The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-13
THE BRISTOL CUP DEFENDER.
~ 0rl< on the Constitution at HERES
hnff's shop Progressing Rapidly


BRISTOL. r /, April 1S.-Ths most
absorbing topic here and hereabouts IS
the probable launching date of the Bristol
Cup defender Constitution. now nearing
completion in the south shop at HERE
shofrS- From one who saw the boat yes
terday the following facts concerning the
methods and progress Of construction,
which have not hitherto been MADE pub
lie have been learned. II can be said at
the outset that the yacht is so nearly
completed that she could he launched next
week if the tide would serve. but as there
VIII not be another extra high tide until
May 3, when the moon is full, it is quite
certain that the boat wiz not go over
board this month As May , comes on
Friday, a day of the week when a launch
ing is not to be thought of. it is figured
that Saturday, May t, viii be the day Sc
lected for the maiden dip.
Most Of the thick staging surrounding
the boat has been taken down and the
work of furnishing the Tobin bronze plat
ing Of the hull has begun This work is
being done by a new method devised by
Capt Nat Hereshof, the designer Two
lines Of temporary shafting have been set
up close to the side of the boat. one low
down near the keel and the other at the
>
Of these shafts is a small pulley two feet
wide on the face Connecting these pull
leys is a belt TIVE y-three inches wide,
to the outer face Of which is fastened
emery cloth
The puIIeys are revoIved rapidly by
steam power and several workmen are
employed in holding the belt against the
side Of the boat by means of broom han
dies passed through the belt, which is
sufficiently slack to admit of the emery
cloth on its surface being brought into
contact With the CURVED surfaces from
below the biIge to the sheer Strake- BY
this novel method strip of the bronze
tWenty-three inches wide from the top
to the keel Of the boat is polished in
very few moments so that It shines like
a wedding ring.
Keeping ahead Of the pOlisheTs is gang
of men with long files which have han
die like a jackpIane. These men are
trimming up the countersunk heads Of
the rivets. which fastan the plates to the
frames, and after the polishing belt has
gone over the riyets it is difficult to see
where they are, SO fine is the workman
ship.
The steering gear is being put in and all
the plating is on except one length OF
the sheer strake on the Starboard side
The ruddeT Is being built hanging in its
place well down under the stern over
hang. 1t is shaped like that of Columbia.
The rudder viii be hollow and will be built
of a light framework Of steel straps. plat
ed with Tobin bronze This framework
is nearly completed. Riveters are still
busy on the top strake of plates and on
steel work In the interior Of the boat the
inside OF the hull being brilliantly light
ed with electricity The cabin floor is
laid, but no other carpenter work has been
done in the boat The cabin partitions
are being built outside the yacht and
viii be taken apart and placed in posi-
ton IN the cabins as soon as the rIveters
leave the interior
Th= utmost surprise is manifested AT the
COS of construction InSteAd Of the time
hOnOTed ribs or frames of steel. extending
fonl keel 70 rail, all the frames extend
from bow 10 stern and are rivcted 10
heavy disks Of steel cut to the shape Of
cross section Of the boat These EsEzs are
placed eight feet apart inside the boat
and the greater portion Of the middle Of
each is cut away. with the tWO-foid DIIr-
pose of saving weight and leaving the in-
terror open from stem to stern Perhaps
no clearer explanation OF this novel meth
Cd Of yachting construction ca De given
in words than to say that the hull OF the
steel mast, which has steel-hulbed angles
extending through its entire length. with
circular disks OF SUI aS braces located
a few feet apart That il is an expert
ment cannot be denied, but Captain Mats
. experiments have - IfabiE or being about
the right thing because there ig no guess
work about them, but plenty OF the scien-
tiiiC calculation for which he is noted and
it IS probable that the building Of the
Constitution VIII marx new era in