The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-12
TRIP TO SANDY HOOK.
SCENES ON the EXCURSION BOATS.


nasScn,s snorts form somewhat important item in
national history and their character goes long way 10
prove countrys In the matter OF civilixa
tuA TIE popular Indignation which has led to the abo
Mtson OF such amusements rs cock lighting
bu batting hoe genus osmc, bespeaks an advance not
saly the tastes but in the morals Of The people con-
temning them IL indeed certain fact that just in
the same proportion a. nations sports are noble and
manly just In the same degree arc ts inhabitants in
healthy and prosperous condition. II il this account
that much the duty Of Journalist 10 record great
events connected with the sporting with the literary
or political world II this is the case, scarcely any
student Of history VIII deny must be admitted
that has rarely il ever been the duty Of the press TO
give publicity Of greater interes. sporting
matters than yesterdays start their 5000 miles, trip
Of the yachts engaged great trans atlantic match
Ocean matches have been quite specially with the
New York Yacht Club during this last year. Not con
tent with trying their powers the comparatively quiet
Of the bay and Sound many Of the and quick
os vessels OF the feet have engaged In contests which
have inaugurat new epoch in yachting matters, and
which have called forth small amount Of comment
om the sporting journals OF this and other countries
The Fleetwing vesa. Halcyon, L'Hrondellc and Hen
ret,a have each OF them proved their going
during the past months The Henrietta and vesta,
will be remembered by the readers of the
herald, sailed their last match round Cape May
. few months ago, In weather Of very tenn
peetuous character So threatening, indeed, was
the appearance Of things at the time OF their START
mat many vessels returned this bay, considering il
unsafe 70 proceed their voyage. and the tug char
tered TO tow the yachts to the starting point refused
from fear 10 take them 70 the appointed place The
matches which have followed have each OF Thorn proved
the contestants 10 be vessels Of amount Of
wcrthness and Of considerable speed The result Of
these various contests and tho capabilities which the
yachts developed IN them, was the formation Of the
great ocean sweepstakes the start for which
cessfully made yesterday When the match the
Atlantic to Cowes mooted, from some unexplained
cause, considerable opposition raised 70 tho idea
nom different quarters and Of contemporaries
underworld 10 throw ridicule upon the under
taking. These joers have, however, now fallen
on their heads and the start Of yesterday
has proved that those who had made up their minds
carry this great enterprise had fully counted the cost
and that having put their hands the plough they did
not look back The sceptcisms the sceptica
The incredues Of the incredulous the doubngs Of the
doubtful and the ndicule Of the eerers things OF
The past Yesterday tho commencement OF con-
tss which without is parallel in the history Of the
yachting world, and which will place American enter
Prise very prominent position before the eyes Of the
world
THE MATCH
sef has already been freely discussed all hands
70 need but little 70 be said about H. The challenge
originally stood made by the Of the Tcctwng
70 those Of the vesta the former betting 600 that their
vessel could accomplish tho distance between Sandy
Hook and the Needles, the south Of England in
less time than would be taken by the vesa The Hen
retta subsequently entered the race equal amount Of
subscription having been paid in her account For
some ums Il supposed that other yachts would enter
The sweepstakes, but which has not fully
inspred has prevented any fresh entre the three
above named vessels the only contestants for the
noble prise which has been thus accumulated.
TIE day Dxsd for the was tho second Tuesday in
December and The three yachts at began max
their preparations for tho extraordinary voyage which
shsir ownsn had pledged them Everything that could
b done 70 improve their power has been DONE
and Monday each OF the vessels bad taken UP its
Doorng In the bay, anxiously awaiting the coming
morning when they should weigh their anchors with
the Cherished expectation Of casting them In the
waters Of the British Channel Il was OF course, i'm
possible that event Of such unusual magnitude the
sailing Of three yachts from shores 70 those Of
England could fall 70 oausc considerable excite
msnt IN this city, and 70 lead many TO wish
70 zee We inauguration Of 20 Interesting contest
Tho New York Yacht Club believing this, chartered
special steamer 70 convey dts and their friends
70 The hook, addition 10 which sevemi enierprsng
owners avaned themselves Of the opportunity thus
ssrsd 70 place n the disposal Of interested public
Ne means Of witnessing sight In the annals Of
yachting
Nr1R QUEEN
Tho River Queen was the boat engaged by the Yacht
Club and cards Of invitation were circulated under the
sapcrntcpdenoe Of Mr. Norton 10 those who expressed
any wish 70 avail themselves OF the accommodation
which thu interesting steamer offered The River Queen
vessel OF Considerable historical note she was for sev
sr years shs property Of Presldent lincoln and convey
ID the commissioners to the great peace conference q,
FORTRESS Monroe. Moro recently she used 10 Anspor.
Presdent johnson from mis- csy 70 Albany on his way
70 the Douglas monument celebration o. Chicago. The
bedrooms used BY President Lincoln and Mr.. Seward
remain IN almost unsssred condition and yes.
to-day viewed by many With considsnbs interest
The Invitation cards Of the clubwers responded 70 by
about ous hundred and sixty gentlemen, among whom
were the following --fnnce DORA and Duke Gronzion
Of Rome; viscount southwoll of Epaiand; Commodore
Scvckar, Colonel Monroe. Lsonasd W. Jerome, Isaac
gsll Francis skiddy, Henry Stone Captain Conssock
nurlow Weed Commander Bel. Alexander Major, Mr.
Alfred Crsden, Commanders Bvalne, Harmony And
xreen; Dr. Hbsrsnsld George l. Schuyler. A. C. Kings
Had and many cther rentsmsn we'll known In ths
Nssnne and political world About ton o'clock the moor
yh VERY CAST on and the steamer got under weigh with
hs martial strains OF Hail columbis proceeding from
he ssad which had been provided 70 charm The Of
s~ pssssnsen The morning . glorious one, ne
damp and mugsy weather which mad during she pre.
v'cus week 20 generally prevailed seemed TO have taken
Ne departure 10 honor Of The projected trip and TO have
gwen place 70 m atmosphere when II somewhat cold
was |" The same VINE Of % braolng a nature o.
% add resh ssss TO the pleasures q short sea voyage
The sun vas unooscarsd and shoue With more hr,snc
than December Gays are wont 70 see, i,s brieh. ana
CHEEKY rays enivssns Some 81 endless vrr,e,v n
bssuy The rppIlng wsser wudsd All over with er.fs
81 every Imaginable sss and rr. ~rh their varied
sOlssd dass dApping u The wsezs, asa shslr snowy
canvas rsSscssS IN the wsvss,s dark and scnbrs
fwnn " the ssi'dinss % shore. and again rslIsvsd
~ 40 edincr Of darling wti.eness; the hues a.
sae ARRIVALS above and lie scfliy toned colon q ss