New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-31
WOULD SELL FOR Il SONG
Though Sir Thomas Says Shamrock
Is Most ReautifuL Yacht AfOat.

While the northeast gale howled and the
white crested thundered the Jersey
beach yesterday, the yachts Reliance and Sham
rocks I and III lay snugly at their moorings
just inside the point of Sandy Hook.
Fiercer than ever were the squalls Of Will
and rain. and the sea offshore was tremendous.
Even the hardy pilot boats driven in to
the shelter of the harbor, and several coastwise
steamers were compelled by stress of weather to
anchor inside the Hook.
Sir Thomas Upton spent the day with his
guests the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury
and Captain Webster, on board his steam yacht
Erin. When a party Of newspaper men who
braved the storm in the ocean tug Edgar Luck
enbach Captain A. NJ. Miles. paid him visit
yesterday afternoon he received them in his
usual cordial way.
Isn't this terrible weather. said he. IT'S
not fit weather to race yachts in. I wouldn't
send my boys out in it. The decks would be
washed, and it would be extremely dangerous"
Sir Thomas asked what reply he had
made to the proposition to change crews. He
told that Mr.. Iselin waa opposed to it.
Well said he, 'ff Mr. Iselin objects. what
have got to say? l willing to do anything
for sport I'm sure my men do as much for me
as it is possible for them to do, and I think it
is shame that any reflection should be cast
upon them. They doing their best, and they
do no more Now, here is something that
has not been known before. Before the last race
I went on board the Shamrock and told the
captain and to do the best they could, and
if they got licked not to feel bad. If the boat
can't go that is not their fault"
Sir Thomas paid a compliment to the sailors
on the Reliance Then he said, referring to the
racing abilities Of a yacht: ''If I wanted bat
tleship built I would say to the designer that I
wanted a battleship that would beat anything
ahoat. I don't want anything built pretty
lnes-something 10 enter in a beauty show.
Now have the most beautiful yacht afOat. and
you have her for a song. I'm not blaming
any one" continued Sir Thomas, neither Mr..
Fife any of the rest. l believe they have
all done their best for me-"
Asked if he thought IT disadvantage for
Thomas said: There are two points to be con-
sidered and / hope you viii make it clear. The
extra cost is one item. The other is the fact
that it takes about three weeks on the other
side to prepare a boat to cross the Atlantic. and
two weeks more after her arrival here to get her
which are practically thrown away. Again,
yacht that is built strong enough 10 carry
14,OUO TO 5000 square feet of canvas in q race
ought to be able to stand the strain of a passage
across the Atlantic If the New York Yacht
Club had chosen to do so they could have pre-
vented from towing my yacht across but
they have been very generous, and l believe if
] had wanted 10 bring her over on the deck OF
another ship they would not have objected"
When asked what he thought of the sails Of
the two yachts Sir Thomas said; Where are
there any better sails than those of the Reli-
Those made here are good enough for any racing
Yacht"