Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-07
FAMOUS YACHTS OLD METAL
Columbia, Popular as American De-
fender, and Defiance, Failure
from Start, Broken Up.
BOTH WE'RE EVENLY MATCHED

NEW YORK, Feb. h.--1he passing Oh
the year 1914 also saw ,4he end Of two
yachts built for Americas cup honors.
One made remarkable record; the other,
built for possible defender, was a fall
ure The best known OF the two is the
Columbia, which successfully defepded
the cup in 1893 against Shamrock I. and
again in 1901. In the latter year it de-
feated the Constitution In the trial and
preliminary races, and defended the cup.
by defeating the Shamrock II. This was
after the closest series Of races ever
sailed for the cup. The other yacht to
be broken up Is the Defiance, built last
spring by the Bath Iron works for syn
dictate of yachtsmen representing New
York, Boston and Philadelphia, and for
that reason generally called the Tri-
City yacht.
These two yachts have been sold for
old metal. The Columbia which has
been at City Island since the trial races
of 1908 has ninety tons of lead on it's
keel. and is plated with bronze on steel
web frames, so that 1t is worth a fair
price for old metal. Lead sells for $50
ton when in a lump as on the keel OF a
yacht. The late j. Pierpont Morgan was
one of the syndicate to build the Column
bia, and after It had defeated the sham
rock < Mr.. Morgan became It's sole
owner. G. Oliver Isein had charge of
the Columbia in its first year, and w.
Butler Duncan had charge OF the de-
4 fender. which was the trial boat. In 1901
when the Shamrock ii came here. former
\ Commodore +. D. Morgan had charge of
the Columbia and Charles Barr was Its
sailing master. w. Butler Duncan had
charge OF the new yacht, the Constitu-
| ton, built for syndicate headed by
August Belmont. and Urias Rhodes was
its skipper These two yachts were evenly
matched and. as the Columbia made a
more consistent record. II was selected
TO defend the cup.
Columbia wins First Race.
The first race for the cup was won by
the Columbia by l min,, 90 Sec. the sec
ond race, over triangular course, by
Columbia by min. IS Sec, and the third
race, I'M which Shamrock II finished first,
was won by Columbia by IL sec. as Sham
rock had to allow 43 sec. in thirty miles.
The Columbia was used as a trial yacht
when the Alliance was built, and in the
races that year II showed again that Il
was better yacht than the constitu-
ton.
4 The Defiance was failure from the
start. 1t had the easiest form OF the
three defenders built last year, the small
est lateral plane, and yet its designer
tried to make Il carry the largest sail
Il spread. II was so much over-canvassed
that before It had taken part In a race
its sail plan had to be cut down. Later
this was still further reduced II was
tender and weak. so that those in charge
were afraid OF it. Finally. II was an
nounced that its mast step had so weak
ened that II might lose its mast at any
time, and II was withdrawn from the
racing E. Walter CLARK Of Philadelphia
was the largest subscriber to the syndi-
cate. which was capitalized at $50, 600
and at the end of the season he pur.
] chased the other interests In the yacht
After thorough exsmin4tion IT was de,
cided that nothing could be done to thu
vessel. which was structurally weak, anc
It was sold for junk. Some Of the sparl
and fittings are TO be used on the Ista.
lena, which is now being changed into
schooner, and the lead will be cut al
and sold. The hull Is worthless, excep
for the little value OF the steel frame.
and the thin mahogany veneers used a
planking. It had seventy tons OF lead.
, The Defiance cost So 900 to build. tt
two suits OF sails cost about 1900 each
and when rugged Il probably cost tn,
syndicate about $4,000. Maintenance dur
I ing the year increased this cost to abou
$4,000, and It has been sold for abou
10 per cent Of its original cost.