The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-09-28
SHAMROCK'S BOTTOM SHOWN
LINES OF THE CH4LLENGER NO
 LONGER 4 SECRET.

Revealed to the Public ta Drydock--A Powerful Graft but Not Graceful in Outline-No Radicar Change-Com- parison With Columbia The Keel
 Different-Yachtsme Not Afraid.
 New York, Sept. 27-The Irish cup challenger, the Shamrock, was to-day safely dry-docked at Erie basin. Ev-. cry precaution was taken to prevent the slightest mishap. It was not until 3:50 that the deep keel of the Irish craft was finally exposed to view. There was no attempt to hide the lines of the yacht. The yard was open to the public from morning until night and hundreds of yachtsmen stood for hours while the water was being pumped out that they might get a look a the under body and keel of the challenger. It was too late in the day for secrecy, and so the "cloutS' and "petticoats" that prevent ed the people from seeing the sham rock when she was launched at the Thornycroft's yard in England early this summer and afterwards when she was docked at the Erie basin shortly after reaching this country, were not used. Every one had fine look at the craft.
 Composition of shamrock's Metal.
 The Shamrock lay alongside the part. ly burned steamer Buceros all night and early this morning her crew was put to work scraping off the green paint that covered her topsides, exposing the true metal underneath. Just what metal the upper strakes of plates are composed of is a secret, but it looks very much like a composition of alumni mum and nickel, very light and at the same time very strong. It is quite probable that the Shamrock will not have her upper body repainted for fear it may retard her speed Captain Wringe, when asked about the matter said he did not know about the paint but if any was put on it would be the true Irish green.
 Powerful Craft.
 As the water receded, the body of the Shamrock came in view and it was seen that she was a big. powerful craft with her greatest beam about where the runners fasten to the deck. The underbody, which is of bronze. was covered with sort of slime which came off readily with vigorous appl- cation of salt water and brushes, leav- ,1o ,i
 No Radical Departure.
 When the hull and keel were fully ex- posed there were expressions of disap- polntment heard on all sides. The ex- perts expected to see something new and a radical departure from the old type of English cutter. The Irish cut ter can be described as a vessel with a Brittania body and a Defender fin | and lead, including the latter's rocker | keel, but with greater draught than | either. There is nothing particularly | handsome about the cutters lines, ex- | cept that they are all curves, there be- ing no straight ones except from the | turn of the garboards to the lead
 Comparison With Columbia.
 In comparison with the cup defender | Columbia, Shamrock is fuller bodied | amid shipS, with about foot more beam and with draught about ten inches greater Her overhangs are so that the lines of her hull | are not solely carried out as in the Co., lumbia and being short increases the look of bulkiness. She has rocker keel like the Defender, that is her head keel is rounded up like that of the 95 champion, but a little more at the bow than the latter. Her lead keel is about IS thick as the Columbia's, but not nearly so deep. From four and a half to five feet is a fair estimate. while he cup defenders is about eight feet. The lead on the keel weighs about fifteen tons less than the Columbias or ,bout eighty tons, but as it is about i've feet longer than the latter's or lbout thirty three feet, and not nearly 70 deep, it puts the ballast lower and therefore gives the Shamrock fully as much, if not greater stability.
 shamrock Carries More Sail.
 The Shamrock carries more sail than he Columbia, as her mast is stepped bout two feet further aft giving her nOTe neduSdll, WHlle LHe nldlnSdii IS Ilso larger than the cup defenders. The ShamrocKs amidships sections are continuous curves from the deck lines O the turn of the garboard. Her bilge lardens greatly at the quarter, just opposite to the Columbias S and gives me the impression that it will retard Ter progress in racing. Amidships, the Columbia has line almost straight rom the bilge to garboard, giving her
 natter floor, while the Shamrock is ull and round
 Keel Unlike Columbia's. When the lead keel was exposed it vas found to be unlike the Columbia's n that it is unprotected by bronze. It 5 painted with some sort of red com osition to protect it from the action f the salt water, but the crew had onsiderabe work in cleaning off the limy coa ting. When the hull of the rish cutter had been well scrubbed the rew commenced putting un staging ) bout the craft and will use electric olishers on her metallic sides to-mor- ow.
 Think Columbia Faster. I'l
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