April 30, 1898.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
358 
The French Torpedo Boat Ariel. 
The spirited picture which we reproduce from Le 
Yacht represents one of the later French torpedo boats 
of the sea-going type, a comparatively new vessel from 
the Normand works at Havre, which was sunk on the 
night of March 24 by the French cruiser the Friant, 
while both were taking part in the practice maneuvers 
oflf Brest, France. The Ariel, under command of 
Lieut. Benoit, had exchanged signals with the Friant 
about I A. M., both running without lights, in a smooth 
sea, but a very dark night. A short time after, the Friant 
running about 10 knots and the Ariel 13 to 14, the latter 
crossed the course of the former, and though the Friant 
was instantly sent astern at full speed as soon as the 
torpedo boat was discovered, it was too late to avoid a 
collision. The Ariel 'was struck well forward, in the offi- 
cers' cabin, one of the second assistant engineers, who 
was asleep in his berth, narrowly escaping a blow that 
would have cost him his feet and legs. The Ariel was 
cleared and hauled alongside the Friant, her crew board- 
ing the latter; then she was taken in tow, but she quick- 
ly settled by the head and disappeared in 30 fathoms of 
water, some 10 miles off shore. She had proved a very 
successful boat, making 26 knots on her official trial, and 
could be depended on for 22 to 23 knots in service. 
Hermione. 
Hermione, steam yacht, was one of the first of the 
pleasure fleet purchased by the United States Govern- 
ment a few weeks since. She was designed by G. L. 
Watson and built by Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley, Scot- 
land, for Messrs. R. G. & J. A. Allan, in 1891. She was 
brought to this country under charter by Robert Goelet 
in 1895, and in the following year was purchased by the 
late Henry L. Pierce, of Boston, by whose estate she 
has just been sold. She is iS4ft. between perpendiculars, 
i4Sft. l.w.l., 22ft. Sin. beam, and 13ft. depth, her tonnage 
being 360 T. M. She has quadruple expansion engines, 
IS, 23, 30 and 45in. by 3oin. She is a very handsome 
and shipshape craft, and well fitted and finished. We 
are indebted to Le Yacht for the illustration. 
Model Yachting. 
Like their fellows in the larger branch of the sport, 
the model yachtsmen have of late been working toward 
union and combined eft'ort, and with such good results 
that after correspondence and work by committees of 
the different clubs a meeting was held in February, at 
which the following constitution was adopted: 
NAME. 
1. The name of this organization shall be the Model 
Yacht Racing Union of North America. 
OBJECTS. 
2. The objects of the Union shall be to encourage and 
stimulate model yacht designing, sailing and racing in 
North America. 
ORGANIZATION. 
3. All recognized model or miniature yacht clubs in 
good standing, composed of members of lawful age, hav- 
ing sailing stations in North America, shall be entitled to 
representation in the Union. 
REPRESENTATION. 
4. Each club shall be represented in the Union by three 
delegates, one of whom shall be the commodore of the 
club. The other two delegates shall be selected advisedly 
from the regatta committee. 
JURISDICTION. 
5. The powers of the Union shall be advisory, and no 
club shall be bound by the action of the Union until two- 
thirds of the clubs composing the Union have ratified 
such action. 
MANAGEMENT. 
6. The affairs of the Union shall be managed by a 
council of seven representatives, who shall be elected 
annually by the Union at its annual meeting, and who 
shall have the power to fill vacancies in their number. 
Not more than two representatives from the same club 
shall be eligible for election to the council. 
DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL. 
7. It shall be the duty of the council to pass upon 
the eligibility of clubs to representation in the Union, 
to appoint special officers and committees, to frame rac- 
ing rules and arrange dates for union racing events for 
adoption by the Union; to determine and settle all ques- 
tions and disputes between members of the Union re- 
lating to model yachting which may be referred to them 
for decision, which decision shall be final, and to take 
such steps as they may consider necessary and expedi- 
ent to carry into effect the objects of the Union. 
The council shall elect a chairman, secretary, treasurer 
and .statistician. 
MEETINGS. 
8. The annual meeting of the Union shall be held in 
New York on the evening of the Friday immediately fol- 
lowing the second Monday in April. The fall meeting 
shall be held on the second Friday evening in November. 
The council shall call special meeting of the Union 
upon the written request of the representatives of two 
clubs. 
Four representatives, representing two clubs, shall con- 
stitute a quorum at any meeting of the Union. 
