FOREST AND STREAM. 
. if ii] A Tale of the Sea. 
A Fine Yarn Spun by a Small-Boat Sailor. 
Capt. Barnes Lawrence,, captain of the port, has re- 
ceived extracts from the log book of Peter Johannsen, 
who, it may be remembered, recently made a successful 
voyage from Gibraltar to Charlotte Harbor, United States, 
in an open boat, Lotta, being accompanied only by his 
son. In going through the straits difficulty was experi- 
enced in keeping the boat from swamping, owing to heavy 
seas. On Aug. 30, at 6:30 P. M., when about thirty miles 
nor'-nor'-east of the Island of Grand Canary, while busy 
arranging the sailing gear, Johannsen noticed a strange 
man suddenly grasp the tiller, and on looking round found 
four men on board. While changing clothes, which had 
become wet with the sea water, two of the men became 
very affectionate to his son, helping him on with his dry 
clothes, etc., and speaking in a strange language. The 
third person sat down on the aft thwart in front of 
Johannsen. He seemed about fifty-five years of age, tall 
and muscular, with iron-gray hair. He was dressed in a 
white- canvas cap, without peak, and had an iron foot on 
his left leg and dark worsted trousers, while over his 
shoulders and chest he wore a Moorish garment. The 
strangers shouted to people in the distance, but Johannsen 
could not discern anj"- craft. 
The boat being hove to, all laid down for the night, the 
visitors utilizing the forward end of the boat for sleep- 
ing accommodation. On awakening in the morning 
Johannsen found his friend of the iron foot sitting astride 
of the bowsprit scanning the horizon. Falling asleep 
again, the two travelers awoke just after sunrise. On 
getting up, it was found the mysterious strangers had 
disappeared as quietly as they came. The weather having 
moderated, and after a cup of cocoa, sail was made with 
all speed possible. However, about 5 P. M. on the 31st 
the strangers made a second appearance. Two of them 
kept swinging the jib from starboard to port for some 
fifteen minutes, as if a signal to some one astern. No 
craft or boat was seen following. At dusk they left. The 
usual entries as to weather follow in the log, but nothing 
more eventful happened. On Oct. 18 the Florida coast was 
sighted, and- Pine Island was reached on Oct. 21. 
Johannsen and his son suffered no ailments 011 the voy- 
age except sunburn. On arrival 10 pounds of biscuits, 20 
gallons of water and 34 ounces of preserved meat remained 
of the stores, but the personal effects had suffered much 
from sea water. The instruments of navigation escaped 
damage. Thus ends a sea romance exciting enough for 
the lover of the sensational. Doubtless the men were 
smugglers, or something akin, who had swum from their 
craft under cover of the night, and, finding no cargo or 
valuable booty on the Lotta, eventually returned to their 
vessel, kept purposely at a safe distance to prevent identi- 
fication. — Gibraltar Correspondence of the London Tele- 
graph. ' 
Memiaid* 
Mr. Anson Phelps Stokes"" cruising sloop Mermaid, 
designed by Mr. ■ Clinton H. Crane, of Messrs. Tarns, 
Lemoine & Crane, is nearing completion at Woods' yard, 
City Island. The hull has been given its final coat of 
black paint, and the interior fittings are nearly finished. 
The boat will be completed in a few days, when she will 
proceed south for a cruise in the West Indies. The dimen- 
sions of the yacht are : Length over all, 66ft. 4in. ; length 
on the waterline, 44ft. ; forward overhang, loft. 6in. ; after 
overhang, lift. loin. ; extreme beam, 15ft.; least freeboard, 
3ft. 5in. ; freeboard at the stem, 5ft. 3in. ; freeboard at the 
stern, 3ft. iiin. ; draft, without the centerboard, 5ft. 6in. ; 
with the board down, loft. ; sail area, 2,100 sq. ft; outside 
ballast, 12 tons. 
The centerboard is below the cabin floor. The mast is 
stepped Avell aft, and with the small rig the yacht should 
be easily handled. She carries a pole mast. The frames 
are of oak, the planking yellow pine below the waterline, 
and the topsides are of cedar. The garboards, sheer 
stakes and desk beams are of oak and the deck white pine. 
Below deck the fittings are of butternut and the cockpit 
and deck are of mahogany. Aft, below deck, is the saloon, 
fitted with sofas, swinging table, sideboard and lockers. 
