The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-11
FIRE THREATENS RELIANCE.
LIGHTED CANDLE FOUND BURN.
ING UNDER THE BOAT.

ING UNDER THE boat.
Causes Q Mild Scare and Precautions for
safety Are Taken-Miss Nora Iseifn.
sponsor for Yacht, Arrives ~ Prov.
dence-Preparation for Launching.
BRISTOL, R. l.. April io-It was learned
to-day that there were Appearances In the
Hsrreshon shops the hrst Of the week a. II
some one had tried to start fire In tho south
construction shop. where the Reliance ",
but there are also circumstances which
would seem to show tina. there was no at
tempt made to burn the boat. especially
as the boat. being entirely Of metal. 1t would
be difficult TO injure by fire unless the whole
| building was burned.
Workmen who were passing through the
shop late on Monday evening found q candle
burning Ia q socket on . heap Of greasy
overalls belonging to tho workmen. but how
1t came there no one seems to know
Candles, IL Is said, are used at times In work
on the boat in the nveting down below.
and 1t may have been placed there on the
overalls by workman's carelessness,
but how 1t came to b. lighted is unknown.
The candle had almost burned down to the
last inch when discovered, but the clothing
had not caught fire. The matter was looked
into by the firm, and the Waterman took
extra precautions In keeping a lookout,
but no further trouble was discovered that
night.
On Tuesday evening more overalls were
found near the same place where they were
on Monday night under the st "a ging, which
Is built up around the Cup defender from
the floor OF the shop, several feet away from
the sides Of the boat. The candle was
found there on top Of the clothing but it
was not lighted.
The police have not been notified about
the matter. and 1t is probable that there
was no attempt made TO start q fire, but
that the lighting Of the candle was caused
by the careessness Of some one In the
shop.
couple Of years ago number Of incen-
diary fires that occurred in Bristol were
started in the same way. a candle having
been placed In a socket and set on the in
side OF wooden buildings, the fame setting
fire to the wood and burning the building.
One OF the fire bugs was arrested and con-
fessed to setting fires and telling how they
were set. He is now In the State insane
hospital at Cranston.
With the coming Of Miss Nora Isslin,
who is to act as sponsor for the Cup defender,
practically everything is In redin Is to
arrived In Provide noe this afternoon. Sho
is the daughter OF G. Oliver Is lin BY his
first wife: The pr sent Mrs. L. lin. who is
the daughter OF Col. William Goddard Of
Provid, noe. will not be pres Mt at the launch
ing: She is now at Aiken, S. c.
The final days OF work on the boat have
not witns As, d any such rush soenes as were
In evide noe on pr, vious occasions. The
men had the work Of building the boat well
IN hand from the start and it has gone
an ad with a st, adm IS and n gularity
which from the day when the lad keel
was pour d iustifi, d the predictions Of the
wise ones that the challs ng would not
have much advantage in the way Of tuning
up time. To-day the work OF T. airing away
a part OF the n ar end OF the building in
which the boat r. SITS was begun. This work
Is made necs ssary on account OF the grs at
beam OF the craft, the water doors at the
west end Of the building b, ing too narrow
the clapboarding had been cut away on sach
side OF the doors. No att mpt has been
made to make more h ad room, b. cause the
boat is OF 81 d. pth than the Constitution.
There will be hardly two feet to spare
between the deck Of the boat and the door
beam overhead. consequently the flags that
are to be shown when the boat takes her
first plunge in the water will not be raised
on their stats at first, but as soon as the
portions Of the defender where the flags
are to be set have passed through the door |
way they will be instantly raised on their |
stafIs by men stationed at each flag.
The main boom of the Reliance 10 in the
hands OF the riggers on the wharf, where
the mainmast lies, and is being put in shape |
for singing to the mast when the latter
is stepped the first part Of next week
Although the public is not to be ad-
mitted to the Herreshoh wharf, on account
Of the danger OF accident there bids fair
TO be big crowd present at the launching.
The fact that the event occurs shortly
after O'Clock in the afternoon serves TO
make It more OF a spectacle, and hundreds
who would stay away from an after-dark
affair will be in town tomorrow A large
number OF invitations have been sent out |
by the frm and il IS safe to presume that
the greater part OF them will be accepted
The weather prospects are the best and
everybody is looking forward To a most
suspicious and successful launching. There
have been a number Of private views of
the yacht these last few days, and every
one OF the fortunate persons has come out
Of the boat shops confident and enthusiastic.
The stories Of the work being done by the
new Fife boat do not dampen this en-
opportunity OF studying the Reliance say
without hesitation that Herresho6 has
taken q long stride ahead Of any Of his
previous creations.
1t was learned tonight that c. Oliver
1selin, manager Of the Cup boat Reliance,
is indsposed, an attack Of rheumatism
having temporarily caused him to be con-
fined to the house. He is under the care
of DR.. Neylan, but it In thought that he
will be able 70 be present at the launching
II is understood that large number OF
yachts from New York will be in Bristol
barbor at the time Of the launching.