The St. Louis Republic., 1901-05-07
CONSTITUTION IS
QUIETLY LAUNCHED.
New Cup Defender Christened BY
Mrs. w. Butler Duncan in
Blaze of Fireworks.
IS AN IMPROVED COLUMBIA.
Builders and Owners Delighted
With the Beautiful Yacht
An Exquisitely Balanced
Boat-Measurements.

Bristol. r. l., May 6.-With her hull gaily
decorated with flags and her deck we'll filled
with sailors, the yacht Constitution was
christened this evening by Mrs. w. Butler
Duncan. who broke the traditional bottle Of
wine on her siistening bow just as she
started slowly down the ways into the sea.
A platform had been rigged under the bow
Of the boat and on this Mrs. Duncan stood
when the gong for the starting was sounded.
Besides her on the platform was her hus-
band. the manager Of the new boat. but all
the rest OF the party stood a little dis
tance OF.
With the breaking Of the bottle. Mrs. Dun
can, in a clear voice, said:
'T christen thee Constitution"
The scene was a brilliant one. As tho Con-
stitution was slowly lowered into the water,
the cheering from the boats outside was
loud and vigorous, while the searchlight
from the Eteam yacht Colonia. Just outside
the dock, illuminated the stern Of the Con-
stitution. Rockets and other fireworks
added not q little to the gayety Of tho &C.
casion.
As the stern Of the craft emerged from
the shop, the private signals Of the mem
bers Of the syndicate were displayed on
small fiagstaffs upon her deck. As the YES
sci reached the water the flash Of the
searchlight grew more intense and greater
became tho display Of rockets and Roman
candles.
Twelve minutes after the yacht started.
the cradle was fioated from under the bilges
and the Constitution was fairly adoat.
Evidently an InpfOved C0lambia.
The clear starlit night was admirable for
pyrotechnio displays. The spectators gen.
orally came to the conclusion that the new
cup defender Is actually a much-improved
Columbia, with all her sterling virtues and
none Of her trifiing faults
Tho yacht was hauled out to her mooring
She Will be taken alongside the dock to-
morrow and her mast will be stepped.
Thus quietly and with simple ceremony
the Constitution was baptized. There was
no hitch. Everything worked without a
fault. Tho expenditure of fiashlight DOW
der was insignificant and no accident se-
suited from Its explosion. It was possible
rested on the way. nlumined by the bril-
liant electric light which showed the grace
Once clear Of the shed she was lost in the
blaekness Of the night.
MT. c: Oliver Iseain, who raced the Co
lpmbin nft;.,t tTo years ago. says he thinks the
IL sure that she will make record.
NeRvo1sly ResDonsive Craft.
The interest IN the launching, aside from
the first dip. was in the lines Of the Consti-
tuSLuh. ~ " 90 0oSiV eccu tiiaI tud f1eIISb-
hoffs have turned out q craft that is ex-
quisttely balanced and Will be nervously re-
sponsive to the slightest touch Of the helm.
In fact. she will spin around in q manner
amazingly swift to q man who lacks ex-
perience in the ways Of a. down-to-date
Herreshoff flyer and takes his first trick at
her wheel.
The exact measurements Of the Constitu-
tion have not been ofacially announced, but
her approximate dimensions are:
Length on the load-water line, 90 feet;
length all over. 1a3 feet: greatest beam. %
flotation, 20 feet: sail area, 1850 square
feet or thereabouts. The Columbia was s.. 6e
feet on the load-water line. with draft
of 20 feet; length over all, 132 feet; beam.
1911. She carried Il. 40 square feet OF duck.