The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-18
cHTIN O.!


rapid drive from the st. Nicholas Hotel 70 the foo
OF Twenty nh street, at the East river the LIST day
Of August, 1867, put board the Eva, the soop
yacht OF our two young friends M. Charles Penn-
man and Mr.. Robert " McKim. and made the occu-
pants Of comfortable saterooms to acquire FIRST
perience in the most exciting and interesting Of all
| amusements-to those who afford 1t. French
nan's head, with white cap and black mustache,
appearing above opening in the deck forward we
on board gave promise which not falsiHed.
far eating concerned and to drinking ii did
honor in its facilities to tho cuisine VIC had ample
| opportunities of knowing during the week the Eva
| claimed US as her guests
In due time the anchor was weighed, and in tow OF
tug, and in company with the Magic and Feetwngihe
ocean racerwe began the cruise, our first port being
\ Glen Cove. An incident not in the programme came
near making the voyage short one for we swayed
and swred through Hell Gate head ing 10 the east
ward the ebb e struck tho port bow and now dart
| ing oil 70 the westward as mimic whirlpool spent s
strength the starboard bow OF the soop, work
was given TO hemp IL seems than it was twisted 10 per-
form, and the parting OF the hawser Of the tug left the
Fleetwing and the Eva at the mercy OF the tide Then
came the tramping OF feet on the deck and shout and
were given required by the sharp exigency of the
moment. We had just passed the Gridron on our
lett, and a glance, as the tug steamed forward
over it like racehorses in their wild There
thing to be done to save the vessel from destruction
and there were many chances against the success even
OF this alternative. The anchor let co. The
heavy chain ratified through the hawser hole, and then
there a sudden jerk-and then grating drag--and
then the dashed and Kissed against tie bow. and
edded around the chan, as the anchOr-good anchor
caught in the rocks the bottom and we could watch
mad rush of the tide the Grdiron, fifty feet
only from stern, and be thankful to Him. in whose
hands the issues OF all things for our escape After
we had drawn long breatls enough 10 test the sound
lungs wc observed boats of wrecSers
who mad pulled out from shore and landed on cIump
OF rocks TO the westward, in the expectation of hun
drcd dollars head, they saved from the peril
which would have followed wreck upon the Gridron.
This was not lucky commencement OF the voyage,
bu. the French COOK did wonders The Roederer was 10
prime order and by the time we reached Glen Cove
had made acquaintance with the powers OF grdron
TO the iorgetting Of The chances of another.
drZzly, rainy, foggy night at Glen Cove where tho
officers entertanod BY sIr. Kennard, was followed
BY dull morning which ushered IN dag that tested
the sailing qualities Of every vessel in the squadron IL
was one OF great excitement even 10 us who were not
wholly nexpert in ouch matters The wind was fresh,
and fresbeping every minute, when the vessels left
Glen Glove for Huntington, aud yet sail was roefed
but all, some sixteen seventeen, stood calamity
on "lhere goes jib-boom," cried our sailing master
great schooner came up into the wind 10 clear the
wreck rhere goes boa, of the cranesn was Tie next
cry There goes another" followed after See there,
hcrei' was the exclamation of the squadron
nearly her beam ends in the Increasing gale;
and all the sbore brightly, save whom scuddng
clouds hurried the Sound and caused momenary
gloom AS for the Eva her heavy spars and great main
sail required such handling experienced rider gives
tender mouthed and blooded animal whose
tious management depends safety, If nothing more;
and it pleasant sight Nh. Half, sailing
master tall Long Islander brown berry, with not
an ounce Of else than whip cord muscle about him.
watch the vast canvass, ana keep it shiverng just
enough to allow il out half of power whose
fulness might have made our spars follow
our ueighbor,s jibboom into the sea- When
heavier gust than usual swept the Sound one
might the sailing master, hand grip the spokes Of
the wheel harder, while he chewed his tobacco with
vchemence that fair weather never witnessed. Now
and then there word exchanged with weather
beaten snewy old fellow, whom Hat called "UnGo
Nat'-and when Uncle Nat said ''She do it," she did
until we reached point near port where opposing
tides met, and the vessel hceled and the water
the deck TO the trunk and the voice OF tho waves, IS
and the jib boom bent like whipstocs; and
then the sailing master in quiet way spoke 10
uncie MAJ, saying ne tnougns Would H.. re
liards bit; and then Uncle Nat. and Jack, aud
Jessie, and Miles and Coman sprang to the haAiards,
and the head of the great sail settling we passenge's
unquestona5y had more comfort, as the Eva, nov
bearing away, SKINNED over the seething waves inc
Huntington harbor, and all the gallant feet was SON
anchor dropped and iAt guns lrcd, and the whfe
flags went up for diuner time, and those whose exps.
