The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-07-02
DEFENDER AFLOAT.
The American Yacht Pulled from
the Ways by a Big Tug.
THE VESSEL ESCAPES INJURY,

But the Cradle on which She Rested was
spIintered by Protruding Bolts, Which
Prevented the Launch on the Day Orig
inally Decided Upon.
BRISTOL, r. l., July 1.-The new yacht
Defender, upon which the hopes of Amer
tea depends for victory over the English
boat with which she is to compete next
fall, rests gracefully in the waters of Bris-
toll bay at the dock of the Herreshoff
works, having been released yesterday
afternoon from the position into which
she became fastened during an attempt to
launch her on Saturday. A thorough ex-
animation of the hull by divers has been
made, and the yacht is pronounced unin-
iured by her forty-eight hours suspension
near the end of the ways. The yacht was
released by the powerful tug Right Arm,
after repeated attempts made during the
time since she became fast.
All efforts to move the yacht during
Saturday night and Sunday having proved
useless, it was determined to attempt to
raise her from the cradle by the use of
pontoons. Accordingly preparations were
begun to accomplish the work of lighter
ing the INSTRUCTED yacht. The pontoons
were expected to arrive from Newport at
z o'clock yesterday morning, as they were
to be put in at low tide, but owing to a
misunderstanding they did not arrive
until after the tide had reached the flood.
The tide served we'll, and shortly after
noon, when the water was pretty well up,
Captain Davis, of the tug Right Arm, told
Mr.. Herreshoff that he thought 1t worth
while for his boat to have another pull at
the Defender. He was told to do so.
Captain Davis and his men then placed
a net work of cables about the yacht, in
the form of a huge cats cradle. This was
done not only to give additional purchase,
but also to avoid possibility of topping
the Defender over.
The Right Arm then got up steam and
gathering the cables together, when the
word was given, started ahead. The haw-
sers became taut. but the Defender did
not move. The strain was again applied
with NJ apparent result, and a third pull
was also unsuccessful
Captain Nat Herreshoff and G, Oliver
Iselin, who were watching the operations,
looked even more serious than before. a
conference was held with Captain Davis,
of the big tug. 1t was now nearly 3 o'clock,
and the tide was turning. At goo, Cap
r tain Davis, having resumed his position
on the tug, again began churning the
water and the cables once more began t.
!, s~traighten and crackle with the strain.
+ AT this point the eager eyes on the dock
noticed a slight movement of the yacht
followed by IA decided motion towards the
end of the ways, and in another moment
y the Defender took the water will a splash
# floating easily along in the wake of the
tug. AS the boat slid off into the water
Captain Herreshoff and Mr.. Iselin seized
their caps and flung them ioyously int
the air. A loud cheer burst from thu
spectators, and at the same instant a can
II non at Charles He~rreshoff's, across tn,
bay, doomed out a salute. The steam
y craft in the harbor took up the sound ant
q for several minutes there was noisy joy.
it As soon as the yacht loated the cradle
separated from the keel, doated alongside
1t was badly scratched and s%plintered
showing that had not the builders place.
it under the Defender she would hav
been seriously damagedin the attempts t
% release her. Divers Bradley and Dunca
. went down a few n u after the yach
~ was freed, but were unable to find tn
1e least injury to the bottom of the boat.
1r The cause of the mishap to the Defende
S, is now known to have resulted from pre-
an truding bolts used in the construction {
al the ways. These bolts extended throug
er the timbers of the ways, so that as til
'e cradle came down upon them they becam
W imbedded in the woodwork to the depth
y from an inch to an inch and a half. B
the repeated strains to release the boz
they were drawn through the wood, spill
q ting and shattering it, as was seen afte
ward.
The opinion is given on good authorit
that it will be six weeks before the d
fender will be ready for a trial trip.
nd