The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-08-15
WORK ON SHAMROCK
Ref1tting New Yacht In Erie
Basin.
BIC MAST PUT IN POSITION.
Challenger VIII Soon De Ready to
Go Into Drydock For the scraping
of Her HuII--NovcI Features
of Lipton's Boat.

NEW YORK, Aug. 14.--Work went
On admirably in the Erie basin yesterday
70 far as the fitting out of the Shamrock
II was concerned. Early in the morning
the gear which was utilized in the towing
Of the yacht over the ocean was sent
ashore. At the same time the fore and
eft rigging and the shrouds and back
stays that held in position the sturdy
lover mast and the stump topmast were
sent down In little while the jury
mast was ripped ont of her, the thick and
unwieldy spar opposing little or no OBJ
stacle to the machinery of the derrick.
The spar was hoisted out of the chal-
lenger in almost magic time. 1t was
dragged out of the mast step and landed
safe and snug on the dock in a few
minutes. The yacht without her mast
looked ms helpless as a sampan. A large
crowd gathered. Some of its constituents
were so curiously impressed that they
sought to make rude and crude measure
ments of the mast
The combination lower mast and top
mast, which is the first of its kind to be
used in racing yacht. has caused much
admiration among yachtsmen. There
were only two occasions in the history OF
became necessary to clew up and haul
down topsails and eventually to house
topmasts. Thus, while the Constitution
and Columbia are each provided with a
telescope topmast that is supposed to
come down deckward with more or less
alacrity, the lower mast and the topmast
on each Of the above mentioned craft are
always subjected to unusual stress and
az aln In ton if
backstay parts the sudden jerk might i'm
peril the lower mast. The spreadcrs in
the cup defenders, it is said, seem to be
depended on too much. When one spread
er breaks. the mast goes over the side.
BY such contingency the Americas cup
nay be either won or lost The COM
hiped mast of the Shamrock ii is con-
structed as nearly as possible after the
model or design of the bamboo so far as
that design could be carried out in imta-
ton of nature
The hollow spars were ready for ship
ment yesterday afternoon. and the great
derrick Century, like a giant handling a
toothpick, landed the enormous mast of
the Shamrock on dry land. Then n crew
Of riggers. aided by a gang from the
yacht, lent hand. First the stout
spreaders Of teak and steel were placed
liz position. Next the steel wire stays
that support the mast fore and aft and
athwartships were got over the mast
head. All this took time and trouble.
The derrick answered to every signal.
The massive mast slung about amidships
by heavy purchase was so controlled by
guys and braces that its heel was COM
PEELED to seek It's step with commendable
promptitude. 1t was seamanlike Job.
rejecting credit on all concerned. BY 3
O'Clock the mast was in positicn and was
steadied temporarily by shrouds and fore
and aft stays When the mast is COM
pletely stayed, the Shamrock will take
the place of Sir Thomas Lipton's steam
yacht Erin in drydock and will have her
hull scraped for the numerous impending
trials.
The crew of the Shamrock slept last
night aboard the big and handsome ten
Ter Porto Rico. They are ambitious and
willing. All hands aboard the Shamrock
IL and the flotilla that exploits the green
lag are confident of victory.