The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-27
The English Yacht Slightly Denied by
Striking a Barge ms She Slid Into
the Water at Millwall.
HER LENGTH OVER ALL i25 FIT.
BRITISH YACHTSMEN CONFIDENT
SHE WILL BE A WINNER.
Views of Lord BeresfOrd md Others
columbia Accepted by the syndi-
cate without Another Trial.

LONDON, Tune 2S.-sir Thomas Lipton's
cup challenger Shamrock was launched this
afternoon at Millwall. On a little spot
among the masts hailing from every quarter
of the globe. a 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 as
sen1bled during the morning in the vicinity
of the yard and attachments of police APP
peared 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 launching Sir Thomas LAP
ton gave a lunch at the Savoy Hotel to the
guests invited to the They IL
cluded Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. the
Marquis of Dufferin and the Countess of
Clanwilliam, Lady Russell of Killowen, the
Hon. Lillian Russell. the Hon. Schomberg-
Kerr Mcdonnell. principal private secretary
to the Marquis of Salisbury: Sir George
Faudel Phillips. former lord mayor of Lon
don, and Lady Phillips; Herbert Gladstone.
Major Sharman-C Crawford, the Hon. w.
Walsh and II. NJ. MicGilldowney. the last
three representing the Royal Ulster Yacht
Club.
After the usual toasts, Admiral Beres-
ford proposed the success Of the Shamrock,
and briefly sketched the struggle of times
gone by and Sir Thomas Liptou's gallant
entry into the breach and challenge for the
cup" The admiral. in a breezy style, raised
his glass and said: Now We come to
the last scene. May the Shamrock win a
fair, square race and may she have the ad-
ditional ballast of the America cup when
she returns The guests heartily raised
their glasses In response. and the owner OF
the m modestly replied with a few
words Of thanks.
After lunch the party drove to Samudas
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 under the
guidance of Sir Thomas Upton. w. Fife, jr..
MI. Thornecroft and Charles Russell. They
were all delighted. Admiral Beresford'
whose expert opinion is valuable. seeming
especially pleased with his minute inspec-
ton of the challenger. Lady Russell then
assembled a platform level WITH 'ne Dow
dDu lAC ~
ten You Shamrock. God bless you. Good
luck to you. May you bring back the cup.
signal from Lady Russell the boat and tne
cradle glided safely into the water. After
the launch the party d as sse Ths N health aia a of
the Shamrock was drunk and congratuiation
speeches were made.
A MISHAP.
AS the Shamrock reached midstream from
the slips a barge collided with her, striking
the yachts bow above the water line and
making a big dent. There was a great cry
when the Shamrock struck. especially from
members of the Upton party, who Wit
messed the launch from the river. But 1t
was soon ascertained that the damage done
was slight. AS the yacht was towed TO the
India docks hundreds of whistles and horns
made a tremendous din.
When the Shamrock was launched her
| entire crew and a large number Of work
| men were on board. The canvas screens
covered only about twelve fet OF her bow
| and stern. The three top plates which are
made of alloy. were painted green,
Below that she was a brilliant we. re.
away to the last inch.
The mystery In regard to her dimensions
was continued. No official figures were OBJ
tainable. but a man who worked on her
says ner length over all is 12S feet, her
water line s. feet. beam % feet and draught
some little dificuIty was experienced in
| entering the India dock. but ultimately the
| Shamrock was safely berthed In the upper
basin, where her spars are lying.
Sir Thomas Upton was asked a question
| regarding the prospects of the yacht and
the Americas cup. We nave fairly ex:
| tended ourselves. and II we are beaten, al
l can say is honor to the yacht wnich Il
William Fife. jr.. designer of the Sham.
| rock, remarked: Brains and all that care
full thought and knowledge of naval archi'
| Every man Of us is SATISFIED that Win q
fair field we shall give a tight race to any
s sDTfnsmnto The so-m s6amToc OK eM esd lSnn9 fol- .
iust those little arrangements that a rae
ing experience gives, and then for the Jour
| new which we hope will herald the cup.
Admiral Beresford said: Il consider the
hull of the Shamrock to be a remarkab Die
triumph of construction. Sne Is ouilt OF
original lines. In the water she IS not sc
striking as out Of 1t. In my opinion hei
underwater construction Is unique. Her ep'
parent great beam Is necessary 10 satsls
the tremendous area OF canvas. II is I'm
possible to forecast the prospects Take tht
case of the Meteor. which is an OLD craft
yet she Is ra assign @l'a ana srg builde r'fhs has pro,
ceeded on the soundest lines Tor igntnes:
and speed. nd If she is not the swiftesI
afoat 4 sh. be surprised. But we mus
recoliect that the Americans know a goot
craft. ana we can depend that their invei.
uon will In Gny case run US hard.
MR.. LIPTON'S SPEECH.
After the ceremony the guests went u
the marquee, which was tastefully lined will
emerald green and decorated with flowers
the Ulster Yacht Club flag and the new golt
and green Shamrock racing flag. Light re
freshmen were served. Herbert Gladstone
standing in the center of the marquee anS
holding up a champagne glass, proposed th'
health of Sir Thomas Upton. He said. II
part: II feel sure there is not a man Of
woman in the country who falls 10 admir-
Sir generosity. pluck and deter
mination I'm his sportsmanlike endeavor 4
win back the cup. We all admire the re
sources and enterprise OF our cousins acros
the water and agree with our host I'm hi
hope that the better boat may win. IL onl,
remains for me to say that 1 sincerely hop
the Shamrock will prove to he that boat
and TO ask YOU all to drink TO er success
and 10 the health of her owner
Sir Thomas Upton, In acknowlec ing tn
toast, said he was deeply grateful 20 Lad,
Russell for her kindness in co~rsenti1g q
launch and christen the yacht and he wa
sure they could not have a better ausury o
success than was furnished by her gracious
presence. He felt bound. also. TO thank Mr.
Will Fife. the designer of the Shamrock
and Mr.. Thornycroft. the builder. and al
Inc vorkmen who have been engaged oi
the Yacht. They had spared neither pain
nor time TO bring The work 10 a success
and the splendid launch that had just beei
witnessed was "a testimony to their skill an
care. He said he r~ejoiced TO see the Marqui
of Du1erin present As to compettion 10
Shamrock won or lost, the yachtsmeu o
America would give them a hearty and fra
ternal greeting. II the American yacht wol