D60. 26, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



461 



with my company, please give me a little notice that vou intend 

 to leave. As a friend you might at least afford me the satisfaction 

 of saying good bye." 



"Never mind, old follow, 1 ' he retorted, "you will get your dose 

 sometime. Every fox has to run from the dogs sooner or later, 

 and I'll bet you will break for cover before long. Bui all joking 

 aside, that's a fin© little current, there. It tore off every sus- 

 pender button on my clothes. Why, while I was roosting on that 

 beastly stone I saw about a hundred black bass dashed against it 

 by the water and carried lifeless down stream. Fish brains flew 

 through the air su for a while that I was completely smeared, and 

 was glad of the opportunity yon offered me to another batb." 



1 like a good liar, and L guess that is why I am so fond of Vail. 



We proceeded to take our bearings. Our canoe was on a sand- 

 bar. Climbing a rather high bank, a house close at hand in the 

 midst of several cultivated fields, and nearly a mile further an- 

 other, suggested the probability that we were not far from River- 

 side. It was now dusk, and building a large lire of driftwood, we 

 dried our clothes and partook of supper. The house, upon inves- 

 tigation by the light of the full moon, was found to be deserted. 

 Carrying up our bedding and placing it upon the porch, we were 

 Boon lost in that healthy oblivion which follows a hard day's work 

 in the open air. 



A rough shake and a harsh voice saying, "What are ye doin' 

 here? Get off from my house," was my rude awakening. Before 

 I had a chance to open my eyes or collect mj wandering senses a 

 violent reminder with a stick on the sSankable part of my anat- 

 omy, and another invitation to "Move out lively," caused me to 

 sit up without more ado. 



There was Vail standing over me with a club. "Ha! ha!" he 

 laughed, "I told you you would have your time. 1 ha ve been 

 waiting to get even with you. i thought at first I would like to 

 lift you gently and caiefully roll you over I he bank into the river. 

 You are too heavy for that, though; and so I did the next best 

 thing. You won't trifle with a gentleman's sensitiveness again, 

 wiJl you?" 



"No, I won't trifle, IT1 get down to business," 1 replied, reaching 

 over in the path for a clod of earth, and sending it with well- 

 directed aim where it would do the most good. 



A truce agreed upon, after a breakfast we loaded the canoe and 

 dropped down stream to Riverside, a railroad station with one 

 house and two barns, or two barns and one house, we have for- 

 gotten which. We here learned on authority which we were dis- 

 posed to accept that for the next ao miles, all the way to -where 

 the Sehroon swells the Hudson at Tiiurman. the river was abso- 

 lutely impassable for any kind of craft. The Adirondack R R 

 express for Saratoga and New York was due in a few hours' 

 Putting things in shape we shoved our outfit into the baggage car' 

 and by 12 o'clock were left at Thurman, beyond the canoe-pul- 

 verizing section of the river. 



The next score of miles to Luzerne, the termination of ourriver 

 trip, was perfection. The harmonious blending of the rugged 

 and the refined features of nature were here manifest. Only 

 when the art, of the painter and the poet is expressed in one com- 

 plex, combined outpouring, can this landscape he described to 

 him who has seen it not. A chain of mountains; a succession of 

 cultivated bottom lauds, rich, but not rank, dotted with shapely 

 trees and thrifty farmhouses; a bold rocky headland, here rising 

 abruptly from the water, and again a beautiful forest-covered 

 slope, green as a sprinkled lawn; and by it all and through it all 

 a stream, which can only be likened to the celestial river, flowed 

 clear, sparkling and melodious, always strong, occasionally swift, 

 but never rough. 



Truly, it was an ideal scene, a dream of harmony and peace 

 materialized. And so we floated on and on, occasionally dropping 

 a paddle into the limpid water to make sure we M-ere in a world 

 of substance. We drifted, time drifted, but wc cared not. "Let 

 Anything happen that Will, whatever if is it cannot bo unpleas- 

 ant," we said in our sumptuous ease and contentment. Like the 

 frame to a beautiful picture, the Divine artist at length placed 

 the night about his perfect day. 



