The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-25
SAID SHAMROCK LEAKED.
PUMPING WATER OUT OF HER
STARTS A RUM0n Ar HRYB BASIN.

But the Challenger was Only EmptyinR
Her Tanks which Will be Taken Out
and stored Untii she starts for Home.
Her Mast Nee Not Yet Been stepped.
There was Wild rumor In the Erie Basin
yesterday that the Shamrock was leaking, and
! to substantiate this Iumor II was shown that
water was being pumped out OF the yachts
hold a. fast 80 the men could work. This was
fact long hose had been put down into
the hold and several OF the crew we're at work
all the morning forcing the water from the
hold over the side Of the yacht. When this
was seen the wiseheads in tho basin declared
that the yacht had been strained while cross
ing the ocean, and had made lots OF water. 1t
was further stated that II was on account OF
| this leak that no progress had been made In
rigging the yacht and that Captains Hosarth
and WrlhRe were wondering what TO DO. They
did not want to put the yacht into dry dock with
out Mr.. Fife being present. and wero waiting
| for instructions. All this sounded very well.
but II camo from those who knew nothing OF
what they were talking.
tits customary 70 report that the chailenR-
ing yacht has been strained on the voy-
| age across, and the two yalkyries, the Thistle
| and the others were all said to be badly dam
| aged whom they arrived here Tho truth OF
| the matter was that the crew were at work
tulptyinH bn0 Whtef thnhb. NnSn tno bndib-
rock sailed from Glasgow her tanks we're filled
with water sufacient for a voyage that might
| have lasted for a month. The voyage only
lasted half OF that time and consequently the
| tanks were only half emptied. When the
! tanks are empty they will be taken out and
| stored until IL Is time for the voyage home.
David Barrie and the two captains emphati-
| caly denied that the yacht had been injured
| by the voyage.
Nothing was done in the way OF rigging the
| ehall enEer yesterday. but some OF the crew
were at work preparing the standing rigging.
| and II 10 expected that the wrecking tug
Champion will lift the mast from the store
house ibis m orning and that II will be stepped
| at once No one connected with the yacht
would say whether this was TO be the pro-
gramms for the day. but II was intimate that
| 1t might be.
! Preparations are being made at the basin to
dock the yacht when Sir Thomas Upton de-
cides to have her cleaned. The plans have
been nled and the necessary blocks which are
! Of a special mould arc being prepared The
yacht draws twenty-five feet and she will be
| foated into the dock when there 10 nty-four
feet on the sill. 1t is said that she will be
| doeked at night and By the time the sun rises
| she will be covered with petticoats and no one
| will have o chance TO get view OF the under
body about which there 10 so much curiosity.
| A yachtsman at the basin yesterday had good
| look at the yacht and he thought that tho
| secret was In the way her I'M was hung-for II
| is conceded that the Shamrock has hn keel.
| The angle Of the rudder post would indicate
| that the rudder 10 hung at an angle OF consid-
| erably moro than forty-hve degrees. This
| would take the I'm very far forward. The mast
| is stepped we'll back and this yachtsman
| thought that the an was hung In the forward
part OF the hull. but how no could not explain.
The boom which 10 on the dock by the side OF
| the Shamrock Is not the one she will use in the
races but Ia only an extra boom for emer-
| genciss. The boom she will nrst use is In the
storehouse and Is nearly 40 feet In length. or
| at least four feet longer than tho ono on the
| dock. The frst sails that will be bent will be
| the ones that were used In the trials that the
Shamrock sailed with the Britannia in Eng
J land. Another suit OF sails ia on It's way over.
but the old suit will be thoroughly tested be-
| fore the new ones are tried.
| Another rumor current In the Basin yester-
day was that tho metal OF the Shamrock was
| corroding. Tho mon had been working on
several spots that had been attacked by the
| salt and had reprinted them. The paint had
simply blistersd In some places and new coat
put on in order to make the yacht look better.
| There is no corrosion. at least those In charge
| OF the boat say there Is none.
Tho challenger 10 as much as attraction at
the basin as she was the frst day she arrived
The cars which 60 to Erie Basin carry pla-
cards announcing the fact and there are signs
outside tho ferryhouse at tho foot OF White
hall street. These signs. however. fail to state
that no ono Is admitted to the basin. The only
way to get look at the yacht Is to hire a row.
boat and pull out on the water. A few favored
visitors are admitted into the basin. but the
l -
lets in.