The times., 1899-08-21
ALI DUE TO TIE ERIN.
Persistent Aid Accounts for the
Shamrocls,s Quick Voyage

ShamrocL's Quick Voyage.
New York, Aug. 2O.-It is now quite GER
tain that the SEamrock's speedy voyage
across the Western Ocean was due to the
persistent aid which she received from the
steam yacht Erin. Remarks dropped By
those interested since the arrival OF the
challenging yacht lead to this conclusion
With a week or ten days gone, the sham
rock people got somewhat tired of the sea,
so the story runs. and determined in con
sequence to make the run over as short as
possible. To do this they had all the aid
from the yachts convoy that she was able
to give.
So far as ascertained there has been no
adverse comment upon the course thus
pursued by the Shamrock's officers, but
rather. there is the feeling of satisfaction
expressed by leading yachtsmen because
the foreign boat is now here
Being here. practically uninjured. there
is the desire TO put the Shamrock In racing
shape as soon as 1t can be done. BY 10
o'clock tomorrow the yacht will be towed
from her anchorage off Tompkinsyiile to
the John N. Robins shipyard Erie Basin
where she Will be berthed at q small pier
recently constructed. which is just east OF
the big docks. There. with the aid of the
yards facilities for such work, the masts
now in her viii be taken out and refitting
begun with the least possible delay.
There cannot be long interval between
the time OF commencing this work and that
when the boat will be ready for spars that
came over recently in the Furnessa from
Glasgow. These spars. il has been said by
some of the Shamrock's sympathizers, are
only to be stepped In the yacht temporarily
They will be used in the practice spins that
the yacht will receive of Sandy Hook, but
not in the races OF the international match
For the latter there are other spars on the
way from London, and If those now here do
not cause the boat TO show in the best OF
style the London made and improved and
also longer metal sticks" will at once re-
place the others.
report concerning the Shamrock
which gained some currency yesterday.
was that her racing mast is made of UNI
mum, with some alloy to lend 1t the reces-
sary rigidity This was based upon the
opinion OF an alleged expert lin metals who
was present when the mast was being un-
loaded from the steamship which brought
il over and was being loaded on a barge
for transportation to the Erie Basin He
was struck with the easy manner in which
It was lifted and handled, and he got as
near as he could to detect, II possible, the
cause of such unusual lightneSs in so bulky
an object
He was rewarded by finding spot where
the wrappings about the mast had been
torn away. From the hasty examination
which he was able to make OF this one
spot on the mast he is said to have ex-
pressed his firm belief that it is composed
mainly of aluminium. OF course, that
metal is so soft that it would not be at all
suitable to stand the strain which viii be
put upon the Shamrccks spars when all
her sails are filled with wind. and some al
10y would necessary be used to lend the
requisite stiffness. The expert who says
he caught glimpse of the mast could
make no guess at the alloy used Just
how much weight would be saved by max
ing her mast Of aluminium and Of alloy de-
pends. of course. on the quality Of alloy
put into the composition.