The record-union., 1899-06-27
CUP CHALLENGER
SHAMROCK.
Barge Co|Iidsd With Her in Mid
Stream,
Making 4 Big Dent Ia Her Bow Above the
Water Line.

The Damage Was Not Much, How
ever-Lady Russell Of Killowen
Christened the Yacht With the
3 Customary Bottle Of Cham
pagne-Her Builder and Owner
Are Confident Of Her Ability to
Garry the Cup to England.
LONDON, June 26.-Sir Thomas Lip
toms cup challenger Shamrock was
launched this afternoon at Millwall.
AS the Shamrock reached midstream
from the slips barge; collided with her,
striking the yacht above the water line
and making big dent in her bow. The
full extent of the damage done had not
been ascertained as this dispatch was
sent
The occasion was observed as gen.
eral holiday. On little spot among
the forests of masts hailing from ev
cry quarter of the globe large tent,
gaily 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 morning in the
vicinity of the yard and detachments of
police appeared to preserve order.
from the river little could be seen
except the. stern of the yacht where in
bright golden letters shone the name
Shamrock
Previous to the launch Sir Thomas
Upton gave a lunch at the Savoy Hotel
to the guests invited to the ceremony.
They included Admiral Lord Charles
Beresford, the Marquis of Dufferin, the
Earl and Countess of Clan William,
Lady Russell Of Halloween, the Hon.
Russell, the Hon Schomburg Kerr Nc
Donald, principal private Secretary to
the Marquis of Salisbury; Sir George
Faudel-Phillips. former Lord Mayor of
London, and Lady Phillips, Herbert
Gladstone, Major Sharman- Crawford,
the Hon. w. Walsh and H. NJ McGill
Downey, the last three representing the
Royal Ulster Yacht Club
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 a breezy STYLE raised
his glass and said: Now we come to
the last scene but one. May the Sham
rock win a fair, square race, and may
she have the additional 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
few words of thanks
After lunch the party drove to the
yard in two coaches, Admiral Beresford
driving the first. They were the object
of much attention while proceeding
down the Thames embankment and
through the city and Whitechapel.
Immediately after their arrival at the
yard the party inspected the yacht I'M
der the guidance Of Sir Thomas Upton,
w. Fife, Jr., Mr. Thornycroft and
ed, Admiral Beresford, whose expert
opinion is valua BILE, seemed especially
pleased with his minute inspection of
the challenger.
Lady Russell then assembled a plat
form level with the bow and christened
the yacht with the customary bottle of
champagne, saying: Il christen you
Shamrock God bless YOU, good luck to
you; may you bring back the cup
Three cheers were then given and on
signal from Lady Russell, the boat
and the 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.
There was a great cry when the
Shamrock struck. But it was soon as
certained that the damage was slight
and the yacht was towed toward the
southwest India, hundreds of whistles
and horns making a tremendous din.
When the Shamrock was launched her
entire crew and a large number of
workmen were on board.
The canvas covered only about twelve
feet of her bow and STERN The three
top plates, which are made of alloy.
were painted 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 dimen-
sions were continued. No official fig
ures were obtainable, but man who
worked on her says her length over all
is 125 feet, her water line IS feet, beam
% feet and draft. Is feet 6 inches
Some little difficulty was experienced
in entering the Indian dock, but ulti
mately the Shamrock was safely berth
ed 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 representative of the Associated
Press:
I'VE have engaged to win back the
Americas cup. We have fairly extend
ed ourselves, and If we are beaten. all
l can say is honor to the yacht which
is better than the Shamrock
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 sat
isfied that with fair field we shall give
a tight race to any opponent
The Shamrock goes round to South
ampton tomorrow or Wednesday for
just those little arrangements that a
racing experience gives, and then for
the journey. which, we hope, will her.
aid the cup
Admiral Beresford said. to a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press: 1T
consider the hull of the Shamrock to
he remarkable triumph of construc-
ton. She is built ON original lines In
the water she is not so striking as out