THE BUILDING OF THE SHAMROCK

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 48, 12 March 1901, Page 4

THE BUILDING OF THE SHAMROCK

Silestly mid secretly the work of] erecting the America Cap challenger J Sban rock 11, h being pushed forward] on the Ciyde. Whnn the former challenge', Valkyrio 111,, VM being j bnilt Bomc troa'ole aroeo as tocnt« a ! Important, mea uepmcati, which were said to have l«\ked out daring thp procfsi of construction. This titne, io t&kiog the order for Shamrock 11., Meecra. Brothers undertook to do all thet was poatible to keep tht design secret, and so far they have been wonleifnlly successful. Although » number of expert) workmen connected with the yard have been employed for some time in the bending oi the frame?, they are under tha itnpr s?iori that these are heins; stored away till •ooh titne as it is d ecaed fittie.g tu prosted with the buildicg of the boat. As ft matter of f&c\ however! as soon ad the yaid is e'eared of the ordinary workera the t*ak of erection id taken in band by a lirgs gang of workmen, Bpscially selected for th s work. Taay are only employed at night, and when the day wotkirs coma on in the morning the Shumrock gang knocks e ff, and tha shed nnder whish (he is taking form remains locked acd sealed until the yard ia again elearod. The first) beginning was mads while the yard "was closed for the New Year's holidays, when the keel was qaietly oast. Since then the work has gone steadily on, 4nite a number of the frames beicg now in posit'oo, and already some ®"gg<Bfcione can be obtained of the general outline. Tho frames are of nickel steel angles, five-sixteenth 3 of an inch thick, r.d nearly ninety-five tons of If ad were used ia casting the keel. The exceptional weight of this counterpoise gives an indication of tbe immense spread ef canvas with which it is intended to fit the challenge of 1901. A Renter telegram from New York says that the " Boston Herald " states that, according to reliable information tha dimecsiou of Sir Thomas Upton's new yacht which will compete for the America Oup are Draa.hH, 19ft 6t0.; beam, 23ft. 6in , length all over, 136 ft.: dead wtigbt. 85 tons.