The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-11
SWELL YACHTING SOCIETY.
An Incident Including No Shirt and a
Swim.
From the New York World.

From the New York World
Mr.. and Mrs. Iselin, Woodbury. Kane,
Newberry Thorne. Herbert Leeds and
Sandie, the yellow dog, Defenders mas
cot, had spent the night aboard the
steam yacht Neckan, anchored a few
cable lengths ahead of the winning yacht
Shortly after 10 a. m. the announcement
of a remeasurement was made and the
Hattie Palmer Defenders tender took
a tow line from the cup defender, and
lowed her into the basin. Mr.. Iselin and
his party followed on the Neckan.
Upon their arrival at the basin they
found that Valkyrie had preceded them
The English sloop was moored at the
north wharf. Defender was warped into
her old berth and all the spare material
was put aboard the tender.
Shortly before l p. m. Mr.. Hyslop came
aboard Defender with his steel tape line.
Mr. Iselin sat on the after hatch. Next
to him was his wife, dressed in a white
yachting suit and white straw hat trim
med with pink roses. She carried a blue
silk parasol.
Mr.. Watson and Nat Herreshoff the
rival designers, were also on deck. Mr..
Watson was walking up and down in
nervous manner. He wore a long
bath robe of light brown stuff. He was
barefoOted, and had no shirt on. The
bath robe had a big rolling collar, and
did not cover his neck or chest. He
wore a big light-grey SLOUGH hat cooked
over his left ear.
When Mr.. Hyslop told Mr.. Watson and
Mr.. Herreshoff that ne was ready for
business Mr.. Hyslop and the designers
jumped into a rowboat, which was hauled
under Defenders bow. Then Mr. Hy-
slop dropped his big measuring stick over
hOap1 WI laaA lipo
the American boats bow to Indicate the
distance from bow to water-line. Mr..
Watson wanted TO have the water-line
marked on Defenders side, so that he
could ascertain at any time whether she
was in racing condition. The placing of
the Plimsol mark on yachts is an inno-
walton on this side of the water.
1t is no easy job to mark this line cor
rectly, although there was not a ripple
on the water. Mr.. Watson is very near
sighted.
you can't do this thing right in a
boat" said Mr.. Watson. II think I'll
have a swim"
The wharf was lined with men. women
and children who had come to Erie Basin
to see the two yachts side by side They
were surprised when they saw the tall
Brtisher take off his bath-robe and care
lessly throw 1t in the bottom of the boat.
Here goes for a SWIM said Mr. Wat
son, and then he jumped overheard.
When he arose to the surface he brushed
the water out of his eyes and swan under
Defenders bow, holding on 90 her
bobstay. When the water had become per-
fectly calm again, Mr.. Hyslop passed his
tapeline and the stick, and Mr.. Watson
had his nose almost on top of the stick.
I'VE have the correct measurement
now" he said, and then he made mark
on Defenders bow where the water
line begins. To do this Mr.. Watson had
to stay in the water nearly twenty min
utes. Then he climbed into the boat again
and had ii hauled around to the port bow
to find out Defenders freeboard.
After getting into the boat again Mr.
Watson put his bath-robe on once more
and looked as unconcerned as though
nothing had happened.