The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-28
CROWD SAW THE SHAMROCK.
M ATTEMPT MADE TO HIDE HER
LINES FROM VIEW.

t,rIish Boat Is n Powerful Craft. Hut
Those Who Expected to See Some
New Features Were Disappointed.
carries More Sail Than the Column
tin and There Are Other Points OF
Differcnce-Cutter's Lines Are An
in Curves.
New York. Sept. 27.-The Shamrock was
to-day safely dry-docked at Erie Basin.
There was no attempt TO hide the lines
of the yacht from view. The yard was
omen to the public from morning until
night. and hundreds of yachtsmen stood
for hours while the water was being pump
I'd out. that they might get look at the
inderbody and keel of the challenger.
The Shamrock lay alongside the partly
burned steamer Bucaros all night and
early this morning her crew was put to
work scraping off the green paint that
covered her top sides, exposing the true
metal underneath. Just what metal these
TWO upper streaks of plate are composed
of is a secret, but it looks much like d
composition of aluminium and nickel. very
light and at the same time quite strong.
1t is possible that The Shamrock viii not
have her upper body reprinted for fear it
may rctard her speed.
At the time the Shamrocl-'- keel touched
the blocks, there was about wenty-one
feet of water from the blocks 70 the sur
face which makes her draft about the
same figure, or an inch or two less The
crew was ut once put to work in 30
squads, scrubbng the huh with brushes.
She Is a Powerful Craft.
The Shamrock is a powerful craft with
her greatest beam about where the mast
head runners fasten to the deck. The
under body, which is of bronze, was Gov
cred with a sort of slime which came off
readily with a vigorous application of salt
water and brushes, leaving the plates shiny
aud smooth.
When the hull and keel were fully ex-
posed there were expressions of disappoint-
ment on all sides. The experts expected to
sec something new and a radical departure
from the old type of English cutter The
Shamrock can be described as a vessel
with a Britannia body and Defender fin
and lead, including the latter's rocker keel
but with greater draft than either. There
is nothing particularly handsome about the
cutters lines, except that they are all
curves, there being no straight ones except
rom the turn OF the guardboardS to the
lead.
In comparison with the Columbia the
Shamrock is fuller bodied, especially amid
ships, has about a foot more beam aud
draft about ten inches greater
Carries More Sail.
The Shamrock carries more sail than the
Columbia as her mast is stepped just
about two Seet further aft, giving her
more head sail, while the mainsail is also
larger than the cup defenders. The Sham
rocks amidships sections are continuous
curves from the deck lines to the turn Of
the cardboard. Her bilsa hardens greatly
40 the quarter just opposite 10 the Co
{umbia's and gives one the impression that
il will retard her progress in sailing.
Amidships, the Columbia has a line al
most straight from the biSe TO cardboard
giving her a flatter floor, while the Sham
rock is full and round.
When the lead keel was exposed it was
found 10 be unlike the Cefumbia's in that
il is unprotected by bronze.