The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-28
SHAMROCK IN DRY DOCK
OPPORTUNITY GIVEN YACHTING
sHARPs To INSPECT THE RACER.
Nothing Wonderful Or New In Her
Therefore Disappointed.

NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-The Shamrock
was to-day safely dry locked at Erie basin.
Every precaution was taken to prevent
mishap to the big cutter, and twenty min
utes after she was warped into position over
the twelve blocks at the bottom of the dock.
her. keel was resting securely in place.
There was no attempt to hide the lines of
the yacht from view. The yard was open
to the public from morning until night
end hundreds of yachtsmen stood for hours
while the water was being pumped out,
that they might get a look at the under
body and keel of the challenger. 1t was
too late in the day for secrecy and SO the
''clouts' and "pettycoats" that prevented
the people from seeing the Shamrock when
size was launched in England early this
summer and afterward when she was
locked at the Erie basin shortly after
reaching this country were not used.
Every one had a fine look at the craft
The Shamrock lay alongside the partly
burned steamer Bucaros all night and early
this morning her crew was put TO work
scraping off the green paint that covered
Ter topsides exposing the true metal under
meath. Just what metal these two upper
streaks Of plates are composed of is a
secret, but it looks much like a composition
of aluminium and nickel. very light and at
the same time very strong.
1t is probable that the Shamrock will not
have her upper body reprinted for fear it
may retard her speed. Captain Wringe.
when asked about the matter said he did
not know about the paint. but IL any was
put on it would be the true Irish green. At
the time the Shamrock's keel touched the
blocks, there was about q fet of water
from the blocks to the surface which makes
her draft about the same figures, or an inch
or two less. The crew was at once put to
work in two squads scrubbing the hull with
brushes.
The Shamrock Is a powerful craft, with
her greatest beam about where the mast
head runners fasten to the deck. The under
body, which is of bronze, was covered with
a sort of slime which came OF readily with
a vigorous application OF salt water and
brushes. leaving the plates shiny and
smooth. When the hull and keel were fully
exposed there were expressions of dis
appointment on all sides. The experts ex-
pected to see something new and a radical
departure from the old type of English cut
ter. Shamrock can be described as a vessel
with a Britannia body and a Defender fin
and lead, including the latter's rocker Keel.
puS NAci q eAbo tAtAaNt AiShS .
nothing particularly handsome about the
cutters lines except that they are all
curves. there being no straight ones except
from the turn of the guard boards to the
lead.
In comparison with the Columbia the
Sha is fuller bodied, especially amid.
ships, has about a foot more beam and a
draft about ten inches greater. Her over
hangs are shorter, so that the lines of her
hull are not so well carried out as in the
Columbia and, being short, increase the
look of bulkiness. Then she is higher-sided
than the cup defender. She has a racker
keel like Defender, that is. her lead keel
but a little more at the bow than the latter.
Her lead keel is about as thick as Column
bias. but not nearly so deep. From four
while the cup defenders is about eight feet
The lead on the keel weighs about fifteen
tons less than Columbia's. or about eighty
tons. but as 1T is about five feet longer than
the latter's, or about thirty-three feet, and
not nearly SO deep it puts the ballast low
er and therefore gives the shamrock fully
as much il not greater stability.
The Shamrock carries more sail than the
Columbia, as her mast Is stepped about two
while the mainsail is also larger than the
cup defenders. The Shamrock's amidship
deeil0 lines st to the turn Of the iSsl sarboapd. Her
bilge hardens greatly at the quarter just
opposite to the Columbia's and gives one
the impression that 1t will retard her prog
ress In sailing. Amidships the Columbia has
a line almost straight from the bilge TO
CARDBOARD, giving her a f1atter floor, while
the Shamrock Is full and round.
When the lead keel was exposed 1t was
found to be unlike the Columbia's In that
II is unprotected by bronze. 1t Is painted
with some sort of red composition to pro-
tect 1T from the action of the salt water,
but the crew had considerable work in
cleaning of the Shiny coating. When the
hull of the cutter had been well scrubbed
the crew commenced putting up a staging
with the craft and will use electric polish
ers on her metallic sides tomorrow.
Dry dock No. 3 at the Brooklyn navy
yard was made ready to-day for the recep-
ton of the yacht Columbia. the Navy De-
partment having given it's consent for the
yacht TO be hauled out there, the Erie basin
dock being occupied exclusively by the
Shamrock. AT 2 p. m, after the big dock
had been pumped dry. the dockmaster and
a gang Of men began to set up the keel
blocks according 10 the docking plans fur
nished by the Herreshofs. Scafolding and
shores were brought to the dock and by sun
down everything was ready to receive the
yacht. The Columbia left her moorings at
New Rochelle at noon and was towed
through He'll Gate and the East river. ar
irving at the navy yard before dark. She
will be put in the dock early Tomorrow