Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-30

guests, with staff of cooks, stewards
Cingalese servants and large crew
1t was the Erin that towed the Sham
rock part OF the way across the Allan
tic. The Erin Is said to have cost $685.
900. To maintain her in commission
$500 a day may be regarded as mod
crate estimate.
Anchored near the Shamrock in the
Horseshoe In the lower bay Is the
steam tender Plymouth. This vessel
Is floating boarding house for the AZ
officers and men OF the Shamrock
crew, and also accommodates ringers,
sailmakers, carpenters and machinists,
who swarm over the challenger daily
to keep her In condition. The Ply
mouth carries n crew of her own and a
small cargo of extra sails, spars, ropes,
bolts, nuts, blocks and other parts re-
quired to make repairs and alterations.
She follows close to the Shamrock In
each race, ready to steam to her aid In
the event of disaster such as occurred
recently when the British sloop's top
mast was broken.
The Plymouth was chartered as a
tender before the Shamrock's arrival,
and was fitted up for the purpose at
large expense.
For towing purposes Sir Thomas has
had In constant use since his arrival
the tugboat J. II. Lawrence. This YES
sci also anchors close to the sloop,
towing her to the starting point off
Sandy Hook, also to her anchorage
after the race or to the dock for re-
pairs Like the Plymouth, she has
been in attendance on the Shamrock
more than go days. The smallest sum
for which tugboat could be chartered
for the races is 500 n day. The cost
OF the two vessels mentioned doubtless
exceeds that sum by considerable
amount.
Besides the steam yacht, the chal-
longing sloop, the tender and the tug
boat, Sir Thomas maintains a small
steam launch, the Halloween, which
ferries passengers between the vessels
OF his feet and during the races small
steamboat, the Matonowuc, which runs
between the Horseshoe anchorage and
the Battery conveying the guests OF
Sir Thomas and others connected
with his fleet between the yachts and
the city. For this service no steam
boat could be chartered for less than
$4,000.
In all 1t will be seen the Upton feet
comprises six vessels. During the
Shamrock's trials In British waters a
similar fleet was employed.
In addition to maintaining a fleet,
Sir Thomas has entertained in princely
fashion since coming here. More than
a score OF his friends have been
brought here from Europe at the ex-
pense OF Sir Thomas, travelling by the
fastest transatlantic steamships, with
the best accommodations. Among
them were two princes, several mem
bcrs of parliament, British peer and
admiral, several members of the Brit
ish diplomatic service and others OF
hereditary aristocracy.
Some OF the guests were content to
live aboard the Erin, but others, In
Guiding most Of the ladies of the party,
preferred to sleep ashore. For these
Sir Thomas provided sumptuous apart
mcnts at tho Waldorf-Astoria and
Fifth Avenue hotels.
For the further comfort Of his guests
and employees Sir Thomas brought
from England his private physician,
DR.. Mackaye. In addition, he was ac-
companied on the Erin by Chevalier de
MARITIME, painter to the queen, who viii
produce marine views In oil of the cup
contests. William Fife, the designer
If the Shamrock and Mr.. Ratsey, the
famous sallmaker, were two other
specialists whose company cost Sir
Thomas a large sum. To arouse a
proper degree of British enthusiasm,
and at times to arouse the dropping
spirits Of sailormcn and passengers
Sir Thomas has found it necessary to
employ band,
The construction, repair and altera-
lions of the cup racing yacht form Il
separate account of colossal proper
lions, The finest steel enters into her
framework and mast, The bottom
plates of the Shamrock are of manga
ncsc bronze, those of the Columbia of
aluminium bronze. No less than three
Scts of masts, spars and sails were
made for the Columbia, SO that an ac-
cldent to any of them could quickly be
| rrmedicd,
The sails Of the Shamrock were made
of specially woven fabric composed
of mixture OF Egyptian and Sea
Island cotton and of silk costing 81 n
square yard To save weight the great
spinnaker and balloon sails are woven
of pure silk valued at 81 per yard. The
Shamrock's sails are estimated to have
a spread of 30, 1000 square feet and sew
eral sets We're made
In spite OF all wild guesses,' said
Sir Thomas. Il am at liberty to
say now that the Shamrock cost me
$780, 900 MS she stands. That does not
include the expense Of racing, nor does
It include the pay and maintenance OF
the crew"
The Shamrock has had the benefit OF