Mat 15, 1897.] 
S§8 
Wells. Committee: R. Macdonald, P. N. Boucher and G. E- 
Fraser. 
The following officers "were elected at the last meeting of 
the Yapewi Aquatic Club, Bordentown-on-the-Del aware; 
Pres., Robt. S. Murphy; A^ce-Pres., N.Smith Buzby; Sec'y, J. 
B. Reynolds; Purser, Chas. E. Burr; Capt., W. R. Robbins; 
Mate, Louis W. Wiese. Directors: Fred. W. Taylor. Fred. 
G. Wiese, Samuel W. Beldon, Richard G. Woodward, Geo. 
F. Deacon. 
As the yachting journal of America, the Forest and Stream is the 
recognized medium of communication between the maker of yachtg- 
rn en's sujyjjUes and the yachting public. Its value for advertising 
has been demonstrated by patrons who have employed its columns 
continuously for years. 
The racing season in New York waters begins on May 15, 
the Huguenot Y. C, of New Rochelle, starting off with a 
race for the new 20 footers and catboats. On the following 
Saturday the New Rochelle Y. 0. follows with a race for 20 
and 25-footers, after which date the racing runs along regu- 
larly. The outlook ia good for large entries and keen sport 
in all the smaller classes on the Sound. 
Owing to the failure to receive a Raines law license, the 
Seawanhaka C. Y. C. was compelled to foi'ego its proposed 
dinner on May 5. The Oyster Bay club house will be opened 
on May 29, with races for the 20-footers and other classes. 
Whether ultimately successful or the rever.se, the present 
movement for a national union of yachtsmen has progressed 
much further than any of its predecessors, and far enough 
to enlist the attention and interest of many American yachts- 
men. That so much has been done is due mainly to the en- 
ergetic and continued efforts of one man, Mr. F Bowne J ones, 
of the Indian Harbor Y. C, the secretary of the Sound Y. R, 
U., and chairman of the committee of yachtsmen which is- 
sued the invitation to the late conference. For a long time 
Mr. Jones has been interested in the scheme for uniform 
racing rules and a union of the clubs, and it was solely 
through his efforts that the first conference of the Sound 
yachtsmen was called, resulting in the organization of the 
Sound Y. R. U. The wonderful success of this attempt, for 
which Mr. Jones is largely responsible through his labors as 
secretary and member of the council, led him to the effort to 
extend the work in the uniting of the various associations, 
the result being the gathering of May 1 at New York. Only 
those who have had personal experience of such work can 
appreciate the demands which it makes upon one's time and 
patience, the correspondence and personal interviews in- 
volved. The part which Mr. Jones has taken is well known, 
and fully appreciated about New York; but it is only fair to 
him that those at a distance who are now interested in the 
proposed union, .should also under.stand the origin of the 
New York conference. 
Syce. 
The new 51ft. cutter Syce, designed by Gardner & Cox and 
built by Wood & Son for F. M. Hoyt, of Stamford, Conn., 
was launched at the yard. City Island, on May 4. The yacht 
was fully described in the Forest and Stream of May 1. 
In lauaehing she was slid out of the big shed and directly on 
to the railway, which was run down by the chain in the 
usual way, so that the launching was rather a prosaic mat- 
ter. It was probably interesting and exciting enough for 
the builder, Mr. Frank Wood, as the boat is a ticklish one to 
handle ashore; her over all length of nearly 70ft., with 13£t. 
of bowsprit in addition, is poised on a base little more than 
12ft. long; the mast, which was stepped and stayed, with 
topmast on end, being well forward of the fore end of the fin 
and, with the bowsprit and long forward overhang, looking 
to the eye as though it would pitchpole her on the ways. 
The yacht was very carefully cradled, to avoid the possibility 
of accident. 
