The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-27
TUG BUMPS INTO SHAMROCK
cor CHALLENGER SLIGHTLY INJURED
AFTER LEAVING HER CRADLE.

Plate on the Port side Abaft the Stem
Was Dented-A Disting uished Party Pres
ent at tho Launching-Tho Christening
Ceremony Was Performed by Lady Rus
seii-GeneraI Looks of the New Yacht.
Sp,cioi CaMs Ds,pdtsh 10 THE Sun.
LONDON. June 26-Sir Thomas Llpton's
racing cutter Shamrock. which was built
to sail against the Columbia for the
Americas Cup next fall. was launched
this afternoon at Samudas yard. Mill
wall The event was conducted with the
utmost privacy. only few Of Sir Thomas
Liptons friends being invited to be pres
ent Tho rarity assembled at the Hotel
Savoy. whore luncheon was eaten. after
VIII oh Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
ford drove them TO the wharf in his coach
The guests included the Marquis OF Dufrsrn.
Commodore OF the Royal Ulster Yacht Club.
though which tho challenge for the con-
test -"nt to the New York Yacht
Club. IA" Earl and Countess Of Clan
william. Lord Charles Beresford. Lady
Russell of Kowen. wife Of the Lord ChiefJus-
t:oa o' England the Hon. Lillian Russell Hon.
Schomhcrg Mcdonnell. sire +. Phillips. Her
bert Ella istone. W. A. Macarthur. VI. P: W. II.
Sharmun- rawford. II. NJ. McGildownsy. the
Hon. W. Walsh. Sir Thomas Gibson c a rm chael.
M r.. and DR. Armstrong.
The party was welcomed at the wharf by Sir
Thomas lipton. Will Fife. the designer OF
the Shamrock. The Hon. Charles Russell and
Mr.. Thornvcroft and shown over the new
boat alter winch Lady Russell mounted
Platform which stood level with
tn" vessels bow. and with n bottle Of cham
pagne she christnned the yacht as II began to
move toward the water at the same time
saying:
God bless you. and good luck to you. May
you bring back the cup
Cheers were given az the boat gided into the
water. After the launching the party as
semhcd in the tent in the yard. whore
tea was served Mr.. Gladstone toasted
the yacht and wished her luck. Sir
Thomas Linton, he said had earned the
gratitude Of every man and woman In the
United Kingdom by his spirited action in chal-
lei Ging for the cup.
Sir Thomas responded. He complimented
Nessrs Fife and Thornycroft and the work
men who had been employed In the con-
struction OF the Shamrock. He said that
everybody realized the great talent and
skill OF their cousins across the water.
and II fortune decided against the Sham
rock the British wouni be the first to
congratulate them upon possessing the
better boat. and therefore entitled to
all credit for their victory. Nevertheless.
he hoped that the cup would return to
England this time. in which case he knew
thu 'vcrvbody here would give as good and a.
h ar a reception to the Americans coming to
Il, , recover It as he anticipated from them
now,
The work Of launching the yacht was begun
BY knocking the blocks away at 1920 o'clock.
When this was done there was some delay in
tearing down the sides OF the house which COW
cred her. 30 that she could pass freely. At $40
O'Clock the Shamrock slid into the water in her
cradle. which she cleared about thirty yards
from the shore.
Tho tug Excelsior In going UP to take the
Shamrock towline ran into the yacht. making
deep dent in her port side.
The new boat few Sir Thomas Lipton's
hag-green. with a gold square bearing q green
shamrock in tho centre-at her bow. and
the royal ensign foated aft. Tho Shamrock
was towed across tho river to the South Dock
where she will ship her steel mast. There was
great cheering as the boat slid into the water.
Sir Thomas Upton came to the yard on
board tug which was gay with bunting and
streamers. The boats which were in the vi
entity were mostly occupied by reporters and
photographers with few public spectators.
As the boat was launched a small pleasure
boat In the river capsized. but its occupants
were all picked up and landed safely
Some years ago Thomas Chaplain OF Roslyn.
Long Island. showed. or rather handed. a
model OF one Of his yachts to John Herreshon
the blind boatbuilder OF Bristol. Rhode Island
II is well known to most yachtsm IN
that Clanham has produced very fast boats.
and that his theory OF design has been based
the skimminG OF a boat over the top OF tho
water rather than ploughing through It by
brute force When John Herreshoff had han
died Clapham's model he handed 1t back with
Thu, remark:
IF you will Just hang lump OF lead we'll
down from your model. Tom. you will be on
the right track"
This little incident shows clearly how HERE
shofr had made up his mind concerning the
canoe body with lump OF lead hanging
down underneath many years before Edward
Burgess OF Boston came into prominence. It
also shows that il yachtsmen had ordered their
racing boats from Bristol instead OF Boston
they would have got the mbia type Of yacht
instead ofthe Puritan. Mayhower and Volunteer
types. The first time the Herreshoffs had a
real opening they produced the Goriana and
the Drusilla. which beat 40 and even 5O-footers
as far back az 1901 or 1892
Another point worth mentioning In connec-
ton with the launch OF the Shamrock to-day
Is the coming into the field OF OK
pert builders OF torpedo boats az yacht
builders Tho Herreshon theory OF
design is accepted. and chief among
those who accept it 10 the designer Of
the Shamrock. Will Fife. who has boldly
taken his type from the Gloriana. and 1t
is safe to say that he has shown no origi-
nalty that will mark now departure
In design. Whatever extraordinary fea-
lures the Shamrock may possess In tho way OF
construction are not yet Known but II any
such features exist. which is doubtful. they
are matters that will give to American yachts
men no uneasiness. To those who appreciate
the battle in construction between the Thorny-
crofts and the Herreshofrs. however. this
phase OF the coming struggle for the
Americas Cup is interesting, As a Pas
teur will reveal startling truths to
physicians and completely reform medical
treatment OF disease. so will Thornycroft or
a Herreshoff apply scientific manipulation of
the metals to increase the speed OF a racing
yacht.
The maximum length Of a single Sticker to
compete for the Americas Cup Is fixed at