New-York tribune., 1901-05-19
WHAT THE INDEPENDENCE Is.
Rv Associated PressD

Boston May Is-Daring in design. novel IN con-
srruction errbodyng the latest wrinkles in the art
of bridge building rather than Of naval architecture
the Independence may be characterized an epoch
marking vessel. II she proves fast she may alter
the style OF modern racing machines and mark a
new departure in yacht construction II she turns
out a faure-that is question that concerns chiefly
Lawson the owner, and Crowninshield, the de-
signer.
Nothing ahoat IS fatter than dory. No craft
that ever dared the pers OF the ocean is more sea-
worthy than a dory. You can't sink dory- Mhen
one gets adrift the dory survives. but the men
perish. When q dory is fitted with cenuepoaro
and a sail she goes like a witch. The Independence
IS as fat as a dory Her bilge comes up with a
hard businessIie turn that compels admiration for
its very audacity. Fit an Indian birch bark canoe
with metal centre plate and you VIII get ialr
idea Of the model Of the Independence. The bow is
heightened out and so is the sternboth artisticaly
ard fair.
Looking ar the boat tonight she floats ap-
proxtmately upon her designed waterline ana al
lowing the necessary margin for weight Of mast,
spars sails and gear It could hardly be thought
that the water concealed so many vagaries or null
and type so many departures from the usual style
Of I'm keel craft that has become popular WITHIN
the last ten years There is actually nothing 10 oo-
struct the passage Of the yacht through the water
In smooth weather she has probably fifteen tons
less OF lead TO lug along in her fin, from all that
appears on paper. than the Constitution Then IN
rough weather, as she heels her length on the
greater immersed Surface than the Constitution
The looks at her form the more one Is
convinced that she will sail fast Inc Duo IN hSeI
so shaped that IL must eleave the waIsr 2 S
outside OF this there Is little 10 STOP heI. me
nidship section gives shape that is easy 70 PfV-
pei al any angle Of heel. The entrance, too' Is
iacile and the run long and clear. The furtner she
lays over 10 commanding breeze me erea!Issr a.
ought TO go to windward like a regular sea wltch,
having with her deep and cleVerly rnodeled nm,
splendid grip on the water When cloSehauied she
cannot possibly slide of TO leeward with the VINO
abearn or on the quarter she should attain phe-
homenal sHiftness. At any point OF salhhs WITH
sheets started. her pace cannot heip oeihg rapiiH
Theoretically. she IS flyer, although pracucaily
sne Is an unknown quantity - -
A little boat OF a type practically similar 10 the
Independence, designed by Mr.. Crowninshlel1 anu
called the Illinois. built for international puL
.oses her incentive being the cans "a CUP wiz.
ms the same significance on the fresh water OF
M Great Lakes that the Americas cup has on tfle
.ren sea This craft, Mr.. Crowninshield declares.
mas fulfilled all his expectations. She was tflue
ed and she now handles easy and carries no
more lee helm The Independence ought 10 De
Ffl balanced. How the balance rucder; com
l-tte innovation boat so large VIII answer
iitg to steer with this supplementary contfiVahSe
N construction the Independence IS more heaVily
Iht ana stronger than the Constitution mere
IS been a good deal OF alarm lest she should fali
..t appears strncturay fulsy and fragile, incapa-
.t " bearing the thrusts. stress ana stain
tleh must come upon her heavy lead nm, sefapinss
ne bottom twenty feet. and upon the spread or
eeaaas upon the mast. ls0 feet or thereabouts IN
bpt the nickel steel frames of the Independence
49, her bronze and steel plating ali or eScep-
,r,iiy fne quality and great tensile strength me
a'sal having double the strength OF common steei,
- with all her elements scientifically comoined
I. @-c6t gives no room for fear OF COLLAPSE