The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-29
LINES OF THE CUP DEFENDER.
YACHT COLUMBIA ADMIRED IN DRY
DOCK AT BROOKLXN.

Contrast Between Her Lines ana
Those of the Shamrock IL Very
Marked-Her Draft Little More
Than Twenty Fcet-Acid Used to
Brighten Her Bronze Plates--Icng-
Iishmen Who Saw Her Are Now
Hoping for n Heavy wind.
New York, Sept 2S.-The Columbia was
docked at the Brooklyn navy yard this aft
ernoon and she will probably remain there
untn Monday the day preceding the first
of the series of races for the America's
Cup, during which period every art known
to the builder. rigger and sailmaker, will
be employed in getting the craft in the
best possible trim for the contests.
The contrast between the lines of the
Shamrock and the Columbia are very
marked In the former one can see big
bulky craft dependent upon greater
spread OF canvas for superiority in speed,
while the latter has the thoroughbred ap-
pearance that comes with finer lines and
more slender hull.
The Columbia was viewed from all sides
by admiring hundreds, most of whom had
also seen the Shamrock In the dry dock,
and ninety-nine out of every one hundred
were of the opinion that the American
boat was far more a racer in looks than
the cup challenger Even the English and
Scotch writer's sent across to report the
cup races admitted that the Columbia was
the better looking craft OF the two, but
they hope for heavy breezes so that the
Shamrock can make her best showing
When the keel touched on the blocks
they were at depth Of twenty feet and
few inches of water.
Bronze Plates COrrOded.
When the water had receded, so far that
the Coumba's hull below the water line
was exposed to view, ii was seen that the
action of the water had corroded the
bronze plates so much that she appeared
to be painted green. The bilse pates
were remarkably bright, however showing
what friction will do when the vessel Is
under sail
The crew was set at work scrubbing the
| hull with brooms and brushes, but II was
of little effect in removing the corrosion.
| A solution of acid and water was tried in
| one spot and worked very effectively. The
| hull was as smooth as glass. despite the
| coating OF green. Electric burnishers will
| be set to work tomorrow, so that when
| the Columbia goes out of the dry dock
| her underbody will glisten like gold The
white top sides were sandpapered and a
| fresh coat of paint win be put on.
Comparison of the KeeIs.
The Columbia looks like a big fin keel.
| Her lead is thickest and deepest well for
! ward on the keel, so as to be directly un-
| der the center Of effort, while on the
| Shamrock the lead Is beamiest amidships.
| The American boat is cut away forward
| much more than the Irish cutter, and has
longer overhanging aft. The former S
| lead keel Is about seven feet shorter at
| the bottom than the latters which ac-
| counts for her superior quickness in stays.
| The bilge plates on the Columbia do not
| look as smooth as the Shamrock 5, but the
rest of the hun is as good a piece of work.
| menship as that Of the latter
| Capt Philip Ellsworth, who designed the
| Atlantic, saw the Columbia He said he
| believed the Columbia would defeat the
Shamrock, but thought that the Irish
craft would prove as good as the American
at every point Of sailing except In wind
ward word. He said:
! "Build a boat with hull like the Co
| lGmbias g. put on a keel like the Americas
| cut down the sail, and I'll bet she would
| defeat the Columbia hands down."