We were brought back to the world of our creature comforts. 

 What should we eat? Where should we sleep? We passed a 

 meadow, came to a steep bank running off from the river at right 

 angles, and encountered a small creek which followed this low 

 hill to empty into the river. Running into an eddy we paddled 

 up the brook for a quarter of a mile. Landing, we prepared to 

 carry oar blankets and provisions up the bank to the vicinity of a 

 house which we saw above. Just theu we observed on the 'other 

 side of the creek, walking across the meadows, a nattily dressed 

 gentleman in high top boots, a rod over his shoulder, and a fish- 

 ing basket hanging to his side. We supposed him to be a city 

 sportsman. The mosquitoes were now hovering about the low- 

 lands ready for business. Wo hailed the stranger and asked him 

 to direct us to a suitable camping spot. He proved to bo a fanner 

 living half a mile away: and, learning who we were, cordially in- 

 vited us to spend the night with him. Having unbacked the boat 

 we did not care to take the trouble to cross over; and thanking 

 him for his kindness, scaled the heights. The house we found to 

 be a mass of dilapidated ruins. There was no place to camp. 

 Determined then to follow the road to our friend's house we 

 trudged along in the dark. By this way it was fully a mile. 



Arrived at. last we had a good supper set before us, and were 

 made cordially welcome by Mr. Heni-y Cameron and his family. 

 His house had most of those comforts usually lacking in country 

 houses, even in the better class; and through the orchard, maple- 

 planted door yard, and across the road was conducted in an open 

 wooden trough from the mountain back of the dwelling a run- 

 ning stream of ice cold spring water sufficient to operate a small 

 mill or supply a village. Upon their offering to show us our 

 rooms we requested, much to their astonishment, to be allowed 

 to sleep in the barn. 



The. barn was full of new hay, and, opening wide the second 

 story doorway close to our heads, we were soon sleeping the sleep 

 of the elect. A curious impression of movement near by awoke 

 me in the middle of the night. "Harry," I whispered, and thrust 

 out my hand to where I had seen my chum make his berth. The 

 place was empty. "Oh, Vail!" I now exclaimed in a louder key. 

 My answer was the rustling of the hay in many places and a little 

 body running across my prostrate form. I now understood that 

 my partner had earlier in the night been annoyed as I then was 

 by field mice; and 1 followed his example of going down stairs 

 and lying in my blankets on the bare but clean floor of the 

 carriage room. We were not again disturbed. 



The next day was like its predecessor, full of pleasure and all 

 too short. Luzerne we knew was a fashionable resort, and 

 Cameron had told us that frequently parties came up from there 

 on the cars with their boats to Thurman, for the enjoyment of 

 returning by the river. He also indicated a place called the 

 "boiler" where boats were frequently capsized. This spot we 

 took pains to hunt, out and paddle through. We had only a few 

 miles to go and drifted lazily. I usually had the stern paddle 

 and guided the canoe. Yielding to soporific influences I cuddled 

 down m the bottom of the boat and went to sleep. 



I was wahened from a comfortable nap by Vail's] calling mv 

 name. "Confound it, why couldn't you have left me alone?" 1 

 exclaimed rather testily. 



"Sleep if you want to," he said, "only if we go to smash in this 

 rapid, I doa't want to take the responsibility." 



The thought of some more swift water brought me too like 

 magic. It proved to be a disappointing little rush We were now 

 in the outskirts of the town. Our trip was practically concluded. 

 Indications of wealth and fashion, such as liveried turnouts roll- 

 ing along the river road, reminded us that savage life to men in 

 our station could be tasted not eaten. 



We were certainly deplorable objects to tackle swell hotels. A 

 week's growth of beard, battered hats, tattered and dusty clothes, 

 marked us, when away from our canoe at least, as belonging to 

 the mighty army of cold victual bummers. Our only recom- 

 mendation was abundance of cash, but recollecting that that 

 point is the strongest of them all, we took heart. 



