The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-02

TO compete with BucccSeIulIy. we lecl tnht IL IL
duo to you and TO ourselves to have the Sham
rock the best boat that ever came over here to
try for the cup
Il am here for the race alone and not on any
other business. Since the Shamrock was
launched. I have thrown aside all business and
given my entire time and attention TO her.
can't design boat and I'm suro can't skipper
one. but ! may soy truthtully that my
presence among those who can do
both. has been an inspiration to them.
While she was sailing on the other side left
her for only one day. aud from now on l shall
be with her all the time. Mr.. Fife In practl-
sally in charge and win be during tho races.
but I shall bs on board from start TO the
finish.
"I am not worrying at all aboat the talk I've
heard OF over-crowdng the course. We
have had the same trouble ut home don't see
how crowding can be entirely prevented.1 In my
opinion. though. crowdinR never prevented
tho best boat from winning in any race inter-
national or otherwise. The results would be
the same II the nearest excursion boats were
nifty miles away.
80 the reopie here are curious about tho
construction OF the Shamrock Well. can only
cay that she is different from any other racing
yacht ever built. but'-and the challenger
smiled as he continued-'I don't think the
details would interest the American people
very UuCn. L TutHtT UtllcNo u hSSO
mystery keeps up the interest In our boat"
Anumber OF questions aboutIthe sail area OF
the Sham rock and her cost were put to Sir
Thomas. BY persons who had gathered around.
he parted them skilfully.
1T haven't seen anything about the Column
bias sail area" he said. land as for cost no
man who comes here to race yachts for the
Americas Cup. has any chance from the
moment he begins to let the cost
bn of tha
Shamrock. Is q thing I've given very little
thought to. II run short OF dollars I guess
my friend Commodore Morgan will help me
out
I'll have boon told that there Is the best OF
feeling In America over the races. and want
TO say that value this more than any cup
that was ever made. I told the gentlemen Of
the New York Yacht Club that was coming
here to fight for that cup. and their response
was characteristic They offered to change
the course II did not like It or was afraid Of
overcrowdInR; in fact they generously offered
10 mako any concessions wanted. I was
deeply impressed by the sportsmanlike way in
which they received my challenge. and
I cabled at once that the same old course
was good enough for me and that wouldn't
have any change. I told them. too. that I
didn't want anything done to prevent the
people from seeing the races and I don't. I
prevent the people from enjoying tho sport.
By the way. had quite scare about the
Shamrock. heard that she arrived here in
aleaking condition and wondered II I'd find |
her aioat when got here.
Tho result OF the races Is impossible to fore |
tell think the odds should be on the Column |
bia. naturally. for abe is the American boat |
and your people will be loyal to her. No boat |
ever came over here with more good greetings |
fnxf ha A rio han m r,orn nly
brings from her home waters"
During the races a distinguished party OF |
EnRlishmen will be In this country and will |
live aboard Sir Thomas's steam yacht Erin. In |
the party will be the Right Hon. Arnold Nor |
ley. Postmaster General OF Great Britain; |
Lord Chief Justice Russell and his son: |
the Hon. Charles Russell and W. J. Pr
RE. the shipbuilder who built the |
Oceanic. Sir Thomas went to the Fifth Avenue |
Hotel last night and at $50 O'Clock this morn
ing he will go out to the Shamrock with Mr.. |
Fife and Mr. Ratsey. II they find everything |
Ia shir-shape and Mr.. Fife deems IL advisable. |
the shamrock with sir Thomas aboard. will |
spread her sale for the first time in the lower
bay to-day.
Sir Thomas declared that there was no truth
IN the report that Capt Ben Parker. OF En-
,eror Williams yacht Meteor. would sail the
shamrock.
Fife. Jr., the designer OF the Shamrock tried
20 keep out Of the way while the Campania |
was being locked. Mr. Ratsey sat amid pile |
OF baggage and talked with some fellow
passengers who attempted to screen him. Mr.. |
Fife went on tho upper deck and kept in the |
dark as much as possible. When q reporter for |
THE Bun met Mr.. Fife that gentleman said:
You must excuse me. I can't talk to the |
press. I came over here to work and not to
talk"
Cant you tell something Of your plans for |
the Shamrock 2" asked the reporter.
II can tell you nothing. I don't know what |
is to be done. and can't say what has been |
done until see the yacht"
Mr.. Ratsey was little more communicative
He was particularly anxious to hear about the |
Columbia and how she was sailing. The |
reporter told him what he could Of the |
Columbia and how she had beaten the |
Defender.
1.-THE Defender was. to my idea" said Mr.. |
Ratsey. the very best boat ever saw. and II |
the Columbia can beat her in light weather |
she must be wonder. They say on the |
other side. though. that theColumbia Ia a little |
tender and that In a blow the Defender can |
hold her. Is that SOP" |
The reporter told him that the Defender had |
kept very CLOSE to the Columbia when the wind |
was strongest. but that with her new steel m asst
hhu extra DallaSt IL was expected tnat the Co
lumbia would do much better. Then Mr. Rat |
soy was asked about the plans for the Sham |
rock.
81 am servant 81 Sir Thomas Upton" was |
the reply. and whatever he says do. do |
You AJAX him what he is going to do with the |
yacht"
Can the Shamrock win the cup ?" asked the |
reporter.
THAT Ia what VIC came over here for. and I |
eandidly think that before the races are ended |
there will he many who will have a very high |
opinion Of the speed Of the shamrock"
DO you think that she is faster than the
Valkyrie HIP"
Il do. indeed Think that the Shamrock ia
the fastest yacht ever built In Great Britain
and there are many points connected with the
yacht and her sailing that we hope will open
some peoples eyes"
Referring to the races between the sham
rock and the Britannia, Mr.. RAtsey said THE
Shamrock heat this prtnna ~ WaIaa'a