New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-25
THE SHAMROCK TWISTED.
SOME OF HER PORT MIDSHIP PLATES
STRAINED

SOME OF HER PORT MIDSHIP PLATES
STRAINED.
A LEAK ALSO SAID TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED
BY THE wRENCHING THE CUP CHAL-
LENGER RECEIVED IN BEING TowED
on HER WAY ACROss-ANXI-
ETY. AT THE ERIE BASIN.
Lord Dunraven said that the Erie Basin
! could not keep a secret and that 1t leaked at
every point. David Barrie and DR.. Mackay.
representatives Of Sir Thomas Liptcn. are Of the
same opinion They realized last night that the
mystery and secrecy which surrounded the
! launching and sailing Of the Shamrock on the
! ether side could not he maintained in American
waters although they tried heroically TO deny
the flying rumors and the various stories which
| were rife yesterday in the Basin about the
| English cup challenger having sprung leak or
having been strained while being towed across
| the Atlantic in calm weather. Their denias
| were fruitless and useless The Shamrock was
strained in being towed across. and men whose
! opinions and yachting knowledge are respected
| and esteemed declared yesterday that the sham
rock was twisted in the mdship section. and
that towing had caused a strain which had
| worked her plates.
| One yachting expert who has built yachts ana
mas docked hundreds Of ships told Tribune re-
porter last evening that in the afternoon ne was
surprised and astonished. while looking at the
English Cup challenger 70 see that she was
! badly twisted in the midship section
The warp is quite apparent" he continued,
! ito any one who knows anything about the lines
OF a yacht I fanced that 1 detected the twist
| 7 ire n TODAY. a
by tightening the Shamrock is much higher out
! Of the water to-day than she yesterday.
/ Naturally towing caused the straining and made
the plates draw, and on that account believe
the theory OF leak Is quite probable. II the
| yacht came over on the port tack the tendency
would be 10 strain the hull TO starboard and
such a strain would undoubtedly cause the plates
on the port quarter to draw
MR.. BARRIE's FRIEND SURPRISED.
When yachtsman who is interested in the
! Shamrock and is friend Of Mr.. Barrie was
| asked by Tribune reporter about the warp or
, twist he exclaimed in astonishment:
How did you learn OF thatT
He was informed that little bird might nave
whispered something about IL.
Bird he 30 he said Indignantly. II know
nothing about IT,"
was asked
"I believe she did work little bit on the
way over" he replied angriy
Work a little bit. the DEVIL" said an old
yachtsman who was in the party. "she worked
behind. Anybody that can through brick
wall can see that the yacht Is all in twist
Her lines do not agree and you know II.
/ .'You must have a remarkably keen eye, salo
Mr. Barre's friend as he walked away
EXAMINING THE PLATES.
Unauestionably there is something seriously
v,ro,tg :, the inldshir section the port side OF
the Yacht. Mr.. Barrie, Or. Mackay and Captain
Hoparth spent most Of Wednesday on raft
] alongside the Shamrock, and anMously studleu
/ the lines and plates in the section named
/ launch was substituted for the raft yesterday
and Mr. Barrie DR. Mackay and Captain no no
| garth repeated their performance or the preCeu
! ing day. Meantime water was pu5lPsr s - IA bis
quantities out OF the yacht Mr.. Barrie anu s n.s
! friends were more reticent than ever, ana aPart
| from denying the stories about leak' d '"''
| or a centreboard had nothing TO say .o.od
In exclamation OF the pumping, II was sIateu
that the water had come from the large water
/ tanks which were taken out on last Wednes-
! day This idea could not reasonably oe reCVli-
cled with the immense quantity or water "nlSn %
| was pumped out OF the Shamrock Men VINO
have worked around the Basin tor twenty years
were unanimously OF the opinion tnat the y yaCnt
J n
she had been subjected. Others believed tnat
the leak or strain probably was a result OF the
accident which happened 10 the Snamroch "Hsh
she ran aground In her trial .rLps Mitn ~ ~
prince ~ Wales's Britannia. Judging from the
volume and the slight yelowish tinge OF the
water which was pumped out over the sldeS o5
the Yacht. experts held that the yacnt hdu
shipped considerable water In her Atlanuc Foy-
, -. -, .ho
II was thought that the new steel mast or tne
Shamrock would be stepped YESTERDAY Dut II
was decided TO postpone the work until to-day
WERE THEY HUNTING a LEAK7
William Crawford the foreman Of Flies yard
and David Fife a relative OF the designer ooth
Of whom arrived here last "Wednesday on the
Cunarder Auranla. on the Shamrock all
day yesterday They kept below decks most OF
the time and speculation was rife as TO the
nature and object Of their work one OF the
crew when asked, facetiousy sald' ~
oh they're trying 10 find that leak
Mr. Crawford will superintend the stepping OF
the steel mast which will likely be done TO-
dav II is not believed in the yard that the
Shamrock will be drydocked al night. Ihere Is
always an element Of danger in doing such dell
cate work after dark no matter how many
electric lights are swung In the dock MT
Ra -ria refused 70 say whether or not ne Would
olothe the yacht with her old pettlcoats anu
keep her keel sealed in mystery In the CRY
dOck He will not decide this question untlI aIter
the arrival OF Sir Thomas Upton, VINO sails
for this country tomorrow. The shamrock VIII
not he put in drydock until Sir Thomas mas
looked her over and has seen her in few trlai
spins. IL Is said. .,..
The dock plan Of the yacht has been received
In the Erie Basin. and workmen are now & en-
gagged in getting her keel blocks ready Inc
blocks. when completed VIII give the ehPeIts
line on that mysterious keel OF the English
racer.
GTFRJN'S SUPPLIES CUT OFF.