Forward, on the starboard side, is a toilet room, and for- 
ward again is the owner's stateroom. On the port 
side is another stateroom, and forward of this 
is a pantry, storeroom. Then comes the galley. On the 
starboard side, opposite the galley, is another stateroom, 
and then comes the forecastle. 
The 51 -Foot Qass. 
The 51ft. class will be strengthened by two new boats 
next season in addition to Altair, Shark, Syce, Sistae and 
Hussar II. There will be a new boat for Mr. J. Roger 
Maxwell, to be designed and built by the Herreshoffs, and 
another for Mr. Edward Kell)'-, now building at Hunting- 
ton's yard, from his own design. Altair and Shark will 
be strengthened and repaired, while Hussar II. will under- 
go radical changes, which it is hoped will improve her 
speed on windward work. 
The Kelly boat will be an enlarged Rochelle. She is 
7Sft. over all, 44ft. on the waterline, about 15ft. beam 
and her extreme draft is loft. 6in. The hull will draw 
about 2oin. Area of the lower working sails is 2,678 sq. 
ft., and the sail area with working jib and main topsails 
will be 3,094 sq. ft. There is a low cabin house aft and a 
good sized cockpit. She will carry a short bowsprit, and 
will be steered with a tiller. Her spars will be hollow. 
Ice Yachting:* 
The annual meeting of the South Shrewsbury Ice Boat 
and Yacht Club was held on Jan. 3, with the following 
result: Com., Benjamin P. Morris; Vice-Com., Charles 
P. Irwin; Sec'y, A. W. Cubberley; Treas., J. J. Manolt; 
Meas., E. E. Taber ; Regatta Committee, J. J. Manolt, 
D. G. Edwards, George A. Lippincott; Board of Trustees' 
W. A. Zaman, E. E. Taber, E. W. Price, J. J. Manolt and 
A. W. Cubberley. The club has arranged for a series 
of races. Mayor Morris, the new Commodore, is an en- 
thusiastic yachtsman, and the go between the North 
Shrewsbury flyers for the championship is one of the 
scheduled events. 
Ice yachting in New Jersey has begun, and the South 
Shrewsbury Ice Yacht Club has a score of boats on the ice 
at Branchport, N. J. The Leroy won the championship 
tor first-class yachts recently. Edwin E. Tabers is her 
owner. Bert Cubberley's Leota was second, finishing a 
minute behind the Leroy. W. A. Seaman's Harold was 
third. The Harold won the championship for fourth-class 
boats. 
Yacht Club Notes* 
The Lakewood Yacht Club, of Cleveland, Ohio, was 
mcorporated on Dec. 21, by Messrs. G. O. Campbell, 
Myron B, Verck, J. H. Burrows, Arthur J. Phelps, S. 
H. Lucas and L. R. Miller. Capital stock $5,000. 
^ 8^ 1^ 
The annual meeting of the Corinthian Yacht Club, of 
Philadelphia, will be held at the Hotel Bellevue, Broad 
and Walnut streets, on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 6:30 o'clock. 
The ofiicers and standing committees of the club will 
submit their reports for the past year, and an election 
for the officers and standing committees of the club for 
the current year will be held. In accordance with Article 
XII., Section 5, of the by-laws, the trustees have an- 
nounced the following nominations for the various posi- 
tions to be filled: Trustees to serve for three years, 
George H. Frazier, George C. Carson; Commodore, 
Alexander Van Rensselaer, steam yacht May; Vice-Com- 
modore, Robert J. W. Koons, schooner Priscilla; Rear- 
Commodore, E. Walter Clark, Jr., sloop Cherokee; 
Secretary, Addison F. Bancroft; Treasurer, George E. 
Kirkpatrick; Measurer, Albert C. Wood; Race Commit- 
tee, Addison F. Bancroft, Harvey J. Mitchell, Kern 
Dodge; Committee on Admissions, Charles H. Brock, 
Alexander Van Rensselaer, G. Herbert Millett, Frank H. 
Rosengarten, Brereton Pratt. The annual subscription 
club dinner will be given at the Hotel Bellevue, at 7:30 
o'clock, upon the adjournment of the annual meeting. 
1^ 8^ 
The members of the Morrisania Yacht Club, whose 
headquarters are at Cassanova, at their annual meeting 
last week elected' the following oiificers: Commodore, 
George J. Oakes; Vice-Commodore, George Stelz; Reai*- 
Commodore, Fred Daum; Fleet Captain, Charles 
Loocke; Financial Secretary, T. F. Dooley; Recording 
Secretary, Arthur Haire; Treasurer, George Charleton; 
Measurer, Wade Hixon; Sergeant-at-Arms, John 
Schroder; Steward, Ernest Kiel. Board of Directors, 
G. Ollweiler, L. Jackson, W. Hanson, T. Deckert, J. 
Schmit; i\uditor, C. E. Miller, Jr.; House Committee, 
G. Charleton, G. Stelz, J. Schroder, W. Horlocher, F. 
Starke; Regatta Committee, J. H. Curtis, W. Hixon, J. 
