76 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[ATT&. 18, 1887. 



COURSE OF CUTTER " THISTLE," FROM GLASGOW TO NEW YORK.-Donald Ejjrr, NAVIGATOR. 



THISTLE. 



FOR several days a silly and unauthenticated rumor of some 

 mishap to Thistle, originating no one knows where, has been 

 floating about, hut was promptly set at rest on Tuesday morning, 

 -when, -with the vice-commodore's pennant of the B. C. Y. C. aloft— 

 a golden lion and crown on a hlue field — she dropped 

 anchor off Tompkinsville, Staten Island, after a pleasant 

 and successful voyage of 2l days, 16 hours. The evening before a 

 steamer arriving at Philadelphia had reported her as but 130 miles 

 from Sandy Hook on Sunday, the only time, with one exception 

 (on Aug. 0) that she was seen and reported by the ocean steam 

 fleet. Several of the daily papers had tugs out looking for her, 

 but all missed her except tho New York Herald, whose tug sighted 

 her in the fog off the Scotland at 3 A. M. on Tuesday morning and 

 took her in tow. On board were Captain John Barr, commander; 

 Capt. Donald Kerr, navigator; Alexander McDonald, first mate; 

 Daniel MacKenzie, second mate, and a crew of 17 including 

 steward. 



Captain Barr went at once to New York to report home, return- 

 ing later in the day. All day long the yacht was besieged by re- 

 porters, who hoarded iu spite of a formidable looking sign, and to 

 whom information and access to the log and charts was freely 

 given, though some pointed questions as to spars and underwater 

 body were cleverly parried by Captain Barr. Small boats flocked 

 in from all quarters with a hearty welcome. An old oyster skiff 

 with a load of clams rowed slowly by, her crew resting on the oars 

 to call out '-Good luck to you." Busy tugs, some with big barges 

 in tow, went far out of their course to see the visitor; steam 

 yachts ran by and Baluted her, and excursion steamers greeted 

 her with whistles and cheers as they passed close by. 



Her log reads as follows: 



First Day.— 10 A. M. under way from Gourock Bav; fresh west- 

 erly breeze, fine weather, occasional showers; Bi80 passed Wemys 

 Bay; at noon passed through Large Channel, where a large com- 

 pany of ladies and gentlemen joined us; in tow of the steamship 

 Mohican to Whiting Bay, where company left; 3:55 P. M. cast off 

 Mohican's hawser five miles S.W.^fjW. from Pladda; wind S.W.; 

 weather cloudy; tacked to southward; 4 P. M. tacked to westward; 

 6 P. M. again tacked to southward in light breeze and drizzling 

 rain; 8 P.M. light easterly airs, weather fine; 9 P. M. passed Sanda, 

 distant 2 miles; 2 A. M. passed Mull of Cantyre; 3:'15 A. M. Rathlin 

 boreS.W., distant 4hj miles, from which departure was taken; 

 streamed log and set channel course; 9 A. M. increasing breeze, 

 heavy cross sea, falling barometer; took in gafftopsail, double 

 reefed mainsail and forestaysail; at noon strong and increasing 

 breeze with rain; Tory bore by account S. true, distant 18 miles: 

 run 152 miles: wind S.W, 



Second Day.— Fresh breeze and lowering barometer; 4 P. M. 

 took in jib m heavy cross sea; 6 P. M. moderate and we set the 

 stayforesail; midnight breeze fresh, occasional showers; 4 A. M. 

 breeze increasing, heavy squalls; double reefed stayforesail, took 

 third reef in mainsail; 8 A. M. strong breeze and heavy head sea; 

 10 A. M. passed bark Hiawatha, of Londonderry, under very low 

 canvas, bound west; moderate gale and heavy sea; yacht wore 

 to S.W.; 155 miles, wind from S.W. to W. by S. 



Third Day.— Strong gale and heavy head sea; yacht head reach- 

 ing to S.W.; 8 P. M. weather moderated a little, set double reefed 

 forestaysail; midnight wore to N.W.; wind backed to southward, 

 barometer rising: set whole forestaysail; 4 A. M. strong breeze, 

 cloudy weather, heavy sea; 8 A. M., rain; 10 A. M. strong; breeze 

 with occasional very heavy squalls; 70 miles, wind N.W. to W.S. 

 W. 



Fourth Day.— Strong breezes, squally weather; 4 P. M. more 

 moderate, let third reef out of mainsail; calm at G P. M.. with 

 heavy sea from westward, 8 P. M. breeze started from N.W.; 10 

 P. M. wind increasing fast, took in forestaysail; midnight blow- 

 ing a strong gale, took third reef in mainsail; 4 A. M. strong gale, 

 very heavy sea; yacht behaved very well; weather unchanged at 

 noon; 84 miles: winds S.W. to N.W. by N. 



