New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-21
COLUMBIA MAY DEFEND
DECLARATION THAT SHAMROCK III BY
WATSON WILL BE OF COM
POSITE BUILD.

would be built where he xisbss ~ 49,. h. -.
accustomed to supsrfntend work: also that II he,
/ was to be responsible for the career OF thu boat
she would De IN accordance with his IDEAS as 20
/ structure. and that he preferred the corapoSi,e
/ euild- steel frames and wooden pIanIlnz watson
VOes not oeIieve that the use OF tangled metals
ana metallic amalgams and alloys Is necessary
I 10 q yaehts success, no matter what kind OF an
antagonist she has to meet He does not sba-- r.
oeier OF many competent yachtsulen. Including a
number OF skilled naval constructors that his Iasr
challenger. the wooden Dlanked vaIkyrie III was
practically beaten before she started bv the alurnf
mum Defender. He does believe that a vacbt 80.
is intended to win should travel on her shaps--
should win BY reason OF her fine modelling rather
than through the nature OF the material put into
her. In reference 10 the fine manganese bronze
plates with which Shamrock was with such dHH-
Guilty fitted. Watson admits candidIy that he knows
little about them and says he can turn out a boat
for much less money than the Thornycrofts put
into the first Upton boat
Except Tor an Increased price uerhaus Cor th-
later design, Shamrock II viii probably not cost
more than Valkyrie III unless the higher wages
OF the present year make a difference. The boat
VIII be built at the old stand. the yards OF the
Hendersons. on the Clyde-the same firm OF D. &
W Henderson. OF Glasgow. that turned out the
Thistle for James Bell; VaIkyrie IL which raced
here in 1893 and Valkyrie III. which contested IN
lSSS- All these boats were designed by Watson and
II they were not fast enough to win the Cup they
were at least good enough to confirm him IN his
belief that the composite yacht can secure the bis,
trophy If she has the right speed lines in her.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS TO BE TESTED.
This then, Will be Of the large questions 20
De tested in the contests OF year and the de-
sisner. who has not been daunted BY the expert
estimate that his Valkyrie III was seventeen tons
heavier than the Defender will have made q reply
highly satisfactory himself il his new boat sue
ceeds No one doubts that he will turn out a boat
that VIII be trusted than the Shamrock to
make her ocean voyage safely He has
turned out boat for which he had 20 make ex-
euses in regard to her unseaworthiness and II Is
fair presumption that he never WILL because his
name Is already made through the successful and
safe designing OF four hundred vessels OF dif-
ferent Sizes and viii be risked in seeking for
undue ightness OF construction Watson went 70
about his limit in the economy of weight when bs
built the last Valkyrte with stout RIBS and good
thickness Of solid pine planking, and in this region
he IS at home. knowing the requirements OF a
wooden boat well that II may be understood
how lOath he is to begin experiments with mate
rails the values of which are not wholly proved
The boat to be expected from Watson then, Is
an improved VaIkyrie III and improved Meteor
| how much improved time VIII teIl-but a craft
I that will probably possess OF the last VAL
I kyrfe'S faults in being too heavy in her wooden
upper works. compared with a craft OF bronze or
/ steel But there IS also a reasonable expectation
/ that the spars Watson's boat will do their
proper work in setting the canvas to the best ad-
vantage. that his gaffs will not fold silently for
/ that his booms and topmasts will not contain such
stuff Flies were made Of II is the opinion Of
| Captain Wringe OF the Shamrock 1. that that YES
| sci would have done better IN the last race with
/ her huge Oregon pine mast in place and with her
/ other heavy spars OF spruce than with the metal
/ tubes. 1t came lately piece OF news which is
interesting even at this date (and It from the
best authority. that with the exception OF the
\ wooden topmast, neither the mast nor any other
! uipe Of some whfrish s0y which vas wholly m
supported with those internal strengtheners which
spar If the ThornycrofGs had not discovered the
method by which these internal strengtheners may
| back to trustworthy wood, for there never was a
! more disguised man than ne when his Shamrock
squeaL
/ FOR THE CUP DEFENCE
Each day that has passed since the arrival OF the
/ Upton challenge seems TO have made yachtsmsn
/ more accustomed to the thought that the Columbia
/ will again be used to defend the Americas Cup.
/ Never before have yachtsnen themselves been so
devoid Of ideas in regard probable builders OF
1 new defending craft A number OF names are can
vassed. however. Cornelius Vanderbilt said last
summer that he would Ike be in a Cup defend
ing party. but he's not saying that now Ralph y.
Ellis could afford place nice little contribution
\ IN any syndicate to which ne belonged He IS
repeatedly been Said 70 have been waiting for a
long time for chance II has been limited that II
w K. Vanderbilt. IT.. could san his own boat in
the Cup defence he might produce her at his own
Commodore Frederick T. Adams thinks some
other designer or designers should be represented
In this contest, and he would ike to yacht
club. different yacht clubs. combination %
them produce one or more crart Tor the rriai
races. He thinks il would be better FOR the spo-I
20 have a hundred or a thousand OF the
less wealthy yachtsrnen directly interested, rather
than have the whole business in the hands OF TWO
or three men, This idea IS not new IN America ;
Cup affairs. The schooner Countess OF Dufferin,
which raced for the Cup in August 1876, was the
product OF such idea In the previous year.
lists were taken through the yacht and other clubs
and men subscribed for many as they liked Of
8 shares. the. idea being to give Alexander Cuth-
bert. Canadian designer, a chance TO sail one or
his models for the Cup
THE SCHEME INELAsTIC
From practical experience it may be said that
scheme OF this kind has the fault OF being IN
elastic. When have subscribed once. and
further expenses on account OF the yacht neces
sary they will not put up second time, having
regarded their first subscription chiefly as a glIt
The Defender cost ner syndicate N5600. IN sailing
and all The Columbia cost her syndicate more
than 500 OF course these fancy prices, but
TO come down 70 a total expense OF Sl-5eo9 Are
there los men in this neighborhOod who VIII con-
tribute 900 each and still remain ObScuref Among
so many the name OF the individual Il baZOneC on
no roll OF honor. He could not even sail upon the
boat in her unless he was at the head or the
syndicate. In the case Of the Countess y was
found that love for sport was limited oy the
amount OF personal advertisement offered. and per
surplus cash into a small craft and 70 be sOme
pumpkins IN a catbOat rather than pay ror ad-
vertisement 10 be enjoyed by others
ONE HUNDRED PER CENT DUTY MES.
Awards have been made 70 The following members
OF Company c OF the ed Regiment o. decorations
WFTu~-