New-York tribune., 1901-08-29
PREPARED FOR FINAL TEST.
TIVE, CO1.IrMBIA READY FOR RACES WHICH
ARE To DECIDE THE CUP DEFENDER
CONSTITUTION TUNING UP.

The cutter Columbia has been on the drydock at
the Morse Iron Works for several days preparing
for her trial contests with the Constitution she
left the yards at Fifty-sixth-st-, South BROOKLYN
Yesterday at $50 a. in tow OF the tug Mutual
and nassed down the East River with her topmast
housed in the lower mast and with her canvas
slowed. She TO city Island She mas oeen
thoroughly cleaned az the Morse dock. and her
bronze underbody has been polished, to be in good
shape for Saturday, when she VIII enter into the
most important hght of her life.
AT Newport on Saturday she will begin the series
Of trial races which are TO determine whether she
or the Constitution will defend the Americas Cup
Ar an earlier day the Columbia had TO meet the
Dafander the Yacht which represented America
In 1Sq5 and In the trial of 1899 the Columbia
thoroughly made good her claim TO defend the Cup
in that year Her official trial contests in 1899 were
not in some respects as important as they are
now because at that time the Columbia was an
evident Improvement on the four-year-old design
which alone disputed her proposal TO defend the
international yachting trophy. but IN this year the
conditions are different. and there has not been
that marked and continuous improvement which
the great Bristol firm of yacht builders has always
in previous wears been able to exhibit when new
yacht was required to defend the Cup
The first racing of the Columbia and Constitu-
ton In this year has indicated that the newest
boat of the FIerreshoffs will have no walkover in
the trial racing In fact, the showing far is
that IN breezes OF little strength the Columbia
is generally the winner. while in winds of real
power she has never been defeated by the Constl-
tuition except in of accidents
The right of boat to defend the Cup twice
Is an admitted one, and even If the Columbia had
10 defend again next year the cry of no third
term would be heard Interest is greatly CON
centrated on the question as to whether the CON
stitution will be selected to defend. even though
she be defeated in the coming trial races she mas
been built at great expense. indeed at price which
even by milionares Is considered expensive yet
the primal demand Is for the fastest and most
capable defender in an all round way and the
Shamrock which is now within the gates mas
shown herself 10 be a formidable opponent In any
breeze strong enough 10 put the yachts AROUND
the thirty-miie course within the hve and one-hal
hours time limit.
There is no doubt that the best ability. so Iar as
goes, the challenger is in wtndWard WORK anu
I'm fast beating through a seaway and this IS
the weakest point of the Constitution. ana WneIe
the Columbia almost invariably beats her Even
the ability of the Columbia with the challehger
has been much questioned in newspapers as touch.,
ing windward work and fairly strong breezes, and
people waiting with much anxiety 70 see WHAT
the result OF the trial races Will be-
The Constitution is now having her plat re-
paired and is reported to have been founG wnen ii
in drydock TO be In damaged condition she VIII
be fully ready enter the lists on Saturday.