16 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan 5 24, 1889; 



ORINDA — Cruising Cutter — Sail Plan. 



A 



CYTH ERA. 



THOROUGH investigation of the story published lately in 

 the New York Sun concerning the finding of a letter from 

 the Ovthera in a bottle on Roekaway Beach, has proved that it is 

 false in every particular, and that the fraudulent letter was 

 prepared and' placed where it was found by a reporter ot the 

 Brooklyn Eagle. According to the New York World, which has 

 taken up the matter, this man, Ernest V. Pardessus, prepared 

 the letter and bottle, hiding the latter under an old orange box 

 on the beach; arranging with an accomplice tha t the latter should 

 discover the bottle and bring it to a saloon where his principal 

 was in waiting. The vile scheme was promptly earned out by 

 the confederate, Ross O. Sidney, a plumber, of Canarsie, who got 

 the bottle, carried it to the saloon, and it was opened by Pardessus 

 inihe presence of witnesses. Pardessus took the letter to the 

 office of the Sun, where he sold it, receiving according to the 

 statement of Sidney, $70. He also sold a report to the Brooklyn 

 Eagle. The story in the Sun, accompanied by a fac-simile of the 

 alleged letter, created a sensation among yachtsmen, and the 

 whole matter was carefully sifted, the result being a full confes- 

 sion from Sidney. Both Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Lee were greatly 

 excited over the affair, the latter in particular being seriously ill 

 in consequence. The man Sidney has been summoned to appear 

 before the Probate Court and to tell his story in connection with 

 the probate of Mr. Stewart's will. 



We do not know whether the law can reach the reporter who 

 planned and carried out such a despicable trick for the sake of a 

 few dollars, hut no punishment is too severe for the perpetrator 

 of such a scoundrelly act. 



THE CORINTHIAN MOSQUITO FLEET.— The second meet- 

 ing of the new Corinthian Mosquito Fleet was held on Jan. 21 at 

 the Oilsev House, New York, with the treasurer, Mr. F. B. Jones, 

 in the chair. The officers were elected for the ensuing year as 

 follows: Com., Thornton H. Smith; Vice-Corn., Thos. Clapham; 

 Sec, Dr. Theodore Ledyard; Treas., F. B. Jones; Executive Com., 

 Harold Forwood, F. P. Sherwood and W. P. Stephens. A con- 

 stitution and bv-laws were adopted, and a committee consisting 

 of Com. Smith, Mr. Arthur Wallack and Mr. W. P. Stephens was 

 appointed to prepare sailing rules, to report at the next regular 

 meeting, in May. The club burgee is rectangular, a white field 

 with a blue diagonal bar. The association is open to all single- 

 hand craft not over 20ft. l.w.l. The initiation fee is $2 and the 

 annual dues $1. The secretary's address is New Rochelle, N. Y. 



A CHALLENGE FROM THE THELGA.— Mr. H. L. Johnson, 

 owner of the keel sloop Thelga, has issued the following challenge: 

 "As there is a diversity of opinion regarding the speed of keel 

 yachts with which the Thelga is classed, and to insure a satisfac- 

 tory trial of their respective merits, I should be pleased to arrange 

 a match with any keel yacht in New England, 24ft. or under, sail- 

 ing length, for a cup of nominal value, say $50. The race to be 

 governed bv the rules of the New England Yacht Racing Associ- 

 ation, and the Corinthian rule of the Hull Y. C, which applies 

 strictly to amateurs. The race to be sailed in June, July or 

 August, on days which will not conflict with dates selected by 

 various clubs for their own regattas. Judges, courses, time limit 

 etc., to be mutually agreed upon. The Thelga's sailing length is 

 82ft. lin." 



ORINDA. 



rpHE accompanying drawings show the rig and interior arrange- 

 JL ments of the cruising cutter Orinda, whose lines w^re given 

 last week. The cutter rig was adopted, with the exception of the 

 housing bowsprit. The deck fittings are very simple, a square 

 hatch forward, a combination skylight and companion, and a 

 small steering well aft. The deck is thus free from obstructions 

 and there is plenty of room, a great desideratum in a small craft 

 where long trips between ports are the order. The boat is used 

 by her owner for only about two months in the year, during 

 which time she is constantly cruising, a party of four or five liv- 

 ing on board with little dependence on the shore. As such a 

 number makes a large crew for a yacht of this size, it was neces- 

 sary to economize space as much as possible, and the result has 

 been a very compact and convenient arrangement below. The 

 steering well is only deep enough for the legs, as the helmsman 

 sits on deck, thus taking little room from the internal space. 

 Beneath and around it is a large space fitted with shelves and 

 lighted by a deadlight aft, in which sails, lines, anchor, etc., are 

 stowed. The companion is well aft, leading into the after end of 

 the after . or main cabin. The forward end may be called the 

 owner's stateroom, having two fixed berths with a locker in front 

 of each, as shown in the cross section. The dining table is set up 

 here, being convenient to the galley. The after cabin is the 

 principal room for day use, and so is fitted with an iron ham- 

 mock cot on each side; which can be folded up against the side 

 during the day with bedding and pillows inside, leaving a large 

 and comfortable locker with a shelf behind it. At night the 

 hammocks are dropped, making two good berths. There are no 

 full bulkheads between the two, the open bulkhead shown being 

 used with curtains. Beneath the fixed berths are drawers and 

 shelves, while the sofas are also utilized for stowage. Above the 

 berths are also wire racks for clothing and other articles. The 

 forecastle is fitted with a seat on each side, beneath which are 

 two watertanks. Over the seat on the port side is the pantry, 

 with shelves for china, and opposite on the starboard side is a 

 berth. The stove, a Volunteer No. 2, burning gasoline, is placed 

 on a shelf almost below the hatch, while on each side in the fore 

 peak are other shelves. The icebox is forward, beneath the stove 

 shelf. The gasolir.e stove is pronounced very satisfactory after a 

 month's steady use, cooking all the meals for five persons. The 

 water tanks were somewhat in the way and have been shifted 

 for next season. We give the following elements in addition to 

 those published last week. Dr. Winslow informs us that the 

 yacht was sailed at a draft of about 7ft., making 29ft. l.w.l., 

 nearly. 



Displacement, designed, L.W.L., tons 9.33 



Area midship section, sq. f t 22.05 



L.W.L. plane 157.40 



vertical long, section 131.28 



Centerboard below L.W.L., feet 1.85 



aft, middle of L.W.L 83 



Midship sec tion aft, middle of L.W.L 1.52 



THAT AUSTRALIAN CHALLENGE.— Mr. Walter Reeks 

 sailed from England for Australia just before New Year's Day. 

 He has not decided what the future challenge will be, but the 

 whole scheme thus far is too indefinite to offer any immediate 

 hope of a resumption of international racing through the medium 

 of the America's Cup. 



Orinda— Cruising Cutter— Midship Section. 



ALVA.— The last absurd fake of the daily papers is a report 

 that the costly and magnificent steam yacht Alva, owned by W. 

 K. Vanderbilt, had been sold to the Haytian insurgents. As we 

 stated last week, she is now ready for sea and leaves Wilmington 

 for Port Royal, S. C, where her owner will join her about Feb. 3. 



THE PROPOSED RACING ASSOCIATION.— The preliminary 

 meeting of delegates from the various clubs will be held at the 

 Gilsey House, Twenty-ninth street and Broadway, New York, one 

 week from to-night, at 8 P. M. 



A NEW 60-RATER— It is reported that Fay & Co. of South- 

 ampton will build at once a 60-rater from Mr, Watson's designs 

 for a British yachtsman. 