Fifth Day.— Strong gale and very heavy sea; head reaching: to 

 S.W. under three-reel ed mainsail; 6 P. M. more moderate, weather, 

 set reefed stayforesail; midnight shook third reef out of mainsail; 

 6 A. M. set whole mainsail, jib and gafftopsail; 8 A. M. moderate 

 breeze, dull, cloudy weather, heavy westerly swell; at noon we 

 hoisted our number to a bark bound east, distant 8 miles; 93 miles; 

 winds N.W. by N. 



Sixth Day.— Moderate breeze and fine weather; all sail set by 

 the wind; 8 P. M., tacked to S. W.; wdnd unsteady; midnight 

 tacked to westward; 6 A. M., sighted a steamer bound east; 8 A. 

 M. light breeze and fine weather; sights for chronometer; 103 

 miles; winds westerly and variable. 



Seventh Day.— Light airs and calm; 10 P. M. light breeze from 

 E. S. E., set spinaker; 2 A. M. moderate breeze, fine, clear weather; 

 noon, breeze fresh and weather fine; 90 miles; winds, calm fii-st 

 part; latter part E. S. E. 



Eighth Day.— Fresh breeze and fine clear weather; all sail set; 6 

 P. M. passed full rigged ship bound east, distance 10 miles; 8 P. M. 

 spinaker halliards carried away; repaired damage and reset sail; 

 10 P. M. had fresh breeze and hazy weather; heavy cross sea; fresh 

 breeze and overcast sky; 247 miles; winds easterly. 



Ninth Day. — Fresh breeze, hazy and overcast ; all sail was set ; 

 12:30 P. M. less wind and drawing to northeast ; gybed and set 

 spinaker to starboard ; 8 P. M., moderate breeze, light fog ; 10 P. 

 M,, took in spinaker and set forestaysail; 4 A. ML, moderate 

 breeze, fine, clear weather ; noon, light breeze, tacked to north- 

 west: 158 miles; winds, E. N. E. to W. N. W. 



Tenth Day.— Light breeze and fine, all sail set ; 4 P. M., light 

 breeze with mist rose ; 8 P, M., showers; passed bark bound east, 

 distant ten miles'; 10 P. M., heavy rain ; wind suddenly shifted to 

 northeast; 4 A. M., strong breeze, cloudy weather; 8 P. M., strong 

 breeze with heavy sea rose ; passed bark bound east under lower 

 topsail and foresails, distant eight miles; noon, strong breeze; 

 weather, cloudy and overcast ; 187 miles ; winds, W. S. W. and N. 

 E. by N. 



Eleventh Day. — Strong breeze and heavy sea, soon more moder- 

 ate, with occasional showers; 8 P. M., fresh breeze; 4 A. M., wind 

 veered to eastward; set spinaker; 8 A. M., breeze fell, fine clear 

 weather; 1C A. M., took in spinaker, set stayforesail: wind unsteady: 

 noon, light airs and calm; 166 miles; winds, N.E. fore part and 

 latter part variable. 



Twelfth Day.— Light, variable breeze, tacked to N.W.; 6 P. M. 

 tacked to westward; 2 P. M., moderate breeze, tacked to north- 

 ward; 4 A. M., tacked to westward; 8 A. M., tacked to N.W. ; fine 

 steady breeze and smooth sea; 103 miles; winds, fore part variable 

 from S.W. to N.W ; latter part steady from S.W. 



Thirteenth Day.— Fresh breeze and fine clear weather, sea con- 



fused; 6 P. M. steamer passed, bound east, distant 8 miles: hoisted 

 our number; midnight fresh breeze with heavy dew, N.W. sea; 

 6 A. M. strong breeze and haze; passed schooner bound west; 

 strong breeze and fine weather; 198 miles; winds S.W. 



Fourteenth Day.— Strong breeze and fine clear weather; 4 P. M. 

 passed brigantlne Anna Marie, of Nantes, bound for Bordeaux: 

 6 P. M. passed bark bound east, distant 4 miles; 8 P. M. showed 

 signal lights to steamer bound east; 10 P. M. passed a number of 

 fishing vessels; increasing breeze, falling barometer; took in gaff- 

 topsail and forestaysail; 2 A. M. strong breeze and thick fog; 

 heavy, confused sea getting up; double reefed mainsail; 6 A. M. 

 moderate gale with heavy sea and rain; took in jib; 9 A. M. sea 

 more moderate, set reefed foresail; noon thick fog, kept horn con- 

 stantly going; 219 miles; wind S.W. 



