New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-23
URIAs RHODES TO STEER.
W. BUTLER DUNCAN, JR's, CHOICE FOR
| SKIPPER OF THE DEFENDER.
YEARS TRIAL RACES AGAINST
THE COLUMBIA.

Orias Rhodes will sail the Cup defender in the
races against Sir Thomas Lipton's Shamrock II
next summer If the opinion generally expressed
among reading members OF the New-York Yacht
CLUB yesterday goes for anything
The yachtsmen who were visited AZ tbeI- ~
noes IN or near Wall-st. yesterday were all dis
cussing with interest the news about the build
ing or the Americas Cup defender. and the most
frequent question was as to who would be the
professional skipper chosen to handle the spokes
Ihis individual is not in every sense the smokes
man for the boat, however. and Captain Urias
nnooes mad no communication to make on the
subject.
august Belmont was slightly more explicit.
"hen seen at his Office No % Nassau-st he
SAID that the choice of the professional skipper
lay wholly and solely with w ButIer Duncan
Jr who had full charge Of this and all other
matters pertaining to the preparation of the
BOAT In order to find out the yacht captain
that would be employed II would be necessary
10 apply to Mr.. Duncan personally Mr. Belmont
ala not care to give any hint as to what choice
Mr. Duncan might make
commodore Lewis Cass Ledyard OF the New
YORK Yacht Club was talking over the wires 10
captain Duncan about 3:15 o'clock yesterday
II was quite clear from number Of interviews
tnat the appointment of the professional skipper
mas not yet been finally made. but there seems
~ De no doubt that Captain Urias Rhodes. who
sdileo the Defender last year. is the man whom
Captain Duncan has chiefly in view.
HANDLED THE OLD DEFENDER.
one or the yachtsmen closely interested in the
building Of the boat said: 81 don't know
yet whether Rhodes has been arranged with but
DO know that when the Defender was nranarad
10 Try out the Columbia in the preliminary races
OF last year Rhodes was at her wheel and that
Duncan the manager Of the Defender. was per-
\ 0nf4 Cd
the boat In fact. it was not pretended in anv
direction that Charlie Bars handling Of The
Columbia was any better. While not advising
you to publish Rhodes's appointment as a GER
| tainty until the final ARRANGEMENTS are com
pleted. 1 may say that feel morally certain
that he will be the man"
similar opinion seemed to be held by several
yachtsmen who were conversing on the matter
in the Wal-st. office Of ex-Commodore Frederick
T. Adams. where 1t was said:
Charlie Barr made big mistake IN going On
the steam yacht Colona last year instead Of
taking a position captain on board one OF the
Newport 70-footers. This he could have done
and in preferring the higher wages as skipper
Of big steam yacht he let himself out Of the
| running and out of sight. Charlie ought 10 have
been in that fleet sufficiently TO attend to wringe
| and as IT is he hasn't the chance he might
have had
]. v. s. Oddie parted the question as to the
| intended construction OF the new defender. and
said that the friends OF the club on the other
side OF the would be too much interested
| on that point TO allow any conversation re-
garding it.
Captain Duncan arrived in New-York from
| Providence early yesterday and when seen later
| in the day said that no professional skipper had
yet been appointed TO the command OF the COM
| ing defender. and on being asked who would
| probably be appointed replied that II a little
| early to talk about that yet In conversation
| Captain Duncan did not try to hide the very
| good opinion he held Of the last years victor.
| the Columbia
| He said: I'VE intend to do the best we can
to win. and the new boat will be placed in the
best possible trim; but to tell the truth there
seems to to be a greater doubt about the
new boat beating the yacht OF 1899 than OF her
! defeating the coming Upton challenger. AS you
| know, have TO beat the Columbia in de-
| cisive way before we can be allowed to de-
| fend the Cup in the final races, and that seems
| to to be a formidable task I sailed on the
| Columbia, and in the earlier trials I had the
| Defender against her many times and in many
| kinds Of weather The result OF all that was
that 1t left with me peculiarly high opinion of
| what the Columbia is capable. Understand, I
not suggesting that the Herreshoffs are
able to design a craft able to beat the Column
bia, but only that this clever firm seems to
to have been near the top limit Of speed when
it produced the last winner. II we beat her
and the Shamrock beats US 1t will be case of
wonder. wonderer, Wonderest
IsELIN REFUSED THE PLACE.
Captain Duncans change Of mind in his con-
senting to take on the management OF the new {,
boat was mentioned. because some time ago he
said in unequivocal terms that he had no such
intention and that the position lent opening
to newspaper criticism AS to this Captain Dun
can said there sufficient reasons TO cause
him to change his mind, though he thought that
Mr. Iselin was the right man for the place But
Mr. Iselln had. he said, positively refused to
take charge OF another defender. so somebody
had to shoulder the work
About the newspapers he added pleasantly;
"Au ask is fair show. with no unjust criti-
cisrn and will be glad to give out any news
which does not conflict with the racing interests
OF the boat
On being asked who had been employed the
skipper of the Columbia Captain Duncan said he
did not know that any one had been He seemed
inclined to think one had been finally chosen.
David Barrie, the agent OF Sir Thomas Upton
In New-York. was seen yesterday about Sir
Thomas receiving the news Of the syndi-
Gates formation Mr.. Barrie said he had sent
as the information was issued, Wednesday
evening and had included in his message the
names Of those interested. and also the name of
Mr. Duncan as manager.
SIR THOMAS LIKES SANDY HOOK COURSE
George L Norton. the Editor OF THE Marine
Journal" received letter yesterday from Sir
Thomas Upton touching the question TO sailing
the Cup races Sandy Hook Newport Sir
Thomas writes that he regards the committee Of
the New-York Yacht Club the best judge, but
that he does not think there could a fairer or
better course in the world than that of Sandy