The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-21

A yachting regatta IN New YORK Harb0r IL always
certain to draw thousands from the crowded streets
Of the great city toward the mouth OF the NarrOws
Holidays In America are few and far between,
and when festival day presents itself on which
a bright sun shines down, and II o regatta be the
attraction, swelterng thousands take boat and
hurry to the Lower Bay to get days outing.
Happy mortals they are who can even for twelve
hours leave business or care behind to enjoy an
ocean breeze and to smell the salt seaatr.
1t was pretty sight yesterday morning as the
yachts, one by one, came down with bellyng sails
to the rendezvous. The exquisite models OF some
of the boats pierced the fresh, untronbled water
like spearheads. The wind early in the forenoon
was very light, and the shadows Of the sails fell on
the bay like pnfs Of breath on the smooth surface
Of looking glass. Az the yachts began to
cluster thicky together their clean, hOlystoned
decks and FURNISHED brasses made q perfect
picture OF neatness. One yacht, the Columbia, hav-
ing full crew, who wore red flannel or stun caps
like the chorus in the "Enchantrcss,n presented q
singular appearance as the men swung away with a
rope to the tune OF "RanZO-R-e a-a-l-Away Ye-HO-
Me-BOys" The long festOons OF shrnbbery on the
tier OF Bay Ridge and the wooded copscs on the
clayey summit Of the Staten Island shore, with the
solid masses Of masonry of Wadsworth and Ham-
ton, served as a frame for the picture.
For background there were two incoming and
outgoing foreign steamships; steerage passengers
crOwdng their dirty decks and waving soed linen
wildly as token Of recognition. Further back
the thin irregular line of the great city, which
seemed 30 quiet afar; but thousand smoky CHM
neys and the vast wood OF the worlds congregated
shipping, surprising the commercial galleys OF
Carthage and OF Tarshish and Tyre, contradcted
the distant stiffness Of the wonderful human hive
There are two things necessary, 1t seems, to the
completeness OF regatta in New York harbor.
First, that there shall be at least dozen Of vile
screaming, nasty steamtugs, whose principal oc-
cupation shall be to blow their horrible whistles If
nag is dipped, champagne bottle broken or a
free lunch assaulted by hungry men. 1t is passing
strange that nervous persons should go on these
yachting regattas; but they win do it,as experience
teaches Now, nothing can be more ter
ribe than the report Of one OF
these dem0niac steam whistles in the
auricular OF man possessing weak nerves. There
was one weak chested, thin-fanked individual who
stood by the blowppe OF the Fletcher yesterday
dreaming OF summer seas and an azure sky.
smile Of bliss was on his face and contentment
dilated the pupils of his eyes. He was in another
world Of his own. He was happy. Thoughts OF his
wife and children coursed through his brain. Sud-
denly the Internal steam whistle shrieked. In
prepared as he was, the shock was too sudden, and
he collapsed Painting he was carried below.
Brandy and water revived him.
The other and most necessary thing for regatta
is the presence OF a number Of beautiful women.
and IL must be said that the New York Yacht Club
at its annual regatta Is never without this concom-
tant. The steamboat Magenta, chartered by the
club for the use Of its guests during the day. was
loaded to the trans0m lines with the farest female
jewels OF the metropolis. They were there, clad in
textures and fbres and laces and cOlOrs of daZ-
cling splendor, the baslisk brightness of their
eyes darting fire underneath long silken lashes.
The diamonds which encircled their necks and hung
from ears which had the tint-blush of and the
shape OF sea shells were dlmmed by the radiant
glory Of their features. Fully five hundred guests
OF both sexes shaded from the burning rays OF
the sun on board Of the Magenta. Alongside OF the
Magenta were ranged the Americas, winona, d. r.
Martin, Seth Low and Titamer steamers, the steam
yachts Julia, Emily, Surprise, and a score Of
other boats, loaded with pleasure seekers and
festooned with flags. The steamer william
Fletcher, having the committee and judges on board
with the club standards flying from the fore, was
lying inside of the Narrows, and below her twin
sister, the Andrew Fletcher, with party OF ladies
and gentlemen on BOARD. Small boats and yelling
tugs we're constantly plying to and fro between the
FORTS and strains OF delicious music sreamed across
the waters new and then, making it scene OF
faryland. Dyspeptic and bilious people rejoiced
with sharp report, like scattering rifle shots on q
picket line
II was rumored that President Grant and the
Secretary OF the Navy, Mr.. Robson, would attend
the regatta IRON Long Branch on the steam soOp
Frolic and the appearance OF that vessel steamlng
across the bows of the yachts toward Fort Wads-
worth from Fort Hamilton added to the interest OF
the scene. The band OF the man-of-war Vermont was
on board playing patriotic tunes, and the flag
OF the United states was displayed aft Every per-
son believed that the President was on board, and
the vessel which followed the course Of the yachts
ever she came within gun shot Of the excursion
steamers. The President was absent, but the Sec
rotary OF the Navy was on board, and he received
all the honors due his rank from fort and neet
Their was one marvellous looking yacht--a soop
with queer stern, with the word 'hilstu displayed
ana a. aer peak bearing bnd the r &c
boat seemed strange, and made one think that she
had been constructed for the use Of Sir Francis
Drake.
A crowd OF men ran forward to the bow OF one OF
the excursion steamers TO look at the '.Mist.r
Among them were several would-be classical schol-
ars. One said
'That's deuce Of funny looking boat isn't
she ~
II think It's the Flying Dutchman," said another.
"No 1t amt; that's the caravel OF Christopher
''she's not higi-pooped enough to be the
Nina,r replied mediaval scholar
''Well n she amt she's hight toned enough for the
Queen" answered modern reprobate.
That's nice Chinese motto she's got on her
nag"
light draught'-echoed the comic man Of the
AS the hour OF noon approached the yachts were
mustered by the committee In struggling way
toward the Narrows for dying start Yacht after
seht came e s ana crossed over ID shore On the
aSs l!.iis sissSsaa wit" .. American color aoas
I'm IN gp1 I''h', STAN lay well In under the pasr
NnnS Of Fort Wadeworh Three guns wore drcd