Barring the deep fin and the "nasty" droj) rudder, the hull 
itself showed up very handsomely, with fair round lines in 
all directions, a good sheer line, with but moderate sweep; 
the topsides black, with gilt stripe and trail boards; the bot- 
tom green. The spars were decorated with flags in honor of 
the occasion. Just beside the yacht as she lay at the head of 
the railway was her older and smaller sister, Norota, built for 
Mr. Hoyt, and sold by him last fall; and beside her again was 
the older Gardner boat, Liris, the once famous 40-footer. The 
tide filled shortly after noon, but a wait was made for some 
of the guests, and it was after 1 P. M. when the ceremonies 
begun by the christening of the yacht by Mrs. D. L. Dresser, 
of Oyster Bay. The car was then started, and the yacht moved 
very slowly down the long incline necessary to float her draft 
of over 10ft. When she cleared the cradle, she floated very close 
to her designed waterline, a little high at the bow; prac- 
tically everything was aboard except sails and ground tackle, 
so that she promise'" to come out very close to the designed 
line when in final trim. A number of yachtsmen were pres- 
ent to witness the launch and share the luncheon which fol- 
lowed in the boat loft. Among the many who have thus far 
seen her there is but one opinion as to the very high quality 
of the work which Mr. Wood has put in her. The new Fife 
boat will at once take the place of Syce in the shed; the 
keel, stem, sternpost and entire counter are now on the 
ground, and the mould for the lead keel was ready for pour- 
ing on the day of the launch. 
Rear Admiral Meade. 
The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers has 
lost a useful officer and an honored member in Rear Admiral 
Richard W. Meade, U. S N., who died on May 4 at a private 
sanitarium in Washington from the combined effects of la 
grime and appendicitis. He had been ill for some weeks, 
. and had submitted to an operation for the latter disease a 
: short time since. 
He was born in New York city on Oct. 9, 1837, and was the 
■ eldest son of the late Capt. Richard W. Meade, U. S. N., an 
- elder brother of the late Gen, Meade, who commanded the 
Army of the Potomac from June, 1863, till the close of the 
'Civil War, and who fought the battle of Gettysburg in July, 
il863. He was the great-grandson of George Meade, of Philk- 
fdelphia, a wealthy merchant and shipowner of that city. 
IHe was third cousin to Frederick Maitland, the present Earl 
(Of Lauderdale, hereditary standard bearer of Scotland. 
He was appointed midshipman from California Oct. 3, 1850, 
and attended the Naval Academy until Nov. 20, 1851, when 
he went to sea, being present at the "Koszta affair" in 
Smyrna, in July, 1853. In October, 1855, he returned to the 
Naval Academy, where he stayed about sis months. He 
■went through the grades of acting master, master and lieu- 
tenant, and from Qct. 29,' 1861, to Jan, 3, 1862, served as in- 
structor in gunnery to volunteer officers on board the receiv- 
ing ship Ohio, at Boston. After this he served in the North 
and Soiith Atlantic blockading squadrons as lieutenant 
commander, and then he was on duty in command of the 
ironclad Louisville. Here he did active and valuable service 
In breaking up guerilla warfare. Later he commanded the 
steamer United States in the search after the privateer Ta- 
cony, and during the July riots, in 1863 in New York, he 
commanded the naval battalion. 
He commanded the Marblehead, of the South Atlantic 
blockading squadron, for six months, and on Dec. 25, 1863, he 
was in the battle of Stone River. During the battle the 
Marblehead was struck thirty times, and three of those on 
board were killed and six wounded. Three days later Meade 
landed with a force of 100 men, destroyed the batteries, and 
brought away two guns. 
He next commanded the Chicora, of the W^est Coast 
blockading squadron, under Admiral Parragut. In Janix- 
ary, 1865, he ran out of the Calcasieu River in the face of a 
much greater force and destroyed the blockade runner 
Delphina. 
After the war he was kept actively employed. In 1868 he 
was commissioned commander, and negotiated a commer- 
cial treaty in the Samoan Islands. « 
When the ya,cht America was in the possession of the Gov- 
ernment he was in command , and under his direction she was 
refitted and sailed in the second race for the America's Cup 
against Cambria, in 1870. 
He became a captain in 1880. He commanded the Van- 
dalia for three years. He was Naval Commissioner to the 
Chicago Exposition. In 1894 he was promoted to the rank 
of rear admiral, and soon after retired. 
He married, in 1865, a daughter of the late Rear Admiral 
Paulding, U. S. N., and by this marriage had one son and 
four daughters. -, 
Admiral Meade was associated with the Society of Naval 
Architects from its organization, being one of its vice-presi- 
dents. He read a very interesting paper at the opening of 
the session of 1894, and he was always ready to take part in 
the discussions. 