Fifteenth Day.— Moderate gale, heavy, confused sea; 2 P. M. 

 wind suddenly shifted to N.W.; 4 P. M. sky cleared up, set whole 

 stayforesail; 10 P. M. breeze increased, with heavy sea; reefed 

 stayforesail; after midnight squally until 6 A. M., when wind 

 went down; sea still very heavy, with hard squalls occasionally; 

 8 A. M. set whole stayforesail; squalls less violent; 10 A. M. jib 

 set; bark passed bound east; strong breeze and cloudy weather; 

 winds, forepart, S.W. to N.W.; latter part, N.N.W. 



Sixteenth Day.— Strong breeze, overcast sky; less wind and sea; 

 barometer falling fast; set whole mainsail and gafftopsail; 8 P.M. 

 fresh breeze, with occasional light showers; midnitrht, decreasing 

 breeze, fine, clear weather, with wind backing to westward; 8 A. 

 M. light breeze and smooth sea; passed large quantities of Gulf 

 weed; light breeze and fine clear weather; tacked to N. W.; 167 

 miles; wind N.W. and westerly. 



Seventeenth Day.— Light breeze, fine, clear weather; 4 P. M. 

 light airs; 8 P. M. calm, close and sultry: light airs from east- 

 ward; set spinaker at 4 A. M.; moderate breeze, hazy and over- 

 cast Bky; 8 A. M. fresh breeze and cloudy weather, sun obscured; 

 86 miles; winds, first part variable; latter part, E. by N. 



Eighteenth Day.— Fresh breeze and cloudy weather, very heavy 

 sea from S. E.; all sail set; 4 A. M. squally appearance to S. E^: 

 took in gafftopsail; 8 P. M. less wind, sea very heavy; midnight 

 moderate breeze and cloudy weather; sea decreasing; 4 A.M. mod- 

 erate breeze, hoisted number to a steamer bound east; 8 A. M. less 

 wind and sea, heavy banks of clouds and sultry atmosphere; 

 hoisted our number to a steamer passing to southward, distant 

 about 10 miles; noon light breeze and cloudy weather; 170 miles; 

 winds east. 



Nineteenth Day.— Light variable airs, cloudy weather; 4 P. M., 

 light airs with heavy rain; 8 P. M., increasing breeze and dark, 

 cloudy weather, heavy lightning to S.W.: steamer passed bound 

 east; 2 A. M., heavy rain, wind changed to northward; 4 A. M., 

 moderate breeze and cloudy weather prevailed: 6 A. M., moderate 

 to fresh breeze, with we ther clearing; 8 A. M., hoisted number to 

 three-masted steamer bound east, distant about eight miles; fresh 

 breeze and cloudy weather; 137 miles; winds southerly first part, 

 N.N.E. latter part. 



Twentieth Day. — Fresh breeze and fine clear weather; all sail 

 set; 4 P. M. sighted full rigged ship bound W„ 10 miles distant; 6 

 P. M. passed bark bound E., distant 3 miles; midnight moderate 

 breeze, fine, clear weather; z A. M. steamer passed, bound E., dis- 

 tant 8 miles; 4 A. M. passed four ships in company, distance too 

 great for signals; 19:30 A. M. steamship Lord Clivc, of Liverpool, 

 bound W.; noon latitude 40deg. 4min. longitude 70deg. 55min.; 

 Anchor Line steamer passed at same time, distanoe too great for 

 signals; 175 miles, winds first part N.E., latter part N.W. 



Twenty-first Day.— Variable airs, fine weather : 10 P. ML, heaw 

 lightning to southward; steamer passed bound west; 2 A. ML, 

 light breeze, smooth sea ; 6 A. M., moderate breeze, cloudy ; 10 A. 

 ML, breeze increased and veered to southward ; set spinaker to 

 port.; noon, fresh breeze and fine; 95 miles; winds variable 

 throughout. - . 



Twenty-second Day.— Moderate breeze, dull, cloudy weather ; 1 

 P. M., New York pilot boarded 41 miles southeast (mag.) of Sandy 

 Hook; 8 P. M., light airs and calms prevailed, close and sultry, 

 with lightning to southwest; 9 P. M., Navesink lights bore north- 

 west (ma.g.), distant 20 miles; midnight, light airs and cloudy 

 weather ; 2 A. ML, passed Sandy Hook Lightship, distant 3 miles ; 

 3:20 A. M., passed Scotland Lightship, distant 2 miles ; light airs ; 

 set spinaker to starboard; 4 A. M., steamer Wendel Goodwin took 

 vessel in tow ; 6 A. M., came to off Tompkinsville, S. I., in sis 

 fathoms of water. 