The council shall appoint such times and places for its 
meetings as they consider expedient and four members 
shall constitute a quorum at any such meeting. 
ASSESSMENTS. 
9. The expenses of the Union shall be borne equally by 
all clubs belonging to the Union. 
A'^OTING. 
10. Each representative shall be entitled to one vote, 
and voting by proxy shall be allowed. 
AMENDMENTS. 
11. Amendments to these rules may be adopted at any 
meeting by a two-thirds vote of the Union, provided due 
notice of such amendment has been given in the call for 
the meeting. 
A meeting was held on April 15 in New York, at which 
officers were elected as follows: Chairman, Com. E. 
E. Flynt, Wave Crest Y. C; Sec'y, George F. Pigott, 
American M. Y. C. ; Council, F. S. Sweeny and W. H. 
Dixie, New York M. Y. G.; S. H. Lane and George 
Orrok, American M. Y. C.; and E. E. Flynt and E. B. 
Hopkinson, Wave Crest Miniature Y. C. Another mem- 
ber will be elected. 
The first general regatta, open to Union clubs, will 
probably be held in the middle of September. 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
The Pine Lake Y. C. has accepted the challenge of the Pe- 
waukee Y. C. to race for the Pabst cup on July 9, on Pine Lake. 
A fin-keel, similar to the noted Dilemma, is now building at the 
shops of Hallock & Son, Center Moriches, Long Island, for J. B. 
King, owner of Elsemarie, schooner, who will use her about 
Newport. She is 38ft. over all, 25ft. l.w.l., 7ft. Gin. beam. 
Three of the one-design schooners are now under way at the 
yard of Brown & Son, Tottenville, the order originally placed on 
City Island, by Mr. Buchanan, having been cancelled and later 
placed with Brown & Son. 
The D. Van Nostrand Co., of New York, has recently published 
two very successful and practical works on nautical subjects. The 
first of these, the "Naval Militiaman's Guide," by Lieut. John H. 
Barnard, 1st Naval Battalion, N. Y., is particularly opportune at 
the present moment, when the attention of the whole nation is 
directed to its naval fleet, and when the papers are filled with naval 
terms, with which the average landsman is unfamiliar. The book 
is intended as an elementary guide to the landsman in the imder- 
standing and use of sea terms, and in that work, such as boat hand- 
ling, which falls to the new recruit in the naval militia. A short 
chapter on "Phraseology" defines some of the more important 
nautical terms, in particular those which are most likely to be mis- 
applied, such as "pulley" for block. Other chapters deal with rigs 
and types of vessels, spars and standing rigging, sails and running 
rigging, ground taclcle, handling boats under oars, handling boats 
under sail, and the handling of steamers. The book is clearly 
written, and the definitions and explanations are explicit, and in 
simple language easily understood by the non-technical reader. One 
useful feature is a reference index to various standard works, such 
as "Luce's Seamanship," where more extended information on 
seamanship, gunnery, navigation, etc., may be found. Apart from 
those for whom it is specially intended, the young naval militia- 
men, the book will be of value to all who propose to follow the 
stirring news of naval warfare which will fill the magazines and 
papers for some time to come. The price is $1,25. 
The second book, "Model Engines and Small Boats," by Nevil 
Monroe Hopkins, opens up a most inviting field to every boy 
possessed of love of engines and boats, and a fair amount of me- 
chanical ingenuity. It deals with the construction of model engines 
of various types, not from castings tor which expensive patterns 
are required, with an elaborate outfit of tools, but frorn such 
simple materials as brass tubing, sheet and wire, easily obtauied in 
small quantities and readily manipulated by means of a modest 
plant of files and drills. The author begms 'with the simplest 
form of single cylinder oscillating engine and shows how it may 
be constructed from a short length of brass tubing and a little 
sheet brass and wire, leading up to a very practical and efficient 
model of a slide-valve engine with reversing gear. The various 
operations, each in itself .simple and requiring only files, drills 
and taps, are described in detail, with numerous illustrations. The 
subject of boilers is treated in the same manner, directions being 
given for the construction of several types. A short chapter on 
elementary designing tells the amateur how to plan out his work 
in advance on paper. The author follows a novel system of 
hull construction, the wooden frame being "plated" with strong 
cardboard, which is protected from dampness by six to eight 
coats of shellac. This simple method is recommended by him as 
producing a strong, light and watertight hull. The amateur who 
studies the book carefully will find no limits but his personal skill 
to the production of quite elaborate working models from such 
materials as may be had at a small expense from any dealer in 
small tools and machinists' supplies. The price is $1.25. 