The Solent Classes Racing Association. 
The Solent Classes Racing Association is an organization 
composed of the various yacht clubs about the Solent and 
the Isle of Wight, its object being to regulate the vast 
amount of racing which takes place every season in these 
favored waters. While racing under the Y. R. A. rules, the 
Association has certain regulations of its own, to cover 
points not provided for by the Y. R, A. One of the working 
members of the Association is Lieut.-Col. J. T. Bucknill, of 
the Royal Southampton Y. C. (Thalassa), who for the past 
five years has compiled and publidhed a small handbook of 
rules and general information relating to the Association , 
under the title of "Almanac — Yacht Racing in the Solent 
Classes." The sixtli edition of the book has just reached us. 
The preface is novel and characteristic of the writer: 
"This almanac now enters upon its sixth year, and has there- 
fore lasted for a period equal to one- tenth of her Majesty's 
reign to date. It continues to give satisfaction to many of 
her Majesty's lieges who sail on the Solent in yachts. An 
honest endeavor is made to raise the almanac each year to a 
higher level. This of course reduces the rating it receives, 
or, what is tantamount, enables us to increase the sale with- 
out increasing the rating. 
The main points worthy of notice in 1896 were: 
1. The consolidation of the new Solent Classes Racing As- 
sociation. 
2. The successful introduction of a class in which the hull 
sails and spars were as nearly alike as possible. 
3. The failure of the new Y, R. A. rule of rating to produce 
the wholesome type intended. 
4. The wrangling about measurements and certificates. 
5. The owners' strike at Yarmouth on Aug, 20. 
6. The introduction of distinguishing racing numbers on 
the mainsails of racing yachts in the Solent classes. 
"The Almanac cup for 1897 will be given to the Redwing 
class, and will probably be raced for at Calshot on June 9, at 
the regatta of the Solent Classes Racing Association." 
Thalassa. 
The Almanac contains a list of all the Solent clubs with 
their fixtures and courses, tide tables, charts of the various 
courses, and other useful matter. 
The Royal Ulster "Challenge." 
The detailed report of the- annual dinner of the Royal 
Ulster Y. C. shows it to have been a most enjoyable affair 
socially, with some very enthusiastic responses to the toasts. 
There is nothing in the report, however, to waiTant the idea 
of a challenge for the America's Cup; as we surmised, it was 
merely another case of after-dinner talk. The Field com- 
ments as follows: 
The dinner of the Royal Ulster Y. C. apjiears to have been, 
a very striking ceremony, and the enthusiasm of the mem- 
bers even carried them so far as to talk about that Will-o'- 
the-Wisp, the America Cup, and building a yacht to chal- 
lenge for it after she has won the Queen's Cup at Cowes. 
The quest of the grail was a trifle compared with the quest 
for the cup won by the America, and we trust that if the 
Pi>oyal Ulster Y. C. does back a challenge for it that it will be 
couched in some such terms as Sir George Newnes placed be- 
fore the Royal London Y. C. This club, it is true, declined 
to forward the challenge, but then the Royal London Y. C,, 
like many other English and Scotch, has made a strong op- 
position to the illegal document known as the "New Deed of 
Gift," and until that document is burnt there is little chance 
of any British yacht club backing a challenge for the 
America Cup again. Nobody actually knows what the con- 
ditions were that the Royal Yacht Squadron agreed to when 
the club forwarded Lord Dunraven's challenge to the New 
York Y. C, but it is understood that the squadron will not 
forward any more challenges for the cup— at least not with- 
out a more definite understanding than can be arrived at by 
cablegrams. 
We shall be very glad to hear that the Ulster people really 
intend to build a Queen's Cup yacht, and that the builder 
will be Mr. Hilditch, of Carrickfergus, whose work is most 
excellent, and he is capable of putting into form any design, 
however elaborate it may be. We print in another column 
a summary of the speeches made at the Royal Ulster Y. C 
dinner by the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, the Marquis of 
Londonderry, the Lord Mayor of Belfast, etc. It certainly 
looks as if a yacht of some kind will be built, but we hope 
that the after-dinner enthusiasm will not over-ride the judg- 
ment and discretion which we have learned by experience are 
necessary in challenging for the America Cup. 