W. Steffens, L. Englert, H. Bartro; Mooring Committee, 
C. Staudenbaur, F. Zumbuehl, C. Hendrichs, F. Kaiser, 
R. C. Johnson. 
The annual meeting of the Horseshoe Harbor Club 
will be held at the Hotel Manhattan, New York, on 
Monday evening, Jan. 14, at 8:30 oclock. The 
following gentlemen have been nominated as officers for 
the season of 1901: Commodore, E. C. Griffen; Vice- 
Commodore, E. S. Ballon; Treasurer, Lester H. Riley; 
Secretary, Harold S. Hayward; Trustee, A. V. Smith. 
Supper will be served.- 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
"T. Griffin, who was for many years mate with the 
William O'Neill, on the Irex and the. Iverna." says the 
Yachting World, Dee. 13, "will occup.v a similar position 
on the New America Cup challenger.'' 
The Lighthouse Board announces that on or about 
Jan. 10 to a fixed white light will be established on the 
southerly end of the breakwater at the westerly side of 
the mouth of the Patchogue River, northerly side of the 
easterly part of Great South Bay, Long Island. Its 
focal plane will be fifteen feet above mean high water, 
and the light will be shown from a white shelf on a black 
post with white top and black ladder. 
4^ ^ ^ 
Henry E. Doremus died on Dec. 27 from typhoid fever. 
He was thirty-nine years old, and was well known among 
yachtsmen, being one of the founders of the Indian Har- 
bor Yacht Club in Greenwich, Conn., in 1889, and was 
its first commodore. Ever since its organization he was 
a member of the Board of Trustees of the club. 
Buchanan Winthrop died suddenly after an operation 
for appendicitis on Dec. 25. He was . a member of the 
New York Y. C. 
^ ^ ^ 
Mes.srs. Tams, Lemoine & Crane have placed an order 
with Samuel Ayers & Son, Nyack, N. Y., for a house- 
boat. She is for Mr. Joseph M. MacDonough. of the N. 
Y. Y. C, former owner of the 46ft. cutter Jessica'. 
The boat will be looft. over all, 23ft. beam and will draw 
6ft.; her engines will propel her at a speed of eight knots 
an hour. There will be eight staterooms, and her ap- 
pointments will be most complete. 
^ ^ ^ 
Yachtsmen of Greenwich, Stamford and Port Chester 
are circulating a petition with the view of asking the 
Government to make a harbor of refuge at Greenwich, by 
connecting and extending a breakwater from Great and 
Little Captains Islands. 
>t *K >5 
A contract for a new twin screw steel steam yacht has 
been placed by Mr. Leonard Lewisohn, of this city, with 
the Gas Engine and Power Co. and of Charles L. 
Seabury & Co., Consolidated, of Morris Heights. The 
vessel will be constructed of steel throughout. The di- 
mensions are: Length over all. i5Sft. ; length on water- 
line, 130ft.: beam. i8ft. ; depth, loft. : draft, 7ft. 6in. The 
yacht will be flush deck, schooner rigged with pole masts. 
There will be a deck house forward, constructed of mahog- 
any, which will be used as a dining room, and in the after end 
a butler's pantry will be arranged. Immediately follow- 
mg the forward deck house and raised above it, will be 
an officer's bridge, from which the yacht will be steered. 
There will also be an after deck house. In the forward 
part of this house will be two large cabinets, arranged 
for music and a marine library; between these cabinets 
will be fitted a piano, Avith electrical attachment. Aft 
of the owner's quarters will be two double staterooms for 
guests, with a passage way between them. Each will be 
fitted with a large berth, with drawers, dressing case, 
mirrors, hooks, eljc. The vessel will have steam steering 
gear and a steam windlass; it will be steam heated 
throughout, and arranged with electric call buttons in 
the different compartments. The guaranteed speed is 
18 miles an hour, and the yacht will be ready for delive'-y 
on Maj I. 
