New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-25
THE COLUMBIA AFTOAT.
CUP DEFENDER GETS OFF LEDGE
WITHOUT INJURY.
ACCIDENT PROBABLY CAUSED BY LACK OF
STERN LINE-BOAT EXPECTED TO
rO >-r-u-pAD1- no nav
GO TO NEWPORT TO-DAY

Bristol r. l.. June 24.-With the rising tide
and just after heavy thunderstorm al $50
o'clock this evening the new cup defender
Columbia which had been aground all day
three hundred yards Off the Herreshon piers.
hoated unassisted. and was towed TO safe
anchorage for the night. further out into the
stream. The grounding OF the Columbia was
an unfortunate happening 10 the new craft on
this the day finally reached for her initial trip.
Day after day for a week something has kept
the Columbia from being taken 10 Newport 20
have her first sail against the Defender. and
efforts to get a start bright and early to-day
came to naught. Disappointment was keenly
felt by Mr.. Iselln and his party Of friends on
the tender st. Mchaels. we'll as by Mr. Dun
can and the OF the Defender, which. late
in the day, came up here TO investigate the de-
lay Of the Columbia Last night everybody had
looked TO a friendly tilt between the two crack
yachts. with the hope that tonight would have
given to the world some definite idea OF the
capabilities of the Herreshoffs latest produc-
tiOn.
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
The Columbia was being warped out into the
channel from the Herreshoff dock by means or
a bow line A stern line was not out. and TO
this fact may, in a measure. be attributed the
mishap. for a heavy sou;herly wind was blowing
at the time. and this wind swung the stern out
of the channel, and the craft brought up on
what was supposed TO be a mud bank. II Is
quite certain that the Columbias Keel
struck a ledge but the force Of the blow and
subsequent damage were entirely prevented by
the mud which covered the ledge. She went on
at a recedng three-quarters tide. and after at
tempts to start her had failed It was decided
ba dc IN
She came off earlier than was anticipated and
the lines on her brought the craft into the chan
mel out OF harms way. At low water the Co.
lumbias stern was high In the air. while at her
bow she was down TO within three feet Of the
water-line. At the time she grounded the tug
s c. Hart paid out a line TO help her off. but
without avail Theh lighter was run along
side the bow, and large hawser passed under
the bow, 70 serve a support The lighter was
on the starboard side OF the Columbia. and the
other end Of the hawser was supported from
the Columbia's throat halyard. This took the
strain off the bow and yet kept her in a steady
position. Then a line run from the top
mast to the pier. which prevented her from
keeling These lines served their purpose well,
for the Columbia barely moved during the en-
tire day.
LACK OF WIND IN VESSELS FAVOR
About an hour before the Columbia foated a
heavy thunderstorm came up from the south.
Fortunately there was no wind with it, After
the Columbia had foated she towed out
into the stream where her head sails were
taken out of the stops and sent below. Her
mainsaii and forestaysail had been under cover
all day and these were not touched. II Is
reasonably certain that the Columbia Will be
towed to Newport the first thing in the morn
ing
In the afternoon the Defender came UP from
Newport and anchored off Prudence Island
She started on the return about 4:3O o'clock
The new flagship Of the New-York Yacht Club,
the Corsair. Commodore Morgan. also came up
from Newport, and remains in the harbor over
night