Corinthian T. C. of San Francisco. 
The Corinthian Y. C, of San Francisco is a very lively and 
active organization, in which, fortunately, racing has not 
yet reached a point where it stops cruising and general yacht- 
ing. The following lengthy programme for the season's sport 
shows that short cruises are deservedly popular in the club. 
The season opened on April 24 with a reception and review 
of the fieet; 
April 24, opening day; 25, cruise in. squadron. May 1 and 2, 
cruise to McMears; 8, open; 9, open; 15 and 16, cruise to Val- 
lejo; 22, open; 23, open; 29, open; 30, open; 31, annual regatta. 
June 5, open; 6, open; 12 and 13, cruise to Petaluma draw- 
bridge; 19, open; 20, open; 26 and 37, cruise to Marin Islands. 
July 3, cruise to Martinez; 4 and 5. Vallejo; 10 and 11, cruise 
to San Mateo; 17, open; 18, open; 24, open; 25, open; 31 and 
Aug. 1, cruise to Vallejo; 7, summer cruise; 8, accompanying 
yachts return; 14, meetjachts returning from summer cruise; 
15, home; 21, open; 22, open;i28 and 39, cruise to McNears. 
Sept. 4 and 5, outside cruise, Drake's Bay; 6, open, national 
Labor Day; 9, interclub regatta, 11 and 12, Marin Islands- 
clam chowder; 18, open; 19, open; 25 and 26, Dillon's Point. 
Oct, 2, open; 3, open; 4, open, State Labor Day; 9, Corin- 
thian Cove; iO, Corinthian games; 16, closing day; 17, cruise 
in squadron. 
Important if True. 
The California Y, G. was to have had a banquet on Satur- 
day night at its club house, on the other side of the estuary. 
It only had part of one. 
When the guBsts sat down something was missing— there 
was no life to the feast. As the semi-banquet progressed, 
the absence of nut-brown ale became more and more painful. 
The guests drank glass after glass of Alameda water, and 
its weight on their stomachs was about equal to the depres- 
sion of their spirits. 
Finally one bold mariner could stand it no longer. He 
asked in good man-of-war language for something stronger. 
Then the harrowing story had to be told. 
When the material for the banquet was ordered, one of 
the most important items was a keg of beer. It was a good- 
sized, heavy keg, and it was duly delivered at the boat' that 
was to convey it to the chib house. 
The man in the boat knew a great deal more of beer than 
he did of the law of gravity and displacement and relative 
buoyancy, and he at once concluded that it would be easief 
to tow the keg off to the club house than to take it in the 
boat. It would save a lift. 
With great confidence he rolled the keg into the watei* 
and grasped a piece of rope with which to tow it. The keg 
sunk and the boatman waited forit to bob up again. But it 
didn't bob; and the boatman waited many minutes in vain. 
Then he realized that an iron-looped barrel full of beer will 
sink. 
He procured some grappling irons, but that keg is still 
somewhere in the estuary, and the jolly tars did not splice 
the main brace at the banquet.— Oa7clan(Z Tribune, 
, Pioneer. 
The so-called "steam house-boat," Pioneer, designed by 
H. C. Wintringham and built by Marvel & Co., of Newbufgh, 
N. Y., for George E. Chisholm, was successfully launched 
on May 6, being christened by Mrs, Chisholm. The vessel ia 
not a house-boat, but a veritable steam yacht, with twin 
screws a,nd schooner rig. The name has been given to her 
merely because of her unusual beam and ample deck house. 
S»ieis 13,5ft. over all,"30ft. beam, 10ft. 3in. hold, and 5ft. 6in. 
•draft. The engines are triple compound, 10)-^, and 16 by 
lOin., two in number, with an Almy watertube boiler. The 
maindeck is covered with a house which leaves only a small 
open space at the bow and stern, the forward part of this 
house containing the owner's rooms, guests' rooms, dining 
saloon, bath rooms, etc. The pantry is thwartships, about 
the middle of the deck house, and abaft it are the engine and 
boiler, the galley, officers' messroom, staterooms, etc. The 
sides of this house extend out to the rail, as in the ordinary 
river steamboat; on the upper deck are two houses, the pilot 
house forward and a saloon abaft, separated by a short space, 
but under the same roof; ample awnings have also been pro- 
vided. 