After anight of apprehension through the fear of recognition, 

 we proceeded to Saratoga, where our civilized regalia was h wait- 

 ing us. Going to a little hotel across the. way from the rail- 

 road station we sent for our belongings. But even clothes were 

 not a sufficient disguise, we must have had some of the artificial 

 veneering of society worn off by our wild life. Appearing in our 

 familiar New York haunts our friends would remark, "Hello! 

 Been working in the harvest field at .ft per day, or have you been 

 driving spikes on the railroad, Paddy? Confidentially, though, 

 where have you been and what have you been doing?" 



"There is no 'confidentially' about it," we would reply. "We've 

 been canoeing in the backwoods; and don't fail to tell everybody 

 that we have found more heahh, had more fun, and obtained 

 more substantial benefit in one week's rough-and-tumble outing 

 than we ever acquired in any way or at any time." 



Ralph K. Wing. 



PHILADELPHIA. C. C— The club house of the Philadelphia 

 C. C, at Cooper's Point, Camden, and its contents, including the 

 canoes and personal effects of the members, was entirely 

 destroyed by fire shortly after midnight on Dec. 15. The 

 fire started in an adjoining boat house, and in a short time it 

 and the. club house were entirely" enveloped in flames; a negli- 

 gence on the part of the watchman to immediately sound an 

 alarm resulting in the total loss of both buildings, the majority 

 of the canoes, however, being fully covered by insurance. Of the 



33 boats comprising the fleet but one was saved and that, as is 

 seldom the case, was fortunately one of whom her owner can 

 ,i ustly he proud; as while being one of the most graceful in model, 

 and general appearance, she is at the same time the fastest canoe 

 now to be seen in our waters. As some of the members will learn 

 through these columns for the first time of their terrible loss, 

 and at the same time learn that the Muriel was saved, how their 

 hearts will swell with thankfulness, and I am sure they will feel 

 that all, all, is indeed not lost. But while this is cheering news, 

 it, will go but a short way toward lifting the weight, of grief that 

 hangs like a pall over our organization, at the loss of our 

 cherished darling, our pet, our peerless flag ship, the "Noune- 

 moosha." How often in the past lias the gleam of her snow-white 

 sails far astern seemed as the foam upon the wave crest, through 

 which she plowed her way, and for how many long years has she 

 "followed" the fleet, and at night as the tired crews have been 

 peacefully smoking a last, pipe, canoes beached, supper over, tents 

 up, everything coiled down, and the camp-lire burning low, has 

 the soft si illness of the night been broken by the splash of the 

 double blade and the well-known hail of her commodore, just- 

 getting in. Nevermore, will the gentle fair ones (and their names 

 were legion) be slowly, very slowly, wafted over summer seas 

 by the brawny arm of the commodore, erstwile entranced by the 

 sweet tones of his melodious voice. Rut right here, with the editor's 

 permission, let me extend to any and all brethren of the sail and 

 paddle as cordial an invitation as ever to our new club house, 

 which will be designed, built, occupied, and ready for their enter- 

 tainment,, with the opening of the spring season. The second 

 annual "Smoke" of the club will be held on Dee. 37.-1490. 



A. C. A. MEMBERSHIP. — Atlantic Division; Elbert A. Bennett, 

 Garden City, L. I. 



fatfiting. 



THE 



FLOATING BEACONS OF NANTUCKET 

 AND VINEYARD SHOALS. 



HOW LIGRTBOATK ARE BUIX.T, MANNED AND MOORED OVER THE 

 TREACHEROUS SAND. 



THERE is a fatal spot on the coast of Massachusetts, but a few 

 hours' sail from Boston, where many a brave heart and many 

 a gallant ship lie buried in one common grave. The Shoals of 

 Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are known and dreaded by 

 every navigator on the Atlantic seaboard, and among the great 

 number of "missing" vessels recorded at the insurance offices 

 there are doubtless many that have been swallowed up in these 

 treacherous quicksands. It is the common practice of naviga tors, 

 bound from Southern ports to Boston or other ports on the New 

 England coast, to run into Vineyard Sound and between Gay 

 Head and the island of Cut tyhunkand lie up at Vineyard Haven, 

 Falmouth or Edgartown, rather than take the risk of a passage 

 over the shoals, if there are indications of fog or heavy weather. 

