New-York tribune., 1901-05-19
INDEPENDENCE LAUNCHED
SLIPS EASILY DOWN THE wAYs-How
SHE LOOKS IN THE WATER
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1Rr,p1

iba IELkSfAfH TO THE TRIRTrsF
Boston, May ls.-Promptly at Hos o,c,ocu
tonight the Lawson Cup defender Independence
was successfully launched from the shed in
which she mas peeh oullt at the Atlantic Works
East Boston. Miss Gladys Lawson. the alsa..
daughter of Thomas W. Lawson -. -
Yacht. She stood on a small platform, 7,bioh
had been erected at the head of the sba5 ,,oo.
the yachts bow, and when the signal was Give.
10 the workmen TO knock out the choc,,s ,rb;oh
held the yacht she broke the bottle os An,arioa
champagne across the yachts bow. and cried
i chflsten thee Independence" In a minute
the yacht was slipping down the wavs AT fuII
speed, as she was launched in the regular ola
fashioned way.
On the platform besides Miss GLADYS lawson
were Miss Marion Lawson, Mr.. Lawson ana ,bo
youngest son. as Wen as two or three friends
Of Mr.. Lawson. Anchored out in the strear,, ,.as
Mr.. Lawson's steam yacht Dreamer with NJ-s
Lawson and party board There were
other steam yachts anchored in the stream and
shortly before the time Of launching their
searchlishts were played across the entrance or
the shed. These were kept on the Yacht during
its fight down the ways. and for some time
afterward. When the yacht recovered from ba-
plunge she was secured by a towboat and tova5
back TO the end Of the pier Of the Atlantic
works She will have her mast stepped early
next week.
The launching was attended by a large NUN,
Der Of invited guests, and the streets nea~tbA At
lantc works were lined with thousands Of ,,aon1a
all anxious to obtain admission. The management
OF the Atlantic works adhered strongly however
10 their decision not TO let the public within the
gates. ana they We're obliged TO remain in the
streets. The guests who were admitted within
the gates numbered several hundred, and were
quite enough TO cover all the available points of
the new yacht and her owner. and there is no
question but that the sympathy of the public
is with Mr.. Lawson in his present trouble with
the New-York Yacht Club
The long, fat forward overhang Of the yacht
created considerable wonderment. especially
among the members Of the New-York delegation
They were forced TO admit that she was likely
looking craft with all the appearances Of thor
oughbred racehorse. Her hull shone like the
gold case OF a watch. and it was as smooth as
glass. The plating and riveting Of her bottom
and top sides could not be better. II is an ex-
cellent piece Of work. and much of the smooth
ness Of the hull is no doubt due TO the mem
bers OF the crew, who have been working un-
ceasngly on her since they assembled here
about two weeks ago.
The yacht was launched with only one rudder
IN place. that being the balance rudder. She
viii be tried with this rudder for time and
then, If necessary, the sternpost rudder will be
shipped.
The docks in the neighborhood were lined with
people, and there We're countless numbers of
small boats. yachts and tugs in near the slip.
When she reached the open water the crowd
broke loose, and cheered like mad. and the
steam craft added considerable noise with their
whistles.
She seemed TO catch her bearings quickly.
Her long overhangs were prominent when she
rested naturally on the water Of the bay and
her long, racy appearance never loOmed UP with
more striking effect. She carried the flag of the
Hull-Massachusetts Yacht Club forward and an
ensign at her stern, while the owners private
signal, a white bear on a field of blue, hoated
from jurymast rugged near the mast hole
On the yacht were Captain Haff. the first and
second mates and the crew. The bottle of
American champagne with which she
named was decorated with red. white and blue
ribbons.
Among those at the launching were Mr
CTOwninsheld, the designer; Charles C Clapp
ley, Frederick Lawley, W. E. H3bbard, Louis E.
Clark, Z. V r. Thayer and the other members
OF the advisory board; also many prominent
yachtsmen and persons well known in Boston's
financial and social circles.
Mr.. Lawson and family came over on the
Dreamer, and after the ceremonies were over
they went aboard the Dreamer where they re-
mained all night.
A pleasant incident connected with the yacht
happened yesterday afternoon, when Charles c.
Clapp Mr. Lawsons private secretary. went
over 10 Lawley's yard and presented each of the
workrnen in the yard with s. gold piece, as a
souvenir OF the yacht. AS there are nearly
eight hundred workmen, this gift amounted 10
considerable. Some time next week the en-
ployes Of the Atlantic works will receive