The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-11


new cup defender. the representation
OF the best boat building skill and ma
terials of which the western continent
can boast, was carefully lowered into
the water at the Herreshoff works at
$50 o'clock tonight, and as she started
down the ways. Mrs. c. Oliver lselin
ohristened her Columbia"
The launching of the latest protec-
tor of Uncle Sans sailing laurels was
probably one of the most spectacular
that has ever occurred, for the light
of day had almost faded when she
started down the ways, and three pow
erful calcium lights placed upon her
white stern and shining golden under
body with theatrical effect. AS she fair
Nv cleared the shed, large silk Amer
lean Yacht ensign was broken out over
her stern: the colors of her owners APP
peared on a small jury mast stepped
in place of the regular mast, ana the
New York Yacht club pennant feW
in the waist of the boat.
With the lights playing on the haSs
and twenty or more Of the crew racing
about the deck, the scene was filled
with animation and color. Ranged on
both sides of the dock were five thou
sand spectators, while off the end were
clustered fifty or more yachts or all
kinds, so that there was plenty OF
noise, cheers, whistles and guns, 10
help out the brilliant effect OF llle
lights. ,.
Mrs. IseIin performed her part grace
fully. surrounded by half hundred
society leaders of New York, Provl-
dence and Boston, and many yachtilg
friends of her husband. The Launching
was a great success from beginning TO
end. being attended only by an unfnr-
turate accident among the spectators;
THE idea of a marine railway worked
like a charm. and a new cup detendEr
Is again afoat, and in another rev
weeks will be ready to battle tor tEs
Yachting supremacy of the world, anu
il is hoped to keep the cup from cross
ing the Atlantic. ,-,-.-.- +,,is
While twice before in its history, thIs
little town has felt the thrill ana eNpe-
rienced the sensations accompanying
tba Iaunchings of an American cup de-
fender. the lowering into the water To-
night of the beautiful sloop Columbia
was nevertheless a great event 10 BITS
tol The launching was certainly d
great attraction for simultaneously
with the arrival of numerous yachts-
mon from New York and Boston by
train. there sailed into the harbor ana
anchored off the brown sheds at the
Herreshoff works a dozen or more
steam yachts, Schooners ana sloops' anu
from the decks of these yachts, people
watched all the afternoon. the final pre-
nara tions for the evening event.
In through the opening at the rear OF
the shed and above the big door could
he seen the white stern OF the new
boot With the word columbia in
hronze letters shining under her TAN
rail Early in the morning hydfauilc
lack was placed under the stern Oh tii .J
boat. and she was lifted until the ran
was scarcely three feet from the I !tII
In order that she might come OUT VIII ~.
ont danger of being scraped along the
daclr a mart of this roof was cut away.
q oliver Iselin, the managing owner
ne +ba boat came down from providence
during the forenoon, bringing with MN
the necessary bottle of champagne MI;
TceIiy was ACCOMPANIED by his son ana
+be two went to the Herreshot WORKS.
where Mr.. Islin made careful lnspec-
tion of the Columbia A little later NIrs'
Iselin arrived and with nef cdIiie
of young ladies ana uoAg M. u
more of her husbands trlenus' ny NJ
oil went on board the tender 81. MI
chaels, and lunch was soon aLIel Sei 'eO
"a the upper deck. .,..4. e.,
MANY Of the yachtsmen sent their 1e-
licitations to Mr.. lselln but very -
went aboard the St. Michaels uL i-t
evening. The afternoon train prougnI
many more yachting enthuslasls, &c afs
of whome made haste to the HerfesIolL
works where, by 6 o'clock, a colls ll.s a
BILE crowd had assembled. An houI %
so before the launching specldl u alii
from Providence brought down
al hundred more, who formed a long
,rocession down the street leading to
the ward. Several excursion steamers
conveyed large parties from several Oh
the neighboring cities. Realizing tlal
there was going to be rush TO the
wharf. a number made haste to engage
row boats and by o'clock not one Oh
these craft could be had
The crowd began to assemble ABOUT
the gates before Z o'clock and for an
hour it increased until fully 1900 people
were packed against the fence, waiting
for the signal to rush upon the pier.
In the meantime all Sorts OF cIail hdu
assembled at the entrance TO the DOCK.
They skv was clOudless so that when
AT ouarter to eight the gates were at
last thrown open. light enough remain
ed to get a good view of the yacht.
An hour before the launching the big
door that for weeks had screened the
hack end Of the shed was taken down
and for the first time all the world had
a chance to see the SHINING uhder
body of the new boat. Inside the Sheu'
assent HE'D under the bow of the boat,
was the christening party with Mrs.
IseIin as the central figure, while on
6ecl, were twenty of the Columbia's
crew with one or two officers and Nat
Herreshoff, There was a wait OF about