 Providence has, by a law of nature, placed a mark on 'these dan- 

 gerous sand bars, which is eternally useful to the mariner. The 

 rapidity of the tides, which sweep along the sides and over the 

 uneven surface of these shoals causes what are termed tide rips, 

 which are in effect breakers, running confusedly together and 

 sometimes of such magnitude as to be dangerous to coasting craft. 

 Nothing can be more terrific and grand in appearance than the 

 pyramids of foam that are piled up on the south shoal of Nan- 

 tucket after an easterly storm. 



The group known as the Nantucket Shoals extend off to sea- 

 ward from the island of that name, 6 to 30 miles. The group com- 

 prises about 50 shoal spots, single and in clusters. They are com- 

 posed of sand, with depth of 16 to 18ft. at mean low water, and 

 are scattered over an area of about 350 square miles. The direc- 

 tion of the current through the group is entirely around the com- 

 pass at every successive flood and ebb. The velocity of the tide 

 is about three miles an hour, with a rise and faU of nearly 3ft. 

 In common with all parts of the Eastern coast the entire group 

 is enveloped by fog for many days at a time. The course from 

 Sandy Hook to the seaward face of Nantucket Shoals is about E. 

 % N., and thence due north or nearly to a right angle to the 

 mouth of the Kennebec River. 



The limited depth of water over the shoals, their number and 

 small size, and the great velocity and ever-changing direction of 

 the currents, in almost every instance running across the shoals, 

 and the prevailing fogs, coupled with the prominent position of 

 the group, will show at the same time the relation these shoals 

 hold to the course, of a large portion of the commerce, of the 

 countrj ; the great danger to which it is exposed in passing them; 

 the necessity of marking their seaward face, and the extraordin- 

 ary difficulties which lie in accomplishing so desirable an object. 

 Vessels engaged in the foreign trade approach this locality under 

 reduced sails or steam. The coastwise trade, for the most part, 

 passes between Nantucket, and the mainland, and in these con- 

 tracted waters are found sandbars, rips and currents, which are 

 only second to the great south shoals because they are more 

 accurately lighted and buoyed. Some thirteen light beacons are 

 maintained in or on the coast of Vineyard and Nantucket sounds, 

 besides a large number of important buoys which mark the ends 

 of the lesser obstructions. One-half of these, beacons are floating 

 lights, which are indispensable to navigation. This thoroughfare 

 is only rivaled by the English Channel in point of number of ves- 

 sels that, ply through its waters annually, and on no other coast 

 in this country are so many lightboats in use as on the sound 

 side of Cape Cod. 



Of all the homeward bound commerce, to that from European 

 ports is the making of Nantucket south shoals of the greatest 

 importance: To fully understand why this is the case, it is only 

 necessary to state that the usual course of this most valuable 

 trade is to make Cape Race, the eastern point of Newfoundland, 

 and then run down the coast inside the Gulf Stream, which, by 

 the jutting out into the ocean of Nantucket and its shoals, here 

 approaches nearest the land. The passing of the shoals is, there- 

 fore, a proceeding of great peril, causing a corresponding anxiety 

 to all those engaged in the trade. Nor are the peril and anxiety 

 confined to the navigators of sailing vessels; thev are largely 

 shared, not withstanding the more perfect means of "dead reck- 

 oning" in the absence of the usual observations to determine a 

 vessel's position, by those in charge of steamers. 



New South (Davis) Shoal is the most seaward of the Nantucket 

 group. It lies out of siebt of land, S. by E.J-gE., broad off from 

 the island of the same name, 30 miles distant. It is composed of 

 fine white sand. The least depth of water on it at mean low tide 

 is 8ft. The extent of the shoal within the two fathom curve is iy. 

 miles. It falls off rapidly into deep water particularly on the 

 seaward side. The nearest harbors to this shoal are, Nantucket 

 40 miles, Edgartown 43 miles, and Vineyard Haven 4f% miles. 