The hull is of steel, with four compartments, the auxili- 
ary plant for electric lighting, ice making, refrigerating, etc., 
is very complete. Two pole masts provide for a moderate 
sail plan. Considering the special purpose of the yacht, 
comfortable life afloat on inland waters regardless of speed, 
the wide departure from the conventional dimensions and 
arrangements of the average steam yacht, are fully justified 
by the results obtained. 
The Green Lake Y. C. Challenge Cup. 
The Green Lake Y. C, of Dartford, Wis., has just sent 
out invitations to the other yacht clubs on the Wisconsin 
lakes to participate in the contest for the challenge cup 
given this year by it. The full conditions of the contest 
appeared in the Forest and Stream of March 13, but have 
since been slightly amended, the limit of crew being now, in 
addition to helmsman, one man for every 4ft. of racing 
length (in place of l.w.l. length) exceeding one-half of said 
racing length, and each man being represented by a weight 
of 1501bs. when the yacht is measured. The club 'is prepar- 
ing for the liveliest season of its history; new racing boats 
are being built and new courses have been laid out. 
Cockatoo. 
The first of the four Herreshoff "raceabouts" that were 
designed and built for C. S, Eaton, of Marblehead, to replace 
the famous Cock Robin, was launched on April 27 and had 
her trial trip off Bristol next day. On May 1 she started 
from Bristol around the Cape with Mr. Eaton on board and 
Mr. W. P. Fowle at the stick, Mr. Arthur Dean Foss joining 
the party at Newport. Cockatoo is 31ft. over all, gift, l.w.l., 
7ft. 4in. beam and 5ft. 6in. draft, her lead keel being reported 
as of 8,5001bs. weight, the minimum limit of the class. She 
has a very low house, a mere roof on the coaming. The rig, 
of oOOsq. ft, , is rather higher than Cock Robin's and propor- 
tionately shorter on the base. Mr. Fowle will handle in her 
races. The three other boats of the class, for W. 0, Gay, H. 
M. Sears and D. C. Percival, Jr., are not yet completed. 
Messrs. Gay and Sears will race their boats around the Cape. 
Hoodlum. 
The 24ft. racing yacht designed by J. R. Purdon and built 
by Fenton & White, Manchester, Mass., for Messrs. A. H. 
Higginson and Reginald Boardman, has been named by 
them Hoodlum. She is 32ft. over all, 34ft. l.w 1. with crew 
and 21ft. without crew, 8ft. 6in. beam, 9in. draft of hull, and 
8ft. total draft with board down. Her sail area is 825sq. ft. 
She is rigged as a sloop, with a moderately long bowsprit. 
The overhang is mostly forward, the stern being cut off 
square. A special set of ways has been built for her at 
Manchester, and when not in use she will be kept ashore. 
The White Bear Y. C. has definitely decided not to enter 
on the undertaking of a new club house this year, and will 
probably accept a proposal made by Col. W. W. Price, the 
receiver of the Ramaley property at Lake Shore. Times are 
hard and there is not enough money in the treasury of the 
club to prosecute the work of a new house, and the under- 
taking, while by no means abandoned, will be postponed 
until next year. " The club will not take a lease of the old 
club house" at Dellwood. Many of the members are opposed 
to the Dellwood house, on the score of inconvenience and 
the inadequacy of the plant. Col. Price has shown a liberal 
spirit in his proposition to the club. He will make no ctiarge 
to the club, excepting for the use of the dancing hall, which 
will be called into requisition for dances and entertainments. 
Certain rooms and balconies will be reserved for the especial 
use of the club, including a room for the ladies. For the 
week of the interlake regatta, the pavilion will be the ex- 
clusive possession of the club. A new dock will be built for 
the accommodation of the club boats. The racing course on 
the lake will be a little changed to accommodate the new 
starting point. With the more convenient headquarters, the 
races this summer can be started at 8 o'clock. Peterson, of 
Minnetonka, is building for C. M Griggs and a .syndicate a 
new boat to be called Akela, which is expected to beat Tartar, 
the winner of last .summer. Messrs. Ordway and Elmer will 
sail Alfrida this season. Several other new boats are build- 
ing, and the season is sure to be a lively one. — St. Paul De- 
spatch. 
