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20. MARINE REVIEW. . [August 1," NOVEL MEANS OF LAUNCHING A VESSEL. Two years ago, during a violent storm, the Columbia river light-ship No. 50, stationed off the Oregon coast, was torn from her moorings and stranded high and dry upon the beach north of Cape Hancock. The United States light-house board advertised for bids for the work of re- turning her to her native element. Several bids were submitted, among them a bid by Allen & Roberts of Portland, Ore., who outlined a plan which involved the taking of the vessel overland a distance of 2,000 ft. and launching her in the waters of Baker's bay on the Columbia river. Owing to its novelty this bid was summarily rejected by the light-house board and a bid from one of the other bidders to take the vessel out to sea was accepted. The bidders, however, found considerable difficulty in restoring the vessel to her native element and after a prolonged struggle gave up the attempt. Much time had meanwhile elapsed. The light- house board then accepted the bid of Roberts & Allen to take the vessel overland. At the time the original tender was made the vessel lay head on in a convenient position for the overland journey, but in endeavoring to get her out into deep water by the seaward route the contractors suc- ceeded in turning her nearly broadside, with her stern on the beach, and were then compelled to abandon her. Allen & Roberts were, therefore, met with the difficulty of raising her from the 6 or 7 ft. of sands sur- rounding her and turning her bow to the shore. The story is probably best told in the words of Mr. Andrew Allen, who in writing an account of the undertaking to the Review, says: "We built up a crib work of logs, upwards of 20 ft. in height, over which we passed the cables which we fastened to the bow. These chains passed over a rolling log some 2% ft. in diameter on the top of the crib work. This was done for the purpose of getting a lifting pull upon the bow when the power was applied. In this manner we pulled her some- thing like 125 ft., turning the bow toward the shore. When she was turned in the proper direction her bow was imbedded about 7 ft. in the sand and the stern about 6 ft. In making this turning the vessel went under the ship and permitted-her being hauled over an uneven surface and along a crooked route. Heavy cables were put around the stern of the vessel, extending along her side and through her hawse pipes, to which were attached the tackle blocks, to which power was applied by means of capstans worked by horses. With this arrangement the ship was taken up the beach over the uneven ground of the peninsula across a swamp and finally down a grade to the beach of Baker's bay, where her further progress was stopped in order that repairs could be made upon he while she was out of the water. The rate of progress averaged about 175 ft. per day and the distance traversed from shore to shore was about 2,000 ft. I did not measure the altitude of the highest point traversed by the ship on her landward journey, but it has been variously estimated at from 30 to 40 ft." The vessel was successfully launched last month in the waters of Baker's bay upon rollers, in the same manner that she crossed the pen- insula. This method was decided upon in preference to building the usual ways adopted for launching on the coast, because the water in the bay is shallow for a long distance out and it was feared that launching by the customary method would result in the vessel sticking her nose in the mud. She was therefore taken out upon the roller plan to a sufficient depth to float her without difficulty or danger. The light-ship is now at dock in Portland undergoing some necessary refitting before resuming her station. COLUMBIA BEATS THE CONSTITUTION. In a contest for the Astor cup on Monday of this week the Columbia beat the Constitution. In a fair breeze, varying in force from 10 to 14 knots, the Columbia forged ahead of the Constitution by two minutes and fifty-four seconds over a 88-mile course. The Columbia gained over each leg of the course, beating the Constitution thirty-two seconds in 13%4 miles before the wind, two minutes nineteen seconds in beating 18 miles and three seconds reaching on the last leg, which was 6% miles in ON OCEAN BEACH. over partially on her beam ends, so that her deck stood at an angle of nearly 45°. We then straightened her up by placing large logs on either side of her, upon which we placed the screws with which we lifted her into a vertical position. At this stage it-seemed necessary to put chains under the vessel at the bow and stern, for the purpose of helping to lift her out of the sand in which she was buried. This was accomplished by stretch- ing a chain parallel with the ship on one side, leading it across the bow and attaching it to a capstan capable of pulling 70 tons. Some excavation was made with shovels in order to get the chain down us far as possible from -the surface before the strain was applied. Then, when the power was applied a steel bar, some 30 ft. in length and sharpened chisel fash- ion at one end, was used for the purpose of loosening the sand under the keel at the bow, so as to allow the strain to gradually draw the chain under the bow and back to the