New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-27
HAS AN ALUMINIUM MAST.
ruE SHAMROCK WELL SUPPLIED WITH
STICKS.
,,ocx1NG PLANS OF THE CUP CHALLENGER
~ THE POSSESSION OF C. OLIVER
1sEIIN - NEW BOAT NAY BE
sTEERED BY HELM IN

STEAD OF WHEEL
s,- rbopoas IApton David Berrie. his repre-
..u,a,,ve and DIT Macksy, who prefers 10 see
.nooks rather than reporters now realize that
~. Americans are not 'bloomin fools"
r oliver Iselin. the managing owner OF the
rsn,mbia. has never been accused OF being a
.sa- and confesses absolute ignorance Of occult
am pr, by some method. probably unknown TO
N,nself he has in hts possession. chart Of
NE fun measurements Of the Shamrock, and
or The benefit Of American yachtsmen II may be
...,ed that soon after the launching OF the
shamrock Mr. IseIin had an excellent photo
graph OF the mysterious keel Of the Shamrock
and an adequate idea OF its measurements Mr..
Iseln and those who are associated with him
naturally wanted an accurate table OF the
measurements Of the Cup challenger The op-
portunity for securing this information was not
Afforded until the docking plans OF the Shamrock
had been presented 10 but. Kipling
says that is another story"
The veteran dockmaster and yachtsman who
Informed The Tribune about the twist and leak
in the Shamrock. when seen yesterday. said:
The public may not be OF the fact
that every ship no matter how large or how
small and no matter for what purpose she may
b. Intended has her set Of docking plans with
haul her out OF water The plans for docking
are based upon the setting Of the keel and the
bllge blocks on which the weight of the ship
rests when the water longer supports her
Any serious mistake in the measurements
would cause great straining. and probably. in
certain circumstances, the breaking Of her back
or otherwise her keel. Under such circumstances
II would be assuming great deal TO believe
hao+
plans and measurements Of their ships. Now,
the complete docking plans of the Shamrock
and her full measurements have been presented
to the proper authorities in the yard, and these
plans and measurements are now in the posses
sion of Mr.. Isen and his associates who own
the Columbia"
Were they in the possession Of Mr.. lsein
before the Shamrock crossed the ocean," was
asked
He had pretty good idea Of her measure
ments before she came over" was the reply.
Now he has fuller knowledge. and his latest
Information on every line and point OF the
Shamrock is absolutely accurate. Sir Thomas
Upton and his friends. il they want to maintain
the veil OF secrecy and mystery that envelops
their yacht should give it coat OF whitewash
OF shellac. and even IL they do so II will be
simply a repetition OF the old story about lock-
ing the stable door after the horse has been
stolen"
HAD A MODEL OF THE COLUMBIA.
Have not Sir Thomas and his associates some
idea about the measurements Of the Columbia"
asked the Tribune reporter.
Why. OF course they have. Sir Thomas has
working model Of the Columbia, and 1 know
from what Of his friends told me the other
day that he had her measurements in full be-
fore the Herreshoffs had launched her from the
yards in Bristol Why, II is simply nonsense to
assume that nowadays secret about the dimen-
sions Of yacht can be kept Now, after the
yachts have been built. why in the name Of
goodness shouldn't their measurements be made
public? What's the use of all this mystery and
secrecy? The whole thing is bound 70 come out
in the end. anyway. and it's better first than
last"
NEW WRINKLE IN MAsTs.
II NAV surprise some yachtsmen to learn
when they read The Tribune this morning that
the Shamrock also has fine aluminium mast IN
addition to her other rnasts. Mr.. Barrie and his
close rnouthed friends were careful not to say
ANYTHING about The mast which has been lying
in the German American storehouse, In Erie
Basin carefully wrapped ZIP in canvas. II had
been shipped here and slowed away In the ware
house with the hope that prying eyes would
never discover IL nor an American newspaper
ever hear Of IL. 1t is a fine mast. too, carefully
wrought and is credit 20 its builder. Sir
Thomas believes in quantity as well as quallty
OF masts. He and Mr. Barrie have also care
fully guarded the secret that they have also
stored away in Erie Basin fine mast OF oregon
pine The Shamrock has four masts mere. Two
are OF pine. one is Of steel and the fourtn me
aluminium mast which until now mas not Only
been wrapped up in canvas, put also III S0Nre'S
and mystery.
CHAII.ENGER's MAST STEPPED.
Tho steel mast OF the Shamrock was stepped
Yesterday. The work was done with great care
and fortunately. without accident of any kind.
TIE topn1ast. which was evidently Of pine was
ls.hcd "a the top Of the ma.nmast. and placed
in position. The bowsprit and the great ooorn'
which were also placed in position, gave rae
ing appearance 10 the hope Of Upton and oi
Engiand The main shrouds were also set up
but none Of the old rigging was put In place nor
the stays OF the bowsorit.
Il is not believed by expert yachtsmeh lhat
the topmast which was placed yesterday VIII
be the racing topmast. There is "a steel orache'
forward and below the spreaders on tne man
mast which may or may not De useu dc 80 80.
for The foot OF the wooden topnasI. s. - the
or step is rather too far below the ioot vi tile
topuast 20 Justify the belief that this topmas'
Will be used In the International yacht races.
TIrLER FOR THE SHAMROCK
Yacbtsuen IN the Basin yesterday were OF the
opinion that the Shamrock will be steered oy
helm. instead Of a wheel She showed every ap-
pesrance Of It. The angle OF the rudder STOCK
with the sheer Of the boat clearly indicates INA.
the lower line Of the keel must be snort OF 'iiA'
is carried far forward .a.to ~
IT. ne
~crowdine' in this years International yacht
race While Sir Thomas Upton has threaiehe q.
according TO messages from the other sioe 20 20
withdraw his yaeht from the race IN case 49,.
''crowdIn1 I, is we'll known that the Racing
Committee OF the New York Yacht club Is JUS sI
as strongly opposed 10 "crowding as = s,s