The record-union., 1899-06-18
Some Facts About the Yacht Build
ing for Sir Upton
Which Is to Try Conclusions With the
American Craft this Fall.

ee1ucC an xOea4 xac0t-14cC<AA
Which Has the Appearance Of
Aluminium, Which Has Extraor-
dinary Resistance and Light
ness, Being Employed in It's
Construction.
Copyright, 1899, by Associated Press.)
LONDON, June 17.-England had the
usual mixture of winter and summer
this week. Until Thursday it was so
old that the weather seriously inter-
ed with the brilliancy of Ascot, to
n place the social headquarters
ansferred. Women appeared in
heavy coats, and the men wore
is. But on Thursday and Fri
al summer weather enabled the
ax to make dazzling displays of
airy dresses, and brought an en-
JUS assemblage to the Royal Heath.
re were more coaches than usual,
team of the Duke and Duchess of
.arlborough being specially admired.
In the royal inclosure there was a
large contingent of Amer leans, dnclud-
ing all the members of the United
States Embassy, the Bradley Martins,
Mrs. Bonynge, Lady Deerhurst Lady
William Beresford, Lady Randolph
Churchill and Mrs Jack" Leslie On
Thursday, cup day, the dresses Were
especially beautiful f1owered musdins
predominating. The Duchess of Marl
borough wore while silk. covered with
fine, black lace: Lady Mary Sackvile
was dressed in white lace over white
satin. with hanging sleeves and touches
of blue satin at the waist, and a large
leghorn hat, embellislhed with pink
roses. Lady Hesketh's costume was of
f1owered muslin. She wore also beau
tiful necklace of round opals.
In spite of the abnormal secrecy in
writing connected with the America >
cup challenger Shamrock. a represent
ative of the Associated Press has been
able to glean few facts about the
boat interesting alike to yachtsmen and
the general public. The original esti-
mate of the cost of the vessel has near
ly doubled. but Sir Thomas Upton will
not have to foot tf1e-whoie Of the bill,
as the Thorneycrofts, who are keenly
. interested, hoping the Shamrock's sue
cess will add laurels to the firms repu-
tation. are bearing portion of the ex-
pense. Those. who are inside declare
the yachts construction is absolutely
unique, and that the amount of metal
employed will be a surprise to the
yachting world when it is divulged. In
color and texture the alloy has the ap-
pearance of aluminium, of which, in
deed, it has a large per cent. 1t pos
sesses extraordinary resistance and
lightness. and has been used every
where where wood was not considered
absolutely essential. Great difficulty
has been encountered in moldfng the
plates. Although the sheathing tends
to give her a heavy appearance, the
yacht has in reality been built for light
weather, and it is considered that her
chances of success will be reduced
should the weather be heavy during the
cup races.
Her deck and overdeck arrangements.
as regards sails, etc, are considered
original and peculiarly effective. Light
hardwood bertfs are being fitted for
the use of the crew in crossing the At
lantic.
The contracts of the crew have been
signed for six months certain on rae
ing pay, and substantial bonuses have
been promised in case of victory.
The first appearance of the Shamrock
will be at the. Hunters Quay regatta,
Firth of Clyde, where Sir Thomas Lip
ton gives a 100 guinea cup. The cup
challenger will not be regularly raced,
but will take few trial spins, and may,
perhaps, be tested in a race OF two.
But that will be arranged according to
the weather If it is wet, Captin Ho-
garth will not set the new mainsail.
From the Clyde the Shamrock will pro-
ceed to the Royal Ulster regatta, in
Belfast Loeb, where the same course in
regard to her trials will be followed
1t is very improbable that the Sham
rock will go to Cowes and meet the
Princes of Wales cutter Britannica. She
is more likely to be placed under ketch
rig and get away immediately for New
York from North ireland, so as to get
q, good Atlantic passage.
Remarkable prices were realized at
the Dickens sale at Sothebys this week.
A first of the edition original parts of
the "Pickwick Papers," presented by
Charles Dickens to his sister -in-law,
Mary Hogarth, brought f105. and other
copies were sold for fS6 and f63 a
copy. An american Notes. presented
by Dickens to Thomas Carlyle, sold for
f61 The original autograph manu-
script of Dickens Battle of Life" on
fifty quarto pages, brought f200. Fors-
ter's life of Dickens, containing auto
graph letters, manuscripts and por-
traits of literary celebrities, was
knocked down for $500. and Dickens
Cash Book when he was in the office
of Lawyer Blackmore, showing Dick
ems, salary to have been thirteen shil-
lings pence per week, brought EOS
Connoisseurs are greatly interested in
the forthcoming sale of the Marlbor-
ough germs at Christies'. 1t will be the
most important Of it's kind since 1879,
when the same collection was sold on
block for 81. 600 guineas. The purchaser.
David Bromide, maintained the collec-
tion intact, but he recently died and the
gems which the third Duke of Marl-
borough spent the best part of his life
in gathering, will be scattered. They
are largely canoes and intaglios be-
longing to the centuries between the
reign OF Augustus and the end of the
Antoine period. It is urged that the
hest should be secured for the British
Museum.
The charity bazaar to be held at AL
hert Hall In aid Of the funds of the
s zrharinr Cross Hospital is much talked
~ among the aristocracy and others
& i Z r1nreaeutative Of the Associated
Pre- has interviewed the Countess of