from the
Conqueror then tho line OF four vessels started
out into the harbOf with great painting ana
straining But even this extra excrtion came 10
naught The strong tug Right Arm was tele-
craphcd for and the effort abandoned 70 i'oat inc
Defender until the next high tide
While the splendid proportions OF the Defender
ver. high out OF water the kodak men and the
public generally had "A fine opportunity 10 We"
her lines Yachtsmen were elated over what
they declared were elements of great speed. and
those who had no technical knowledge Of racing
boats were delighted with hor a beautiful rae
ing machine The manganese bronze below me
watcrline was FURNISHED into the appearance 81
shining gold and the aluminium above 'he IN,
was painted a pure white. the white-dhd-bvu
combination making striking effect NJ tne
bow was the flag Of the Ncw-York facht C.uo
and below were tn, racing colors of Messrs lae-
lin Morgan and Vanderbilt. who compose the
svndicate At the stern "Od Glory noatei
The first impression Of the Defenders nun II one
OF grace and beauty. In general outhic IL "v''
not radically diffor from the Nigant The rake
fore and aft H. trine more pronounced but IL
curved enough In both cases 10 relieve sharpness
The Ines Of the counter round out easily ana
give a graceful rise 10 the rather wide Stern
The deep keel has slightly curved bottom viewed
laterally. but the cross-section shows ftraisht
lin. at The lowest point She has a new steering
apparatus the ipver ton OF Captain NAT Her-
reshon and will greatly facilitate the WORKING
Of the boat over the ordinary steering gear on
the top Of the rudder head which comes up
above the deck, is a brass cap, on each slde OF
which IL a wheel. so that the sloop VIII In reality
have two wheels BY a quick movement or the
wheel the helmsman can bring his boat TO the
desired course much quicker than with tller.
ON the deck al the feet OF the man at the wheel,
are arranged levers by which the man can hod
his wheel with but little exertion There are
also mechanical arrangements easily operated.
by which the gearing can De chahseu H'"' S'''i-
pie compound.
Dimensions given out by Mr. Iselr are as fol-
lows. Length over all, ia feet: length on water
line 50 feet inches: beam. "a feet. draught.
~ feet G inches 1t is unoficially stated that
the mast from deck to hounds Is u feet. with
n G4-foot topmast The masts were to nave
been stepped this afternoon; put the trouble
with the launching prevented that work being
done.
II is not thought that the boat Will be ready
for her trial trip before July 10. The De-
tenders crew were on hand wearing blue sweat
ers bearing the word Defender" across the
breast in red letters. They are n stalwart and
handsome OF men. and evinced great IN
terr.t and enthusiasm They came IN the. the yacnt en-,
their work Captain Haf was there. looking
none the worse for his recent surgical opera
tlon and Is delighted with the Defender ana
confident OF success In retaining the cup.
After the launch Mrs. Samuel Poneroy Colt
gave a luncheon to l4O friends among them Mr..
and Mrs Iscln and other members OF the New
York Yacht Club.