This is about the tune oi ttie year when the yaclitsmen are suffer- 
ing most from the yachting icver. it nrsi makes its appearance 
about the middle ol i^ebruary in a tendency to linger aoout pier- 
heads, bridges, or anywhere tliat there is a sight ot tlie blue water 
and a snift ot the salt air. Later it develops into the desire to 
visit the boat as she lies hauled up lor the winter, and crawling 
m under the canvas cover, to poke about in the well-known nooks 
and corners, think over the good times of the past, and plan 
changes and improvements lor the luture. But it is about the 
first of April that the early yachtini? lever is at its height. That 
is the almost uniform lin.e to begin putting the boats into the 
water; the yacht-yards are humming like bee-hives, and everyone 
is working to get his boat in commission as soon as possible. And 
from the time that the work of getting the boat ready first begins, 
the real enthusiast finds it hard work to let a day pass witnout 
paying a visit to his pet, and noting what had been done since 
his last visit. It gladdens his heart to *ee the ugly canvas covering 
swept away, and his craft's graceful lines once more in sight, and 
then to follow every step ol the transformation; to see the rusty 
sides once more shine with snowy white or glistening black, the 
stubby lower sticks, surmounted by the graceful, tapering topmasts, 
with their sweeping, airy drapery of running and standing rigging, 
the bright wood once more clean and polished, and the cushions 
and draperies in place in the cabin; and then some day at low tide 
to haul the cradle down to the water's edge and wait for the 
rising tide. What is more blissful to a thorough yachtsman than 
the first lieave of his craft under him, as the water lifts her from 
her cradle, unless it is to feel the kick of the wheel in his hands, 
as with sleeping canvas and roaring bow she bends to the wind, 
and goes sweeping away from the city and its wharves for her sum- 
mer anchorage. — Land and IVater. 
Ihe Pacific Interclub Vacht Association has published a very 
handsomely made code book, containing its special yacht code, 
for the use of the associated fleet ot San Francisco Harbor. The 
code signals and the club burgees are beautifully printed, and the 
book is in appearance a credit to the makera. 'ihe Association in- 
cludes the San Francisco V. C, Pacific Y. C, Corinthian Y. C, 
Encinal Y. C, California Y. C. and South Bay Y. C. The code 
is prepared with special reference to the locality. 
Mr. H. W. Hanan, who has recently sold Acushla to Com. Wills, 
Indian Harbor Y. C, has ordered a 51-footer from C. C. Hanley. 
The new yacht will be a centerboard boat, and will race against 
Syce. 
American Canoe Association, J897-98* 
Commodore, F. L. Bunnell, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Sec'y-Treas., C. V. Schuyler, 309 Sixth avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Librarian, W. P. Stephens, Bayonne, N. J. 
PURSERS. 
Atlantic Division, Win. M. Carpenter, Main street, Sing Sing, 
N. Y. 
Central Division, Laurence C. Woodworth, Gouverneur, N. Y. 
Eastern Division, F. J. Burrage, West Newton, Mass. 
Northern Division, Edgar C. Woolsey, 37 Charles street, Ottawa, 
Can. 
Annual dues, $1; initiation fee, $1. 
Western Canoe Association, \S95-96* 
Commodore, C. F. Pennewell, Detroit, Mich. 
Vice-Cotnraodore, Nat. H. Cook, Chicago, 111. 
Rear-Commodore, E, H. Holmes, Milwaukee, Wis. 
Sec'y-Treas., W. D. Stearns, Detroit, Mich. 
Executive Committee: R. M. Lamp, Madison, Wis.; C. J. StfiM 
man, Cincinnati, O.; F. W. Dickens, Milwaukee, WU. 
A. G A, Membership. 
Applications for membership may be made to the purser of the 
division in which the applicant resides on blanks furnished by 
purser, the applicant becoming a member provided no objection 
be made within fourteen days after his name has been officially 
published in the Forest anit Stream. 
Eastern Division. 
Wm. J. Osgood, Wawbewawa Canoe Association, Wellesley Hills, 
IVIass. 
W. P. Brown, 21 St. Botolph street, Boston. 
ARIEL, FRENCH TORPEDO BOAT. 
From Le Yacht. 
