Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-06-12


race draws nearer. on the respective
champions of Great Britain and the
United States during their final groom
ing for the trophy which represents the
yachting supremacy of the seas.
When Sir Thomas feet left Gourock
bay it comprised four craft-ShamrocK
l., Shamrock ILL.,, the steam yacht Erin
and the ocean going tug Cruiser-"the
Upton armada" it is called in Scot
land, where interest in the coming cup
race is general.
A surprising fact, calculated to give
even a better complexion to the chal-
lengers performance under canvas,
came out during the fitting out OF the
yachts for the ocean passage. Sham
rock /, has been elaborately strength
ened inside with oak timbers, whereas
the challenger sailed almost as she was
raced. Investigating the reason for
this, it was discovered that the chal-
lenger's extra timbers are all of steel
and were carried throughout the recent
trial races. She was therefore handi-
capped in the trials by carrying a cou-
pie of tons Of dead weight in her hull
which will be removed before she races
for the Americas cup.
The arrival of "the Upton armada
will be awaited with more or less anX-
tety on both sides of the Atlantic; not
that there is any serious ground for
fears, but there is always an element
| of danger in a trip across the ocean of
the comparatively frail racing yachts.
However, the Erin is equipped with a
wireless telegraph system and can COM
municate with ocean liners during the
passage over and thus keep the public
| Informed of the whereabouts of the
! feet.
The yacht America, which won the
cup in 1851, has not been in commits
sion since the Defender won the de-
Gliding race of the series of 1898 and
sent Valkyrie III. a defeated boat back
to England. The famous old yacht Is
now the property of Congressman But
Ter Ames of Massachusetts, grandson
of the late Benjamin f. Butler, from
whom he inherited her. She is now
laid up in the Mystic river, near Bos-
ton. George Steers, who modelled the
America, was killed by q horse IN
1858.
Montagu Guost of the Royal Yacht
squadron recently published a volume
of Memorials of that most exclusive
organization, in which he declares that
the America won by very small mar
gin, and that if the course had been
few miles longer she would have beer
beaten by the Aurora. The facts, how
ever, do not bear out his contention.
That the British of that day were
thoroughly convinced that they had NJ
boat which could successfully contend
with the America is proved by the fac
that Ratsey and other builders wen
, TO Commodore Stevens after the race
: and told him that, while the Americ'
could beat anything they then hat
: afioat. they could build boat in ninet.
q days that would beat her. Commodor
, Stevens offered to wait the ninety day
and to bet S125,000 that they could no
do it. They did not take the bet ant
the America, failing to get any NOR
races, came home.
For more than half a century tn
brave old yacht battled with the set
She was built in 1851 by George Steer
FOR John q. Stevens, She was beaut
and was taken to England on a cruise
The yacht arrived in the Solent in 1S5-
exhibition year" A cup had been o.
fered valued at $500 for the winner
race around the Isle of Wight, ope
to any vessel, Of any rig, of any M
tion, without time allowance. In
America was entered. Pitted again'
her were fourteen yachts, the flower
= the British yachting navy, the choices
products Of transatlantic shipbuildin
U skill