^ ^ ^ 
A few weeks ago Mr. H. C. Baxter's steam yacht 
Neckan, while hauled out at Rockland, Maine, for the 
winter, took fire, and before the flames could be extin- 
guished the forward part of the boat was destroyed. Then 
the after part fell from the ways into the water. That 
portion of the boat was raised and her boiler and ma- 
chinery were found to be in fair condition. Mr. Baxter 
has decided to rebuild, and will do so at once, hoping 
to have the yacht ready to go into commission about 
April 15. 
>•» >l >», 
At the Jacob yard. City Island, the plans of a new keel 
yawl for Mr. John Hyslop, the official measurer of the 
N. Y. Y. C, have been received. The boat is from de- 
signs of Mr. Hyslop, and the dimensions are 47ft. 6in. 
over all. 33ft- 7in. waterline, loft. 7in. beam and 6ft. 
7in. draft. There will be 13,000 pounds of lead on the 
keel, and her interior plan and fittings will be similar to 
the ya.w\ Audax, one of Mr. Hyslop's earlier boats, plans 
of which have appeared in Forest and Stream. 
The steam yacht Enterprise, owned by Mr. Frank B. _ 
Perrin, N. Y. Y. C, left Baltimore Jan. 3 for the West 
Indies, calling at Virginia ports. 
^ 
Among the well known yachts laid up in the Green- 
port Basin and Construction Co. are Vigilant, Isolde, Kat- 
rina. Atlantic, Free Lance, Altair, Willada. Nirvana and 
Dilemma; also many smaller ones. 
4^ 
Charles Wilson and George Butler, two of the crew 
of Mr. A. Schermerhorn's steam yacht Free Lance, were 
asphyxiated on the night of Dec. 31 by gas escaping 
from the fire room of the yacht. The yacht was in her 
winter quarteFs at Greenpoint, L. I. 
^ 
The steam yacht Arcturus, owned by Mr. Rutherford 
Stujwesant, N. Y. Y. C, left Southampton, England, for 
the Mediterranean, and her pwner jyas to "join her at 
Marseilles. ' ' • v . ' * 
Manning's Yacht Agency has sold for Mr. J. Fred 
Ackerman his sloop yacht Pocahontas to Mr. John C. 
Sharp, Jr., of Taunton, Mass. The same agency has sold 
for Mr. W. L. Crow his sloop yacht Ariadne to Mr. F. J, 
Tuthill. 
^ ^ ^ 
The Rhode Island Y, C. is to have a one design class 
of i8-footers; some ten boats have already been con- 
tracted for. They will be designed by Mr. Fred. S. 
Nock, of Providence, R. I., and will be. built by the 
Holmes Shipbuilding Co., of Mystic, Conn. 
Designs Recently Published in Potest and Stream. 
25-footer Flirt, Oct. 13-20. 
2i-footer Tattoo, Oct. 27. 
Minnesota, Nov. 17. 
19ft. sailboat, Nov. 24 and Dec. I. 
Cutter Isolde, Dec. 8. 
Catboat Lazy Jack, Dec. 15-22. 
Race boat Jolly Roger, Dec. 29. 
Bald Eagle II. and ice boat, Jan. 5. ; 
A. C A. Membership. 
The following have been proposed for membership to 
the A. C. A. : 
Atlantic Division — ^John R. Brophy. 
Western Division — Charles Catlin, Franklin S. Catlin 
and W. P. Forbush, all of Chicago, 111. 
100 spommen's f ina$. 
Some of the Queer Discoveries Made by Those W&q Att 
Looking for Game or Fish* 
38. 
"About the year 1550," says Mr. Brand (an early writer 
of a history of Newcastle), "the very marvelous event re- 
lated by Bourne and others, concerning Mr. Anderson's, 
ring dropping by accident over the bridge as he was 
fingering it, is said to have happened, and this very iden- 
tical ring was brought back again some time after in a 
fi.sh bought at Newcastle Market by a servant of the 
above gentleman, and most unexpectedly restored to its 
owner. Bourne tells us that the gentleman from whose 
finger the ring fell was Mayor of Newcastle. He adds. 
■On the inside of the ring, just under the signet, is the 
picture of a salmon, in commemoration of the fish and 
ihe transaction; on the one side is the letter F, and on 
the other the letter 'A, in commemoration of the person; 
calling it at the same time a curiosity so great that not 
(inly the whole kingdom cannot show the like of it, but 
the whole world beside.' 'This ring,' .says Brand 'is at 
present (A. D. 1783) in the possession of Mr.' Edvyard 
Anderson, merchant.' " 
39. 
Some of the reminiscences of the old settlers of Mil- 

