The sun., 1904-11-13
GREAT YACHT DESIGNER DEAD
WATSON'S DEATH MEANS no CUP
RACE NEXT YEAR.
Sir Thomas Upton Had Depended on Him
TO Design the Shamrock IN.-Desisner
OF Most OF the Challcnsers for the
Americas Cup and Many other Boats.
speelai cabls p,spateh 10 THE Sun

Americas Cup and Man, other Boats.
speeia, Cable Despatch 10 THE srs
GLASGOW. Nov. l2.-George LennoH Wat
son. designer of the yachts Thistle, valkyrie
H., Valkyrie III, Shamrock H., the Brian
ria and many other racing, cruising and
steam yachts, besides passenger, cargo and
mail steamships, in all over 400 vessels, died
here to-day. He was SO years OF age.
Mr.. Watson was born in 1851, the year
the schooner America won the cup which
has since become the emblem OF the yacht
ing championship Of the world, and which
in after years Mr. Watson tried vainly 10
win away from this country. He was a
son OF DR.. Watson, an eminent scholar as
well as a skilled physician of Glasgow and
the personal friend Of Shirley brooks,
Thackeray and others of the then Punch
staff. His mother was daughter of Tim.
othy Burstall, well known inventor and
rival Of George Stephenson.
When q boy George Watson spent his
time sailing wee boats of the quarters
of the koyal Clyde Yacht Club at lnverkip,
and on several occasions got his ears well
boxed for getting his clothes wet through
wind and sea. AT the death Of his father
he went to the shipyard of the late Sir Viii
liam Pearce ana studied naval architecture.
In 1874 he s.art. d for Lins u IS ma, al
archit. ct ana s.noo TIT n he LAD bt come
one Of the ms st 8 CO. SSH d, sign,ls in
the world. His first 9 Co IS WI 8 the reg
Wellington, a nall boat Wi lch won every
thing in her eli IS and the n &C, IS follow, d
s co, IS. In 1876, Allan bL q anan had
rife built beat named ltarl and he
lengt d tie world to b, at it. Waits n tlrn,d
out tie Clou ilde and won, SLY HE Madge
CANT later and Il at beat was brought 10
Il is side Of tlc Atlantic and owed Am, RI
can d, signtIs f W wrinkl,s Which they
were net slow to acceIt.
In 1887 a Scotc. g. Indicate cl ale ngcd
for TIE Am, RIGA G. y and Waits n de-
sign d the II isle. lhe II stle WI s b at, n
by I. t Volunt, er. His next big beat IVES Il e
\alhyrie l., vi ich was originally intended
es CT all ng.r but the race f. II Il rough.
In 1893 Lord Drnravt n cl.all, ng, d and the
lalkyrie H. ives b, lit. The same year
he turn, d out tie Britannia for tie Prince
Of Walks Two " ars later tie Il ird VAL
kyrie was d, s.gn,d d by Nats and after
that he Lad the Nj. teor built for TIE Gt r1nan
Emr oror.
After the defeat OF valkyrie III. by the
Defender. Watson said he would not try
again for the Cup, but when sir Thomas
Upton was LOOKING for a Ce igner in 1901
Watson was in,:uce to take the JOB. This
was through the influence Of the King.
The Shamrock Ii. came nearer to winning
the Cup than any other boat that has been
sent across the ocean.
Watson has ce ignel more than 100 ves-
sells. and among them were some OF the no t
ytly steamers that are now aroat. i he
Naytower, which was built for OgGen
Goeet and Is now owned by the Gov ern-
ment; Mrs. Robert Goelet's Nahma, Eugene
Higgins's yaruna, A. j. Dre> els ) argarita.
ana boats for reingning monarchs all over
the vol were lie ignei by Wat ,on.
Sir Thomas Upton had aske " at son to
cesign the Shamrock w., with which Re
La hopei to race for the Cup again nest
summer, but Matson's i'll health prevente.:
him from Undertaking the task. Recau e
OF his Geath there will be no race for the
Cup next year. AM Sir 1homas will have
to in another Ge igner.
In appearance and habits Mr. Watson
was typical OF hi class. Well built, keen
eyel anu muscular, he talkei little anI
worke much. Ee was an expert sailor,
always han ling his boats barehea e.; and
harefoote /. no matter how raw or stormy
the weather