The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-05
SHAMROCK SHOWS, SPEED.
HER FIRST TEST IN THESE WATERS
IL VERY IMPRESSIVE

Filling Her Canvas-Makes no Fus. in
the Water and 10 Lightning Fast in stays.
Shamrock had her first trial in these waters
yesterday and she pleased everyone who saw
her sail immensely. For little more than
four hours aud half she was tried under dit.
ferent sails and on different points OF sailing of
Sandy Hook in a breeze that was from
fresh to strong. and she showed Remarkable
well. The weather conditions were what the
admirers OF the challenger have claimed we're
best for the yacht. a good whole sail breeze
aud smooth sea and the yacht behaved In q
way that caused many who saw her to think we'll
about the chances OF her winning the Ameri-
cas- Cup. The days that the yacht has been
anchored of ompkinsvile have been very
irksome to all on board Then the rain OF Sat
urday was sad disappointmen t to Sir Thomas
Upton. Capts. Hogarth and wrinRe and to the
crew. When. therefore. day broke yesterday
with a strong breeze from tho north every one
was happy and the men went to work with
will to get everything in readiness for the trial
which was to take place.
Tho sailors were about early, almost
with the sun. and the two captains were
busy seeing that everything was in readi-
moss for the trial. They carefully inspected
oil tho rigging. looked over the spars
and sails. and could not have been moro
careful II they had been going to meet the Co
umbia for the first time. The men had their
breakfast on the Monowantuo. the tom der, and
then all were put on board the Sham rock By
the two launches that are constantly In at
tendance. The mainsail was bent on last
week. but 1t had been covered up after
the first day and as soon as the
men had finished their morning meal
the covers were taken Off the sail and slowed
away. The jib forestaysai and topsails were
taken on board and prepared for use. The
forestry sail and jibs we're put in stops and
hosted ready to break out when wanted and
the topsai and the jibtopsails were all m ado
ready for use Whenever Capt. Hogarth should
call for them.
On the Erin Sir Thomas was up early. too. as
were all his guests w lillian Fife. the de-
eigner Of the yacht: Thomas Ratsey. the sail
maker; Mr. Cornell. the amateur who 10 to
assist In sailing the yacht. and Chevalier de
Martino. who Is to paint the scenes that will be
acted next month. Every one had peep out
at first to see what the weather conditions were
and then. after having had breakfast stood at
the rail OF the steam yacht and watched the
crew at work on the Shamrock.
At $50 O'Clock the tug James A. Lawrence
went alongside the Shamrock and took that
yacht out from under the lee OF the Naval
Mitia's training ship New Ham pshire where
she had been at anchor. and prepared to start
for the lower bay. Shortly before o'clock. at
a signal from the Erin. the Lawrence passed
n hawser TO the Shamrock and began to
tow her out from the anchorage. The wind
was then from the northeast and was blowing
ut least fifteen knots. The tide was running
ebb and the hawssr was let out SO that the
yacht would tow easily. and there would be no
danger OF her running up on tho tug. As soon
as the Shamrock was of. the Erin's anchor was
hosted and she followed down the bay.
ar hAfnra md Ia.
Upton announced that the Shamrock was to
be tried in order to test the rigging OF the yacht
'Wo are going to see how she acts under her
present rig and get familiar with the condi-
tions here" he said. and after that We shall
try other sails. and later on put on the larger
rig IL we think it advisable"
When the Shamrock was of Fort wadsworth
at 9i2o O'Clock. the Erin signalled 70 the Law
renee. The Erin passed the Shamrock and
took the hawser from the Lawrence. and then
with 4 very short line went on down the Bay
tho Lawrence trailing on behind.
When near the southwest spit the crew on
the Shamrock began to hoist the mainsail. 1t
was not done in the fashion OF the former
challengers that attracted SO much attention
here. by riding down the halliards. but was
hosted from below. all the halliards leading
through the dock and being worked out Of
sight. 1t seems strange to see the big piece Of
canvas gradually going up the mast and there
being apparently no ono hosting it. The Val
kyrie had some OF her halliards lead below but
the mansail was hoisted in the old FASH on ed
way. Two men were sent aloft to see to the gan
as it reached the auxiliary sprsader. One stood
on the strut at the forward side Of the m asst
and the other was on the gaff itself. As the
spar reached the spreader the span was I'M
fastened and the Jaws pushed aft so that they
cleared the spreader. and then when it had
been hoisted enough the span was made fast
again and the sail hoisted all the way up Tho
big sail was up by 10 O'Clock and it showed
that it was made by an artist. Itseemed to At
perfectly. thor" being hardly q wrinkle in 1t
anywhere. 1t was the sail that was used In
the races the Shamrock sailed with the Britain
mia and had doubtless been trimmed before
that race il any trimming had been necessary
The sail did not stretch within three
feet OF the end of the boom. but with few days
sailing like that OF yesterday it will soon
stretch out to the end. The cloths run parallel
with the leach. or what the English call the
after leach The luff of the sail is often oalled
the forward leach on the other side OF the water
BY the time the mainsail had been hosted
and trimmed to the satisfaction Of Capt Ho-
garth. the yacht was passing out by the Hook
The wind seemed TO be a little fresher. There
was no sea outside. only the usual ocean
swell A big White Star line freighter
was passing In. and as she passed the
Shamrock and Erin she saluted. The steam
pilot boat. New York, which was lying of tho
Hook. also saluted by dipping her fiag. Both
salutes were acknowledged by the Erin. Sir
Thomas Upton was on the bridge OF his yacht
and seemed pleased at the attention he re-
ceived Mr.. Fife was leaning on the rail
standing by the side OF Sir Thomas. He had
been watching the yacht all the way down the
hav and had mat than Joined Cir Thnpoaa