The rig included her racing mast, a splendid stick about 70ft. 

 from deck to upper cap, a topmast only about 20ft. above the cap, 

 a bowsprit about 15ft. outboard, the ordinary trysail gaff, a try- 

 sail boom about 60ft. long, and a short spinaker boom. She car- 

 ried her regular trysail under which she made her passages in 

 England, a jib and staysail, small topsails, and a jury spinaker, 

 her balloonioresail. This latter sail, of fine, soft linen, did duty 

 as a spinaker when required on the passage but will be used as a 

 foresail in the racing. The rig proved large enough to drive her 

 at a very good gait, the best run being 247 miles, but the most 

 important fact in connection with it is that she was run for 

 long stretches at a time under mainsail alone, handling like a 

 catboat. 



In model Thistle is a very handsome boat, fair and true in her 

 proportions and with each part beautifully modeled. That she 

 is a Watson boat is evident at a glance, for she shows her relation- 

 ship to Madge and the others, though with more beam. The sheer 

 is peculiar and not, to American eyes, handsome, the bow is high, 

 the sheer runs down very straight to a point but little forward of 

 the after end of waterline, where there is a curve, fair, but sharp, 

 from which the counter rises quickly, being quite high at the 

 taffrail. The effect of this concentration of all the sheer at one 

 spot is to make the apparent least freeboard very small in appear- 

 ance, and the observer would say at once that it is less than Gala- 

 tea or Genesta, which is not the case. Comparing her with the 

 Burgess boats the sheer is less pleasing than the more even and 

 regular circular sweep of Puritan and Mayflower. In the breadth 

 line on deck the contrary is true, the bow shows fine on deck, in 

 spite of a good flare in the sides from the waterline; the stern 

 is much wider at the taffrail than the earlier Buigess boats 

 and far superior to Volunteer, the consequence being that 

 the great ourve of the dock line amidships, especially notice- 

 able in Mayflower, is not visible, the whole line from gammon 

 iron to the taffrail being a fairer curve. Of course the lessened 

 beam helps here, but still the difference in the breadths forward 

 and aft is very marked. The rail is low, not over a foot at any 

 point. The clipper stem has a character of its own that relieves 

 the designer of any charge of copying American boats in this re- 

 spect, as it is very different from the stems of our old boats, being 

 really the old British schooner stem and such as Mr. Watson has 



employed for years, as In Lenore and Wendur. It is longer than 

 Volunteer's or Sachem's, and unlike them the top side of the stem 

 does not come close up to the bowsprit, there being a space of 

 several inches between. The figurehead is a large thistle of gold, 

 with the motto Nemo me Impune Laeessit—none touch me with im- 

 punity. From stem to stern tho side rounds in a handsome sweep, 

 the very long counter being both wide and flat, rounded into the 

 rail, in fact there is no better simile than a duck's bill to convey 

 an idea of the continuous curves of its surface. 



On deck there is a large hatch forward of the mast, a skylight 

 over the main cabin, a very large and wide companion, with a 

 rather low hatch and slide, a skylight over the ladies' cabin, and 

 abaft this a double hatch, the fore part serving to ventilate the 

 after toilet room, while the after part opens into what is usually 

 the sail room, but in this case is a boatswain's locker, for the recep- 

 tion of small stuff of all kinds, spare blocks, marlin spikes, etc. 



Below deck is a large forecastle, with iron hammock cots, join- 

 ing which is the galley. Of course there is plenty of headroom. 

 Abreast the mast and amidships is a small room for the mates, to 

 starboard of which is a very comfortable room for the captain. 

 To port is a passage and pantry, while the cook's berth is forward 

 in the galley. Abaft these rooms is the fore bulkhead of the 

 cabin, a room such as probably was never seen before on a sailing 

 yacht save a few of the largest schooners. The room is of the full 

 beam of the boat, making over 19ft. from inside to inside, about 

 24ft. long, and nearly 8ft. from deck to floor, the space be- 

 ing broken by but two stanchions of round iron. About the 

 sides are long lockers with closets at each end, the side above 

 being divided into half a dozen square panels. The center of each 

 panel is of light-colored cretonne, surrounded by a frame of plain 

 oak, each panel being separated from its neighbors by walnut 

 rails. The ends are similarly finished, the lockers are cushioned 

 with the same cretonne and the room trimmed in walnut. The 

 effect is light and pleasing while no weight is wasted. Against 

 the fore bulkhead in a neat frame hangs the testimonial from the 

 captain and crew of the steamer Harkaway, rescued by Thistle. 