No work of a solid character placed on a submerged sandbank, 

 at so exposed a point as the South Shoal, were it possible to build 

 one, could long withstand the power of the ocean. Instances are 

 not wanting of beacons founded at positions exposed to the vio- 

 lence of the ocean, which have triumphantly defied its power, 

 among which may be mentioned Eddystone and Minot's. Those 

 structures were founded upon a rock, they are less distant from 

 land and a harbor, and opea to the sweep of the ocean through a 

 smaller arc. Where it possible to erect a solid structure on these 

 shoals, it might withstand the direct assaults of the sea, but it 

 would be overthrown by the wasting of the sands, through the in- 

 sidious working of trie waves upon the mass. So the government 

 had recourse to a floating light to warn mariners of the hidden 

 dangers, 



Alightboat. as these beacons are styled in sea parlance, is a boxy- 

 looking craft devoid of gingerbread work and the graceful lines of 

 a sailing vessel; she is constructed to withstand the ceaseless 

 battering of heavy seas, the crunching of drift ice and the wear 

 and tear of time. As these vessels, when at their stations, gener- 

 ally lie. with their bows to the wind, it is impossible to air the 

 hold sufficiently to prevent dry rot in the timbers, and about 

 every five years they require repairs that cost nearly as much as 

 new vessels. They range i n size fro n 100 to 500 tons, the larger 

 ones being placed on the most exposed stations. Thev vary in cost 

 when ready for sea from $1,000 to $7,000. These lights, however, 

 are never adopted for any situation in which a lighthouse can 

 be built for any reasonable sum, for they are not only driven 

 from their moorings, often when most needed, but in the frequent 

 repairs and in the number of men kept aboard they are two or 

 three times as expensive as lighthouses of the first class. This 

 branch of the lighting service of our country has in times past 

 been very defective, and until quite recently, properly modeled, 

 equipped and moored floating lights were far between. Forty 

 years ago most of the light boats were kept by men (landsmen) 

 who had farms within their vicinity, and who employed others at 

 low wages to attend to their duties, or wholly neglected them. 



Nautical men as a rule are now employed to superintend these 

 matters t hat belong more exclusively to the profession. Float- 

 ing lights are placed for the convenience and safety of seamen, 

 and none but seafaring men are capable of appreciating the im- 

 portance of a proper vigilance in the management of these in- 

 d ispensable guides. There are numerous contrivances and modes 

 of communication known only to the seaman, by which the 

 masters and pilots may be directed in times of anxiety and 



danger. 1 he salaries ot keepers range from $300 to $600 a year, 

 and the crew and cook receive wages equivalent to those paid at 

 the nearest maritime port. The. rations a,re of the quality used 

 m the navy. 



The Nantucket South Shoal lightboat is one of the best on th e 

 coast, and the greatest precautions are necessary to keep it 

 anchored over the sandbank it is intended to mark. Of the 

 various instruments employed in anchoring the screw mooring is 

 undoubtedly the surest and best, it is constructed on the prin- 

 ciple of a screw, but differs in form; for while the spiral thread 

 makes lit l ie more than one turn round its shaft it is extended to 

 a very broad flange, and the hold which it takes on I he ground is 

 proportional to its broad Mi of disk. The method of laying down 

 tnlsmoormg is briefly thus: A strong mooring chain is so at- 

 tained to it as to allow the screw to turn freely without, carrying 

 the chain around with it; a powerful iron shaft is then fixed 

 firmly to the upper part of the mooring, which is formed square 

 tor that purpose, fitting in the same manner as a, key to a watch 

 in wmdingitup;it is then lowered by the mooring chain, joint after 

 joint being added to the shaft till the mooring has reached the 

 ground. Levers are apphed to the shaft after the manner of a cap- 

 stan, and the operation of Bcrewingtthe mooring into the ground 

 commences. Two boats or barges having been anchored head and 

 stern close alongside each other and the upright shaft rising be- 

 tween them and amidships, men place themselves at tho bars and 

 walk from one boat- to the other, the two gi ving a con ven ieut, plat - 

 torm. When the screw is firmly imbedded a bb . < ,i , , 



the mooring chain and the job is completed. 



