New-York tribune., 1901-04-14
PREPARING FOR THE FRAY
DEPENDENCE RAPIDLY ADVANC-
ING To COMPLETION.

1t is considered remarka BILE that the shell plat
ing on the Independence should all be in place
hefore that of the Constitution, when the Bristol
poat had such a long start. The last plate was
put In place the starboard side of the Lawson
BOAT on Friday, and there final plates
put on the port side yesterday Recent reports
or the Constitution show that she still lacks one
or two OF her plates. About half of the rivets on
the Independence have been headed up, and the
calking of the has advanced at about the
same rate.
The aluminium deck plates are now being turned
out and will be in place possible The
steel ring which is employed for wedging the mast
has been put in positon On. In the machine shop
the balance rudder frame is still in the big lathe
having the post turned down Most of the plating
has been put the sternpost rudder. and though
no riveting has been done there this part Will De
finished before the yacht is ready for its use.
The plates for the steel mast now being cut
and the assembling of the parts will soon begin.
The making of this spar will be difficult on the
inside of the bilge stringers nearly all
in. and good part of the tntercostal plating Is IN
place. that far the construction goes the
beginning of the end is now in sight
Yachtsmen who feared that the Independence
might not be allowed with the Constitution
have been delighted to hear that the boats sure
to in least series of races. to be sailed
for the cups offered by the Newport Yachting AS
sociation. This fraternity is composed chiefly OF
yachtsmen who have time and good yachts on
their hands, and who race among themselves all
through the summer. Mr.. Lawson says the lnde-
pendence will sail to Newport at an early date
and Mr.. Duncan. the manager of the Constltu-
tons says he is willing to sail his craft at all
times against vessels able to give her good snake
It Is probable that their meetings will be frequent
and that their respective abilities will be well
known at a time long before the trial races are
called 1t is generally believed that some ar
rangement has already been planned in a quiet way
to enable the Boston defender to enter the tIlal
races notwithstanding that Mr. Lawson is not
The officers and crew of the Belmont defender
Constitution are expected TO arrive in Bristol on
Wednesday. The deck of the boat now presents an
almost completed appearance. with the skNlsnISs
and matches practically adjusted fore and ait anu
traveller for the mansheet ana otner Httih69
for the deck being in place. There are lndicatiohS
that one of the plates of the stern Is being re
and eighteen inches wide afforded a view oil the
frames. ,.,
The big steel mainmast which is now completed
is fine and now lies in the north
shop while preparations are being made TO nt the
shrouds In order be ready for any Cnler-
sency, the Constitution is to have biige pufnpSS
made. Of copper and fitted 10 the starhoard and
port sides After the completion of the hull Herrcs-
hof is going burnish the Tohin bronze pla tlng
with emery wheels driven by compressed air Inc
workmen refuse explain the removal or the piat9
the stern, but say il was merely temporary ana
can be put back in three hours work. The gen.
eraI opinion among the employees at the Herreshott
be over n thousand feet larger than the craft they
are working on. but they seem agreed that the
Bristol racer will be the most slippery ana OF an
easier form to force through the water.