Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-04
THE INDEPENDENCE.
Is Given Her First Trial in
Boston HarbOr.
Makes Fine Showing and Designer,
Owner and Grew Are Pleased.
Constitution Again Out and Clinches Fact That
She Is a Woader.

Boston, June 3.-Another intended
cup defender, the Independence, was
put through a jogging to stretch sails
and rigging, in Massachusetts bay. to-
day, and from what little actual sail
ing was done, the yacht certainly
showed herself to be very speedy, par
ticularly with started sheets.
the Independence was kept to the
wind, j 1-knot breeze from the east
wand for two hours. this afternoon, and
under three lower sails she skipped
about very lively with scarcely any
connection under her bow except when
the roll Of the ocean let her fat floor
slap the water.
She answered her balance rudder
quickly and in fact acted most salts
facto,ily to her skipper Capt Half:
her designer, Z. b. Crowninshield. and
her owner, Thomas w. Lawson, who
watched her every move from his near
by steam yacht.
Her sails We're marvels Of beauty, es-
pecially the two head sails The big
rnainsail. one of the largest eyer spread
by any yacht, gave every indication Of
being in similar shape when it is pulled
out on the boom and two more battens
put in the leach. 1t tapped somewhat,
today. but this defect can easily be
remedied.
Although the wind subsidized just as
the gafftopsail was set. very little more
could have been done, as it was then
late in the afternoon. 1t was after IL
O'Clock when the Independence in tow
of a tug, the latter carrying the news
paper men as guests of Mr.. Lawson,
LETT the dock. Mr.. Lawson was waiting
just outside on his steam yacht Dream
er. and about every steamer in the
harbor gave the yacht three whistles
as she went down the bay.
outside 6f Boston Light the wind
came out from the eastward and the
yacht met a long, heavy roll which
sent her down and lifted her up with
her dark steel colored sides and gilt
tering underbody. She met the swell,
however. in fine shape. although con-
siderable spray was thrown out from
the slapping of her fiat floor
Before the light was reached the
crew had started to set the mainsail.
At 1.2j =. NJ, Capt. Half ordered the
tow line cast off and the two head sails
broken out. The jib had already been
set up in stops. 50 that the yacht quick
ly gained Roadway. going off on the
starhoard tack. with Capt. Half at the
wheel The wind a: this time had in
creased to about seven knots and the
yacht trpped along. the crew in the
meantime swapping the foresail onto
the stay and hosting it slowly.
Under these three sails with her
sheets we'll started. the Independence
went along very fast. No effort was
made to haul the boat close on the
wind but with a good rap full. she
headed out to sea. meeting the swell
grandly, rising over it bouyantly.
Even with the swell there was but
little froth under the bow and what
wave was turned aside did not come
back along the counter to retard her
progress. Except from the spatter of
the fiat floor of her bow striking the
water. there was little indication of
wake. She seemed to heel quickly.
but not far down, say % per cent, but
as she is designed for n 115-foot water
line when under sail. this slant was
quite satisfactory.
a long hitch was made to starbOard.
perhaps two miles. the yacht showing
tremendous speed on reach. Capt.
Half swung her about when n mile
outside the Boston lightship. anchored
six miles east of the light and the In
dependence was timed from full to full
in "a seconds, this when not close
hauled.
The yacht had been sailing about
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