Vol.XLII.

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S the time draws nearer and nearer for the great yacht race in which a challenger from across the water will try once more to "lift the cup," which has been so successfully defended by America for over fifty years, interest grows apace and yachtsmen. watch carefully the trials of of Shamrock III in the different waters of Scotland and England, with the old boat Shamrock I, in the hope of getting a line on the new boat's speed. The cablegrams seem to show that Shamrock III is the speediest yet turned out from the yards of Messrs. William Denny & Brothers at Dumbarton, Scotland. Mr. William Fife of Fairlie was mainly responsible for the design of Shamrock III, although in laying down her lines he had the able assistance of Mr. G. L. Watson, whose name is intimately associated with former challengers, as well as with the Leven Shipyard Experimental Tank. Indeed, the yacht is the more interesting in that she is the first typically tank boat.

In general design she resembles Shamrock I. Her lines are stronger and she is fuller bodied than Shamrock II. She presents a strikingly handsome model, and impresses experts as a speedy boat and probable cup-lifter. Constructively she is simply a shell of mild or nickel

steel and aluminum, the plates being of various thicknesses commensurate with the main idea of combining strength and lightness. The steel is in the hull plates and framing, while the aluminum forms the deck, having a covering of canvas to give a secure foothold. All the fittings are either of aluminum or brass, and each piece is machined to take away any superfluous weight. The finish and accuracy of the workmanship is marvelous. From stem to stern are many intricate angles and curves, yet the whole hull does not display pitmark or ripple, showing the care which has been expended on the frame setting and plating. One noticeable difference between Shamrock II and III is that the new yacht will be steered by a wheel instead of a tiller.

The launching of a challenger draws the interest of all the world, but in the little town of Dumbarton, where the boat has been built, and turned out, from the smallest child to the highest official there is an excitement that beggars description. On Tuesday, March 17th, the launching of Shamrock III took place upon the waters of the River Leven. Although in the shipbuilding town of Dunbarton, a launching is an every-day occurrence, the christening and launching

of

Hoisting the mast of Shamrock III.

Denny's two American cup challengers will ever stand out as the most interesting of all those interesting

occasions.

The great ceremony had the glamour of appropriateness thrown around it, as the yacht, freighted with Irish sentiment, was launched on St. Patrick's Day.

It almost seemed as if the gods. favored the launching ceremony. The morning was hopelessly wet, with a gale of wind, but an hour before the time fixed for the boat's release, the sun pierced the clouds and cheered the spirits of the onlookers.

It is a time-honored custom in the shipyard at Dumbarton for the work men, when a launch is about to take place, to throw down their tools and crowd round the launching

ways; but for this auspicious occasion, the workmen, both of the yard and engine works, declared for a holiday from breakfast time, and there was no work done in the town at and about the launching hour, which was fixed for 1:30 in the afternoon. Long before this, the workmen commenced to enter the yard, and each man received a bunch of shamrock, a gift from Sir Thomas Lipton. By one o'clock all around the shed and within the yard was black with sight seers; the river was alive with all kinds of craft, and on the far-away heights of the old castle. the ubiquitous general public had taken their stand.

Messrs. Denny made ample provision for those privileged to be Sir Thomas Lipton's guests. At the bow end of the challenger's shed there was a large, sloping platform with another higher and smaller one for the members of the christening party, and these were gay with streamers and bunting. From the platform the guests had a fine view of the yacht, as she sat cradled on her pontoons, appropriately named. the Rose and the Thistle.

At 1:30 everything was in readiness for the crowning event. Lady Shaftesbury, the Countess of Mar and Kellie, with Sir Thomas Lipton, Colonel Denny and one or two others ascended the higher platform. Mr. John Ward gave the signal to the workmen below; there was the noise of heavy blows, a tremor of life in the ship, as the Countess of Shaftesbury smashed the gaily decorated bottle of wine

over her bows, and the yacht with her crew on board ran safely down the slips.

