The San Francisco call., 1899-06-11
elp out the brilliant effect of the

help out the brilliant effect of the
Mrs. Iselin did her part gracefully,
SURROUNDED by half hundred society
leaders of New York. Providence and
Boston and many yachting friends of
her husband. The launching was
great success from beginning to end,
being attended only by an unfortunate
accident among the spectators. 4 new
cup defender is again afloat and in a
few weeks will be ready to battle for
the yachting supremacy of the world
While twice before in its history this
little town has felt the thrill accom-
panylns the launching of an American
cup defender the lowering into the
water tonight of the beautiful slOop
Columbia was, nevertheless, an event
of great Importance TO Bristol as well
as to the entire yachting world. Sim
ultaneoUsly with the arrival of numer
out yachtsmen from New York and
Boston in the morning, there sailed into
the harbor and anchored off the
Browns sheds at the HerreshOffs a
score or more of steamships. schoOners
and sloops, and from the decks of these
yachts people watched all the afternoon
the final preparations for the evening S
event.
An hour before the launching the big
door that for weeks had screened the
back end Of the shed was taken down,
and for the first time the world had a
chance to see the shining underbody of
the boat Inside the shed, assembled
under the bow of the boat, was the
christening party, with Mrs. Iselin as
the central figure, while on deck were
twenty of the Columbia's crew with one
or two officers and Nat Herreshoff.
At sos Mr.. Herreshoff gave the sig
nal. and the work of lowering the boat
.Na1rs ,lNfNT1
minutes to get her started, and at 8:14
she was seen to move. There was con-
siderable creaking at first, and one or
two short stops, but at S:19 she began
to slide steadily, and then it was that
Mrs. Iselin dashed the bottle of cham
pagne against her bow and said:
L christen thee Columbia"
AS the boat came slowly out there
was a shout from the crowd. Slowly
the boat moved down the railway and
the place resounded with cheers and
handclapping. When half the stern
overhanging was clear of the shed a
half dozen of the new boats crew who
were lying on her deck jumped to their
feet and raised a magnificent Ameri-
can Yacht Club ensign in the air.
Then there was another busting on
the dock and a half dozen men raised
the white star and crescent on a red
burgee above red and black burgee
below, the colors of Commodore j.
Pierpont Morgan and Colonel Oliver
Isein, respectively. Soon that long, ta-
pering bow was clear of the shed and
on the extreme end staff bearing the
New York Yacht Clubs burgee was
slipped into socket. Inch by inch the
long, slim craft moved down and the
water soon Tapped the metal rudder
which cleaned like cold under the rays
of the lights. and the water crept up
until the rudder head was completely
submerged and the keel was hidden
from view.
Just as the Columbia was about out
a distressing accident occurred The
explosion of can of fiashlight powder
blew leg and part of the head off Ma
poleon San Souci. aged II years, broke
the legs of two other boys and severely
injured several other persons The
photographer who caused the accident
selected the top of a shed, the roof Of
which was closely packed with boys
In pouring out the flashlight powder
train must have been left, connecting
the large can of explosive with the small
quantity on the camera. AS the pho
tographer touched the fuse he shouted
a warning, but there was no space in
which the boys could move. A terrific
explosion followed, the entire shed col
lapsing. Many women on the WharVes
tainted from the shock and there was
great excitement
Policemen pulled the injured from the
wreck and carried them into the Here
shoff shops. San Souci was taken from