A lightboat must ride easily in a seaway or the heavy pitch and 

 roll will seriously affect the quality of the lights. Toe severe 

 shocks received in heavy weather are modified by a rope cable 

 attached to the mooring chain, which "gives" instead of bringing 

 the craft up all standing when riding over a running billow The 

 hawse pipes, through which the cables enter the hull, are cut just 

 above the wateiiine, enabling the boat to ride more easily tlian 

 an ordinary sailing craft when exposed to similar conditions 



The vessels are schooner- rigged, with short masts which'give 

 the lanterns an elevation of about 40ft. A deck house encircles 

 each mast, and in the. daytime the lantern is lowered into it for 

 cleaning and filling. There is sufficient space to pass around it 

 and for ventilation from below. At the mastheads are hoop iron 

 balls which serve as day marks. On the forward deck house are 

 the fog bell and whistle, which are used as signals in thick 

 weather, the intervals between the blows or notes indicating the 

 location of the shoal in the stormiest night or densest fog almost 

 as plainly as the large letters upon her sides in clear weather 



A suit of sails is bent ready for use in case of disaster or when 

 the boat gets adrift, as she frequently does. There are two crews 

 to each vessel, one of which is always ashore ready to go aboard 

 in case of emergency. For a number of months these men face 

 the ocean in all its moods, and for weeks at a time they have no 

 communication with the mainland except through the. occasional 

 visit of the buoy setter Verbena, with headquartei s at Wood's 

 Holl. The man who is brave enough to ship on a lightboat in the 

 winter season is courageous indeed. At times the boat is encased 

 in solid ice and the spray freezes as fast as it comes aboard. The 

 stays and rigging become many times their original size, and it is 

 with the greatest, difficulty that the lantern windlass and weights 

 are kept in order. For hours during extreme weather the crew 

 pound ice, when the question must- be decided whether the ice be 

 thrown overboard or accumulate and sink the beacon. 



Another danger is that of collision. The mooring chain is often 

 paid out several hundred fathoms in times when big seas are run- 

 ning. Perhaps a vessel has been driven to leeward and fouls the 

 chain. As the heavy hull of the drifting craft presses down upon 

 the cable, and drags broadside toward the formidable bow of the 

 pitching lightboat, the latter gathers headway and the two come 

 together with a crash that opens the planking of the helpless sail- 

 ing vessel as if an iron steamer had crushed iuto her. Very likely 

 the blow and strain willpirt the cable, and the lightboat, at the 

 mercy of the gale, is borne away from the sinking vessel. 



The monotony of this existence is something unknown to the man 

 of cities and everyday-life, yet there are always niany applica- 

 tions for a berth on the most exposed stations. The chief amuse- 

 ments are basket making, the building of toy boats and card 

 playing, which become very monotonous in a few weeks, and then 

 reading and even fancy work are indulged in. 



Cross Rip lightboat, in Vineyard Sound, is not only invaluable 

 as a beacon, but of immense use as a. buoy by day. This station 

 was established in 1861. The floating light on Pollock Rip, off 

 Chatham, was established in 1853, and is of great, importance to 

 vessels passing north of Cape Cod. Shovelfull Shoal lightboat 

 was established in 1853 and marks a very dangerous bar in the 

 path' of coastwise commerce. The Handkerchief lightboat is 

 stationed over the dreaded shoal of that name and was estab- 

 lished in 1885. There are floating lights over Succannesit Shoal 

 and at the western entrance, to Vineyard Sound. A number of 

 relief boats are tied up at the Government wharf in Little Harbor, 

 Wood's Holl, and in case of repairs upon a boat one of these are 

 substituted, so the light is rarely missing. At the Wood's Holl 

 wharf is a large variety of buoys of various kinds under the 

 superintendence of Captain Gibbs, of the Verbena. 



Woburn, Mass. G eo. S. Hudson. 



SULTANA. 



ABIT of the old-time chorus that once made New York famous 

 in all the ports of the world was heard on Wednesday of last 

 week in the Erie Basin in South Brooklyn, where the merry ring 

 of iron mauls on oak and teak wedges made an appropriate over- 

 ture to the opening of anew ship yard in the port of New York. 