desired position. The same procedure was adopted at the stern, and thus, in a short time, chains were placed under the vessel where, under different methods, a month's time had been em- ployed without success. This chain was fastened at either end to a large log supported by a cribbing of timber raised upon a plank foundation, constructed of 4 by 12 stuff 2% ft. in depth. "Before using this plank foundation we had attempted to use logs and had succeeded at one time in getting the vessel raised, ready to start on her shoreward trip, when a heavy storm came up, washing the logs, which we had used as foundation, from under the ship and allowing her to settle back into her former bed. During much of the preliminary work we were embarrassed by heavy southwest winds, high tides and rain and hail storms, making it exceedingly difficult for the men to work, or to accomplish anything when working. Much of the sand around the ship partook of the nature of quicksand, so that when it was stirred or walked over to any considerable extent it became soft and springy. Much of the time the men were compelled to work knee-deep in water and sand. Pass- ing over several mishaps resulting from the storms, we finally succeeded by the means suggested, using our screws upon the plank platforms be- fore mentioned, in lifting her out of the sands to a height of between 12 and 18 ft., which enabled us to place under her a cradle made of timbers and constructed as follows: Two timbers, each 25 ft. in length by 12 by 24 in., were placed under the bow, transversely to the length of the ship, 9 ft. apart, with a similar arrangement at the stern. Then, on top of those timbers other timbers were laid, extending from the keel and higher up from the side of the vessel out to substantially the end of the first men- tioned long timbers. These timbers were connected by other timbers, running parallel with the ship, and under the ends of these long timbers, projecting from the sides of the ship, were placed oak shoes, two under the end of each timber, some 4 ft. apart, which shoes in turn, when the vessel was lowered ready for pulling, rested upon oak rollers, which in turn rested upon a plank track. This arrangement gave four bearings READY TO PULL. length. The sea was comparatively smooth, a northeast wind early in. the morning knocking it down. It was a fair and square beating and no one has any excuses to make for the Constitution. There were no flukes, no interferences and no hardening or softening of the wind, except on the first leg, when the Columbia made quite a gain through bringing up a freshening breeze. This would have been overlooked if the new yacht had been able to hold the Columbia turning to windward, but she did not, and this was very disappointing to all. The trouble with the Consti- tution seems to be that'as she is now rigged it is impossible to keep her gaff from swinging on the wind as she should. The weight of wind in her club topsail swings the gaff off and this makes her go to leeward instead of pointing high and footing where she looks. This error is to be reme- died, if possible, and the Constitution will at once go to Bristol to have. her new rig stepped. The new spars are ready and it will not take long to make the change and it is expected that when the yacht races again she will be very much improved and able to beat the Columbia handily. It is possible that some. changes may be made in the trim of the yacht while she is at Bristol. Mr. W. B. Duncan, Jr., was seen on board the tender Mount Morris shortly after the Constitution got to her moorings. Speaking of the race, he said: "The Constitution was beaten because she was not fast enough. The boat would not go and I do not know what is the matter with her. I fully expected that the Constitution would run the Columbia at least five minutes to the leeward mark. Instead the Columbia beat us. She brought up a better breeze and perhaps I made a mistake in not luffing out. I shall not race the Constitution again in her present shape. It is simply a waste of time and to no purpose. I think that the fault of the boat is that the gaff swings too wide, and stops her going to windward. The new rig for the yacht is ready at Herreshoff's and I shall telegraph for the riggers at once to get to work. This new rig will not alter the yacht's sail plan at all. The lower mast is five feet longer than the present mast, but the new topmast will be shorter than the one now on the boat. It has been stated that the boom is to be shortened. This is not so. The object of putting in a longer lower mast is to change the lead of the peak halliards and I think when the sheets are trimmed flat with the new rig we shall be able to get the gaff in and do much better when going to windward. The mainsail will have no more hoist and the yacht will not have an inch more canvas. I think that it will take about a week to make the change and then we shall be ready for more racing." One fare for the round trip to the Pan-American exposition at Buf- falo via the Nickel. Plate road beginning June 1 and poneans the ae summer; good returning within ten davs from date of sale. Write, wire *phone or call on nearest agent, or E. A. Akers, C. P. & T. A., Cleveland, Ohio. 84, Aug. 1. PUTTING CRADLE UNDER THE SHIP.