The Portland daily press., 1898-10-10
THE CUP DEFENDER.
Gallant Old Defender viii Be as Good as
New.
New York. October s.-The Herald to-

|
New York, October s.-The Herald to-
| day says:
met Mr.. G. Oliver Iselin yesterday
and talked with him about the old and
new defenders-the Defender that in 1895
showed the way to the Valkyrie III. and
the yacht to be turned out by the HERES
hoffs for the purpose of meeting the
Shamrock in the international races next
year. Mr.. Iselin assured me that the
Bristol builders were hurrying their pre-
parations to receive the Defender, that
they may make such repairs to her as
her condition will warrant.
ways are bsing built from the south
shop at the Herreshoffs same shop
in which the hull of the Defender was
constructed-th may be used for haul
| ing her out of the water and also for the
launching of the new yacht said he.
$50 soon as the ways are ready shall
sail the Defender to Bristol, and work
will be commenced ON her at once"
"What crew will you have on board
to put her in sailing trim for the Jun
down the Sounds" was asked.
"a picked up. crew, but it will be of
good men,"
elias there been date fixed for her re-
moval?"
"No, but she will be taken there be-
fore November 1, as the ways-or such Is
the promise-will be finished before that
date"
MIR. Iselin upon this point also said
that it was not known how much the De-
| fender is injured; in fact, it could not be
known until she was thoroughly ex-
amined at the Herreshoff works. 1t was
this intention to have her in good condi-
ton again before the worst of the winter
weather, and he thought this might be
done in two months.
DIVERS TO EXAMINE UNDER BODY
"From an examination of her bronze
plating, or her under body, from the in.
side.'' said he, sit is believed that 1t is
| in as good shape now as when the yacht
was built but to be absolutely certain
| upon that point, have employed the
Merritt Wrecking company to send divers
up here and examine her under body
and clean it, which they will do on Mon
day next, the 10th inst. Then we shall
know how to proceed, but the next thing
| to be done will be to put her in the
shape recessary-bend sails, etc.-that
she may be taken to Bristol.
"The Defender will not be placed in
the shop at all at Bristol" continued
Mr.. Iselin, ''as that will be needed at
once for the new boat. She will be hauled
up on the ways the distance required and
the repairs will be made in the open. 1t
will be Just as easy to have her all ready
again about the holidays as weeks or
months later Then when she is in fix
she will be thoroughly protected from the
weather and allowed to remain just whore
she is until the spring, or Immediately
preceding the launching of the new boat,
when she will be put overheard"
"You will have great craft in the De-
fender with which to try your new boat,
was suggested.
Indeed she will be-" returned Mr..
Iselin, and pointing to handsome model
of the Defender few feet from where he
was standing, he said, emrhatically, "it
will be hard to beat that boat.
"And now," Mr.. Iselin added in de.
cided tone, ST do not care to get into
controversy with yachtsmen, critics or
otherwise, across the ocean, but want
! it to be understood that the Defender was
not built lin giIncrack fashion,, as it s
claimed in Englands that she was. The
Defender was as staunchly built as any
racing cutter ever constructed. There
was nothing of the gimcraok order about
\ her. She was as strong or stronger; In
every way than the Vigilant. which has
crossed and recrossed the Atlantic and as
strong or stronger than the Cclonia now
| the successful schooner. This know for
1 have sailed on both vessels and am post
ed regarding the strength of their hulls.
Yes and she was stronger than the VAL
kyrie III. / would not have hesitated a
moment about crossing the ocean in her
such decision been necessary"
Dropping the Defender and turning to
the new boat Mr.. Iselin said this:
"The contract for the new boat was
signed with the Herreshoffs few days
ago and she will be started as soon as
practicable. There have been several
models submitted by the designer but
no decision has been arrived at in this
particular Really if decision had been
reached it would not be wise to talk
much about it now nor of the materials
to be used in the yachts construction.
There will be lot Of guesswork INDUCED
in by outsiders about this boat but there
will be nothing official said about her
until it is certain that no harm can come
| from it.
"The new syndicate? oh yes Com
modore j. Pierpont Morgan who is at the
| head of it and myself-thus far.
81 shall have charge Of both boats-the
Defender and the new craft shall not
be able of course to look after beth as
they should be and will be looked after,
AT1% 1a-