 The big dry docks of the Erie Basin, with their machine shops' 

 and building plant, have hitherto been used for -epairs only; but 

 Messrs. Handren &Robbinshave determined to ko into building 

 as well, their first contract being the auxiliary sf>am yacht Sul- 

 tana, designed for Mr. Treuor L. Park: by Mr. ,T. Beavor Webb 

 designer of the t wo Fredas, Genesta, Galatea, Tara, Medusa and 

 the steam yacht Carmen. 



The new yacht, is 187ft. 6in. over all, 155ft. l.wl., 37ft. 6in. beam 

 17ft. 6in. hold, and 14ft. fiin. draft. She is fitted with a triple ex- 

 pansion engine, 13, 24 and 33 by 34in., built by Henderson & Co 

 of Glasgow, and with a two-bladed Bevis feathering propeller' 

 the pitch being variable from the inside of the vessel. As the 

 model shows, she is designed for canvas as well as coal, and will 

 carry about ll.OOOsq. ft. of canvas, being rigged as a three-masted 

 lopsail schooner. Her smokestack will telescope, and her screw 

 will be feathered when sail alone is to bo used for any length of 

 time. The yacht has been planned and built with great care, and 

 will receive the highest rating from the American and British 

 Lloyds. The construction has been under the charge of Capt. W. 

 B. Dickey, an old graduate of Harlan & Wolf's famous Belfast 

 yard, and the result is in every way a credit to the new ard. The 

 plating and seams are equal to the work of the best yards, and for 

 a first attempt are specially creditable. 



The hull is entirely of mild steel; the planksheer, bulwarks and 

 rail, as well as all deck fittings, are of teak. The deck house is of 

 steel, all galvanized, sheathed with teak. The deck is. payed with 

 Jeffries marine glue. The yacht will be steered by steam from 

 the bridge, with an auxiliary steering gear aft that will be used 

 when sailing. The fore end of the deck house contains a chart 

 room, and the after end the galley; the middle portion forming a 

 saloon and entrance way to the owner's quarters forward. The 

 apartments of the owner and his wife are abaft the main saloon, 

 with a study on the starboard side of the latter. Forward are 

 extra staterooms and maids' rooms; then the collision bulkhead 

 and forecastle. The after cabin contains more staterooms, abaft 

 which are the officers' staterooms and mess room. The large fore 

 hold is reached by a square shaft down which trunks or stores 

 may be lowered. On either side of a long passage are store 

 rooms, the forward one being for trunks and luggage, while one 

 is specially fitted as a photographic dark room. The yacht will 

 be fitted with ice machine, electric bells and lights, and other 

 modern appliances, her owner intending to start on a cruise 

 around the world as soon as she is completed. 



The weather on Wednesday was as bad as it could be, a chilly 

 drizzle with an east wind, and the shipyard was nearly as muddv 

 as the sidewalks in New York; but a number of guests, including 

 some venturesome ladies, were on hand before high water. The 

 yacht was sent away at 4 P. M., Miss Bessie McCullough breaking 

 the bottle. After a little delay when the lashines were cut, the 

 handsome vessel, with the Corinthian Y. O. butgee at the fore, 

 the New York at the main, and the American ensign at the miz- 

 zen, gathered way and slid rapidly into the water, making her 

 bow as her forefoot left the ways, and i tinning awav at consider- 

 able speed. Work will be commenced at once on the same spot 

 on two large barges of steel. 



THE NEW RULE OF THE NEW YORK Y. C.-Tlie Roston 

 WercjM falls into a curious blunder in regard to the action of the 

 New York Y. C. in stating that no rule is yet adopted. Tne club 

 adopted the Seawanhaka formula, but declined to accept, a class- 

 ification by corrected length. The Herald published a report of 

 the action of the club, though in a verv mixed form, in its issue 

 of Dec. 14. 



ST. LAWRENCE Y. C.-This lively little club is holding a 

 series of monthly meetings, with practical talks on yachting 

 topics. 