erca was bat email admitted as they parook Of the rh
vands and quaned the rare wines, that yachting
no: always the holiday play that landsnen think It's
FOR vessels and the besi crews collected 10 win rewards
in graver hests -
The rain OF tie night before was repeated at HunEg
ton, and The Sound and the sky above il we're black and
dismal enough, when, al peep OF light the squadron
weighed anchor for New London. Nor was there any
change during the day. aud euchro and whist IN the cabin
aternated with breakfast, lunch and dinner Two large
schooncrs ahead when The Eva sailed close 10 the
lghtshp at Bartetis reef and made gu. the signals OF
the Vice Commodore to enter New London without re-
gard 10 the order of sailing for II had been the proc
eramme TO bring the whole Peouot House into the bal
comics witness the OF the squadron into the
harbor. BY this time 1t had fallen dead calm; the
anchor was let 60 and tug that wen, busting by was
hailed but the tug went 10 the scaooners and the Iva
was let TO the winds whose woo.ng after while enatied
her To win her 10 her anchorage And SO we reached
Now London
Sunday was q day of rest. On Monday We bad boat
race, and the sailors after creased pig, and visits
were paid al around and at ngat there wcre fireworks
and rockets and Roman candles, and blue tights and
Crock fire. and the arng Of cannon made phaatoms of
all the yachts IN the GREATNESS and coudel night
| Tuesday the day fixed for the 10 Cornneld
| ghlboai and around Il, and II was an excitement
throughout The Eva's guns were brought aft and
paced under the dining table in the cabin. The cranes
Unshpped aud laid Oh the cabin floor all disposaoe
WEIGHT was brought as;ern and the guests we're cautioned
to keep up 10 windward and not let their heads rise
above the buiwarks: because. you sce" said Uncle
Nat. every pound Tells" Presently the yachts were
all ia line and the first gun was fred tho anchors were
hove short stood by trip hem, others the ib
haiards, looked at again and again till
the ten minutes between the two guns seemed an hour
''Sanc by men, it's almost time said Han, the tenth
minute was the face OF the dial plate Bang goes
| the gun from the Phantom. No need OF commands
nbs: up the anchors the great sails paying the
heads OF the vessels of, them from their holding
ground The water gurged under the serns. the white
foam leaped before the prows, and away, with favor
ing wind sped the gallant squadron out into the Sound.
The Immediate competitor OF The Eva was great
white schooner reputed the fastest OF her class the
squadron and the first buoy was neared the two came
close together. II was moment OF great interest.
Everything depended the steadncss OF tue wind aud
the handling of the sailing master. The Eva was to
| wndwsrd. Tho schooner was between her and the
buoy; both under good way and moving at nearly
the same Speed close hauled, The thing TO be done
10 GEL The Eva 70 faster So the sailing master put
up his helm the sails good full. increased the
pace closed IN upoa the other vessel dead ned wind
by nterceptng IT, and just at the nick of time put the
helm down, luec, forged ahead and the the
jb-boom OF the schooner the oops taral and
the latter was hearing away her TO the first light
boat on Bartctts reef The advantage thus gained
never lost during the day. This, TO those board
Eva the incident OF the bow the Of Il
sped is not necessary to record nav be remarked
however that the cook and steward having been sent
ashore 70 make for guests the rules o, the CLUB
limiting all hands 20 sixteen tho fire went out and the
only Bdfgrs OF the cruise was the day OF the
The Eva came IN FAR ahead OF all her competitors: and
she rounded TO the windward OF the Dauntess the
| Vice Commodore who had given the plato conicnded
for, and who had for himsef and his country so
honorable fame Ia his December victory in the Honrot-
| Ia. manned the side Of his vessel and With
| three hearty cheers hailed the victor 10 the
| race. Al night the grounds OF Nr. oswold
were brilliantly illuminated; the lawns were des
chGRo,t; Eva In letters ~ light was traced upon the
grass and the house thrown open TO the officers and
guests OF the squadron. And then there was ball ut