The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-27
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SHAMROCK IS AFLOAT
New Cup Challenger Takes the
Water.
MEETS WITH ACCIDENT
CoLLIDEs WITH BARGE AFTER
LAUNCHING.
MEETS WITH ACCIDENT
Not Seriously Injured, However
Launching Made Holiday For
English People-Ceremonies of
misunderstanding About
the Yacht.

the acht.
London. June 26.-Sir Thomas Lip
toms cup challenger Shamrock was
launched this afternoon at Millwan
AS the Shamrock reached mid
stream. from the slips. barge collided
with her, striking the yachts bow
ABOVE the water line and making big
dent. There was a great CRY when
the shamrock struck, but it was soon
ascertalned that the damage was slight
ana the yacht was towed toward the
southwest inlet. hundreds of whistles
ana horns making a tremendous din
me occasion was observed as a gem
eral holiday. On little spot among
the forests of masts, hailing from
every quarter of the globe, a large
tent, gaiiy decorated with flags, was
erected opposite the yacht, which stood
on the slips ready for the water and
flying stars and stripes and union
Jacks Crowds of people who had no
chance OF seeing anything out of the
ordinary, assembled during the morn
ing in the vicinity of the yard, and
detachments of police appeared to pre-
serve order. From the river little
could be seen except the stern of the
shone the name shamrock"
Previous to the launch Sir Thomas
Upton gave a lunch as the Savoy hotel
10 the guests invited to the ceremony.
They included Admiral Lord Charles
Beresford, the Marquis of Sufferin, the
Earl and Countess of Clanwilliam,
Lady Russell of Killowen, the Hon
Lillian Russell. the Hon. Schomberg
Kerry Dome II, principal private sec
rotary to the Marquis of Salisbury;
Sir George Faudel-Phillips, former
lord mayor of London, and Lady Phil
lips: Herbert Gladstone. Major Shar-
man-Crawford, the Hon. W. Walsh and
H. NJ. McGilldowney, the last three
representing the Royal Ulster Yacht
club.
Toasted the Shamrock.
After the usual loyal toasts, Admiral
Beresford proposed the success of the
Shamrock, and briefly sketched the
struggle of times gone by and Sir
Thomas Lipton's gallant entry into the
breach and challenge for the cup. Then
the admiral, in breezy style, raised MS
glass and said:
one. May the Shamrock win a fair,
square race, and may she have The adj
ditiOnal ballast of the Americas cup
when she returns"
The guests heartily raised their
glasses in response, and the owner of
the Shamrock modestly replied with Il
few words of thanks.
After lunch the party drove to Sa-
mudaS yard in two coaches, Admiral
Beresfcrd driving the first. They were
the object of much attention While
proceeding down the Thames embank-
ment and through the city and White
Chapel.
immediately after their arrival at
the yard the party inspected the yacht
under the guidance of Sir Thomas Lip
ton, W. Fife, jr., Mr.. Thornycroft and
lighted. Admiral Beresford, whose ex-
pert opinion is valuable. seeming espec-
tally pleased with his minute inspection
of the challenger. Lady Russell then
assembled a platform level with the
bow.
Lady Russell christened the yacht
with the customary bottle of cham
payne. saying:
u christen you Shamrock. God bless
you: good luck to you; may you bring
bacl, the cup"
Three cheers were then given and on
signal from Lady Russell the boat
and cradle glided into the water After
the launch the party assembled in the
adjoining tent and had tea The
health of the Shamrock was drunk and
congratulatory speeches were made.
Description of Yacht.
When the Shamrock was launched,
her entire crew and a large number of
workmen were on board. The canvas
screens covered only about twelve feet
of her bow and stern. The three top
plates which are made of alloy were
painted pea green. Below that she was
a brilliant bronze resembling gold. The
wetted surface was cut away to the
last inch. The mystery in regard to
her dimensions was continued. No Of
fetal figures were obtainable. but a man
who worked on her says her length
over all is 125 feet, her water line So
feet beam % feet and draught is feet
8 inches.
Some little difficulty was experienced
in entering the Indian dock, but ulti-
mately the Shamrock was safely
berthed in the upper basin where her
spars are lying.
Sir Thomas Upton who was in high
spirits was asked a question regarding
the prospects of the yacht and he said
to a representative of the Associated
Press: We. have engaged to win back
the Americas cup. We have fairly eX-
tended ourselves and if we are beaten,
all / can say is honor to the yacht
WHICH Is DtIl6T llltIl tie
William Fife, jr., designer of the
Shamrock remarked: Brains and all
that careful thought and knowledge of
naval architecture can put into the
yacht is there Every man of us is
satisfied that with fair field we shall
give a tight race to any opponent. The
Shamrock goes round to Southampton
tomorrow or Wednesday, for just those
little arrangements that a racing eX-
perience gives, and then for the journey
which we hope will herald the cup"
Admiral BereSford said to "a repreSen-
tative of the Associated Press: Il con-
slider the hull of the Shamrock to be
a remarkable triumph of construction.
She is built on original lines. In the
water she is not so striking as out of it.
In my opinion, her underwater con-
struction is unique. Her apparent
great beam is necessary to satisfy the
sea of canvas. 1t is i'm
possible to forecast the prospects. Take
the case of the Meteor, which is an
DID craft, yet she is racing with great
success. The Shamrock's designer and
builder have proceeded on the soundest
lines for lightness and speed and if
she is not the sEiftest afioat / shall be
surprised. But we must recollect that
the Americans know a good craft and
we can understand that their invention
will run US hard"
COLUMBIA IS ACCEPTED.