Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-30
COLUMBIA AND SHAMROCK
be'ng Put in Perfect Trim-WiII PC Measured
Monday Morning.

New York, Sept. 29.-Tbis has beop -
particularly busy day for the crnvya N
both the American Gun defended ~
lumbia and the Irish challenger ehar,
rock. FROM early morning the larger
porloh OF the men on the Columbia
We're busy scraping and polishing her
metal uhderpody with sanGpaper.
emery and oil The electric burnishars
We're discarded after several trials. for
the men found that they could do the
work faster and better by hand. The
burnisher did not leave the surface
nearly as smooth as when the vorl,
was done by hand. The Shamrock's
undcrb0dy is practically finished 50 far
as polishing is concerned. The work of
polishing ~ the columbia's huh will
take at least another day. The yacht
will not he noated out OF the dry dock
until Monday morning.
When the Shamrock was first ex-
posed to view every one was Of the
opinion that her lead keel was not COW
cred with metal similar To the Column
bias. but when the undgrbOdy was pol
fshed off. it was seen that the lead was
projected by sheet copper, over which
4 coating of red anti-corrosiVe paint
had been put. The copper was polish
ca. today. ana the very bottom sheets
were given coat Of dark red paint.
The new bobstay for the Columbia
arrived from the Hcrreshof's works,
last night. and, today, RiGger Gilman
ana his mon went 10 work putting IL in
place. The new piece of wire rope Is
about one and one-quartcr inch in
diameter. slightly larger than the one
which broke last week and as it had
been given 20e-ton test before it was
sent hero from Bristol. ii should carry
The boat through the races. When the
bObstay was secured at each end the
slack was taken up by turning The
bowsprit out board. There is still 4
chance u work the bOWsprit out six or
seven inches and when the wire stay
stretches more the slack viii be taken
up.
II was learned. today, that the Co
lumbia's telescope tOpmast has more
advantages than being easy 10 house.
The spar can be lowered clear to the
bottom of the hollow mast by means Of
wire gear running from inside the heel
of the main mast to the masthead. This
wire rope is attached to the foot of the
topmast and by means Of a small wind
lass below decks, the spar can he east
IS run up or lowered. The fact that the
topmast can he lowered clear to the
bottom III the mast does away with the
theory that the steel spar is braced in
side. In case Nc blow the weight Of
the pine topmast below decks viii give
the yacht greater stability than if it
in ha MN ty-ln If IN.
men stated that there was a saving in
weight Of 40 pounds by having the
topmast come clear down inside The
mast. In a gale of wind the telescope
area Will be far superior 10 the plan Of
housing the topmast outside the main
mast m il is necessary ~ lash the spar
whom ii Is down ARA that is not always
easy.
Tho port side If the Columbia was
given q coat Of fresh white paint ana
the starboard side will be repainted. to-
morrow. The topsidcs Of the sham
rock We're painted delicate shade of
green also. today, So that both craft will
W into the races as they We're uriEi-
nuIly painted. not withstanding the
theory hat there was 4 loss Of speed
by ~ doing.
Almost the most Interested Of the
spectators that saw IN" Columbia. to-
day. were Capts. Hograth ana Wringe
ana SaiIm1knr Ratsey If the Shamrock !
F1r un Euur the captains talked over
tn" relative merits nf the two boats |
MA viewed tho Cnlunhia's hun ut close /
quarters. The ItngliShmcn diu not care I
to express any opinion other than to /
say that the Columbia WAS a fine look |
ing craft. Besides repaiHting the top |
,idca and securing the hull Of the |
Shamrock, thera was considerable |
1thcr work done about the boat. Most /
Important NJ all was INC putting Oh NJ I
4 new hobStaY. made double and was |
wound for over half its length with
marlin. TO prevent chatting The cable
was not as large in diameter as The
lew one on the Columbia but ought to .
stand any strain that can BE put upon
[.
There was some talk about the Erie /
}asin that the Shamrock would br /
ioatcd cut Of the dock. tomorrow after
loon. and as the craft is about ready tn I
cave, there may be some truth in the !
'umor, but John NJ. Hyslop. Official