The excitement of the moment was followed by the cheering of the multitude again and again renewed. As she broke the bottle, Lady Shaftesbury used these words: "I christen you Shamrock III; may God bless you and may you bring back the cup." The christening bottle was covered with a network of red, white and blue ribbon, the neck of the bottle being decorated with shamrock, thistle and rose. The bouquet presented to the Countess of Shaftesbury was made up of crimson roses, orchids and lily-ofthe-valley. On one of the ribbons of the bouquet the following was printed in gold letters: "Shamrock III; launched 17th March, 1903, at Dumbarton," and on the other ribbon a shamrock encircled by a horse-shoe.

luncheon. Toasts and speeches were the order of the afternoon. The chairman successively proposed "The King," "The Queen," "Prince and Princess of Wales," and the "President of the United States of America."

To Lord Provost Primrose fell the lot to propose the toast of "Success to Shamrock III," which he did in a neat and appropriate speech. Sir Thomas Lipton, rising to reply, was received with a fusillade of cheers. He thanked his guests for their good wishes, and said he was more hopeful than ever that he would lift the cup this time. During the speech he read a telegram from Mr. George Watson who was unable to be present through illness. This read as follows: "Sorry 1 cannot be with you to-day, though I am almost well again. All possible success to Shamrock III, and

Ready for the canvas

if the fates do not give us the desired bit of luck, may they not help the bear. Heartiest congratulations to my friend Willie Fife on his beautiful creation, and to Dennys on their exquisite work." The allusion to the bear hardly needs an explanation, but it is the old story of the man who prayed: "O Lord, if you cannot help me, do not help the bear and I'll put up the toughest fight you have ever seen."

Sir Thomas Lipton's concluding words were:

"If it should be our good fortune. to regain possession of this muchcoveted trophy, I am sure in America they would not begrudge the success. I know they all want the best boat to win. Indeed, I am looking forward with the greatest possible pleasure to my visit to America, as I know I will receive

the heartiest and kindest of welcomes. My experience of my American friends is that they will give me everything want, except the cup."

I

After the chairman had given the health of Lady Shaftesbury, Sir Thomas Lipton arose and presented Her Ladyship with a memento of the occasion in the form of a brooch. It is in the form of a scroll of diamonds, twined about with the flag of Shamrock III and the commodore flag of the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, the Shamrock flag being mounted with a border of emeralds and the latter being composed entirely of sapphires with the arms of the R. U. Y. C. enamelled, while the center is formed of a shamrock supported by a model of the yacht, entirely composed of diamonds. The Earl of Shaftesbury, commodore of the R. U. Y. C., made a suitable reply on behalf of Lady Shaftesbury, and after the chairman's health had been proposed by Lord Overton, the proceedings were brought to a close.

Something like ninety pressmen and artists attended the launching and they dined in the Drawing Office of the yard under the chairmanship of Mr. John Ward, with Mr. Leslie Denny as croupier. Only one toast was honored, that of "The Builders." It was given by Mr. W. M. Thomson of Boston. He said: "They in America knew the fame of the Clyde was great; if she was Clyde-built, it was the superlative mark of merit in a ship. In Shamrock III they had an example of ship-building which they all hoped would carry the colors of Sir Thomas Lipton to victory. He said

this, knowing that they might possibly guess from his account that he was an American; but also that there was a strong feeling that Sir Thomas Lipton should win." The Chairman, in thanking the speaker for his kindly words, added: "Large ships needed to be anchored in good holding grounds by large cables. He believed that the cable which united America and Great Britain was growing larger and stronger every year, and bedded as it was in the hearts of both peoples, it had found holding ground of the firmest and best, which would last and endure for all time. Let them hope that the launching that day of Shamrock III was another link in that chain of affection which meant so much in the welfare of both countries."

A man, an expert in all that appertains to yachts and yachting, said at the close of that day, exciting for

the town and sportmen everywhere: "Undoubtedly it has been a great day, and all that has transpired buoys one up in the hope that it will be the last time-at least for a spell of years-Messrs. Denny will be called upon to build a challenger. Somehow, to-day's ceremony has uplifted us all to the pitch of feeling that "Shamrock the Perfect" is a winner and that the next call on the Leven shipyard will be to produce a defender. This is the people's verdict, despite the fifty years America has succeeded in being top dog, and it is nothing more than appropriate that a man like Sir Thomas Lipton should be the central piece in a contest which appears to make hope 'spring eternal' on this side of the Atlantic."

The history of the cup itself is as follows:

During the year 1851, the Royal Yacht Squadron of Cowes, Isle of