 Opening aft from tho saloon is a toilet room on the starboard side 

 of the companion, the latter opening directly into the saloon, so 

 that sails can easily be sent up or down from deck, this saloon be- 

 ing the sail room in racing. To port of the companion is a passage 

 to a large ladies' cabin, with separate toilet room aft and a wash 

 basin under the stair. The immense saloon is a most striking 

 feature, and the wonder is where so much room comes from. Even 

 after a couple of good staterooms are ultimately cut off from it it 

 will still be very large. In the companion at the head of the stair 

 a roller of teak can be shipped to aid in running sails up and down. 



On deck the appointments are simply perfect, teak finish every- 

 where with ironwork of the best design and handiwork. The bitts 

 are built up of thin plate steel and angle-iron, a stout brace of 

 round iron runs from bitts to gammon iron on each side of the 

 bowsprit, and in each brace are half a dozen belaying pins. The fid 

 is of greenheart, backed with iron. The bowsprit houses, with a 

 bar bobstay such as Clara has, the bowsprit shrouds setting up 

 with heavy turnbuckles to lugs on the side by the channels. There 

 are 3 lugs on each side, the turnbuekle being shifted aft from first 

 to second as the bowsprit comes in. There is not a lanyaid on the 

 boat, turnbuckles of heavy proportions being used everywhere. 

 The double forestay leads to bloekB on deck on each side of the 

 bowsprit a couple of feet in from the gammon iron, and thence 

 along the deok aft to the steel bitts, to which they are secured 

 with turnbuckles. Tho shrouds, four on each side, are similarly 

 fitted, and the rope lanyard is nowhere visible. 



The forgings throughout the vessel are particularly fine, each 

 part being carefully designed to combine strength and lightness, 

 while the handiwork shows the perfection ot the shipsmith's skill. 

 The mast has two spider bands, the upper carrying a winch placed 

 quite high above the deck, while the lower takes the main and 

 spinaker gooseneoks. The tiller is a fine stick of teak, nearly 15ft. 

 long, while the main spreader, also of teak, looks to be double 

 that length. The rail is of American elm. The channels are 

 about 18m. wide each, giving the same spread as Volunteer. The 

 only blemish on the tair round side is a sheating of plankdaid 

 over the chain plates to ease them through the water. 



There are but few metal yachts of American build that do not 

 at once reveal their close relationship to the great tinpan family 

 by seams, butts, rivet heads and unfair spots in the plating; but 

 from Thistle's side one would say that she was a solid mass of 

 metal. Not a seam or a rivet is visible, and further, the side ia 

 round, fair and solid looking, none of the frames showing through 

 the skin and without the slightest depression in the whole surface. 

 The master workman is shown throughout, in model, in the handi- 

 work of the hull, and in all the fittings and equipment. She will 

 fit out at once at her moorings and remain about New York until 

 she races. Com. John Clark's steam yacht Mohioan left the Clyde 

 for New York on Aug, 15. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 

 ' No Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



E. C. H.. Lake George.— Will you please tell me where the caudal 

 fin of the black bass is? Special laws here say no bass shall be 

 taken less than Sin. from snout to caudal fin. There are few here 

 that know where this fin is. Webster says caudal is tail. Ans. 

 Webster is right, and the tail fin is the caudal fin. The tail proper 

 is the fleshy portion behind the anal fin, and is the "caudal pedun- 

 cle" of ichthyologists. 



J. P. H., Fort Wayne, Ind.— Please give weight of largest small- 

 mouth black bass, also weight of largest large-mouth black bass 

 ever taken, the records of which are indisputable. Ans. The 

 largest small-mouth bass we know of weighed 81bs., and was taken 

 in Lake Ronkonkoma, Long Island, and was on exhibition at 

 Blackford's in Fulton Market. We have the mounted head of a 

 big-mouth, taken in Florida, which is said to have weighed 23J41bs. 

 The U. S. Fish Commission has the plaster cast of a big-mouth 

 which weighed 141bs. 



New York City, May 1887. 

 The U, S. Cartridge Co., Lowell, Mass.: 



Gentusmen— I wish to thank you for the very excellent shell 

 you are putting on the market. I refer to the "Climax." I swear 

 hu U, not at it, as I have had to do with other makes. It ha» 

 given me unqualified satisfaction ever since I first began to us* 

 it, and that is since its introduction. Don't allow it to deteriorate, 

 and sportsmen will ©all you "blessed." Very truly yours, 



—Adv. (Signed) C. W. Ousimnu 



