The New York herald., 1874-10-05
A Perilous Cruise in the
Cream O. Tartar.
Sailor Life on the Great
South Bay.
THE COAST GUARD.
A Disaster Which Is Not Recorded
Among the Herald's Ship News.
ON BOARD THE CREAM o. TARTAR, ,

DAY morning, by quite commoton on deck. l
knew by the pitching OF the craft that the Cream
o. Tartar was in distress. We had been roostng
on sandbar since the previous night, waiting for
high tide to float OF. The Cream o. 1artar Captain
John Carter had been chartered to cruise around
the Great South Bay by an adventurous crew Of
six young New Workers, who were anxious to get
the most enjoyment out OF two weeks vacation.
We met last month at a well-known downtown
restaurant and elected our caterer. The lot fell to
Bnn and we laid in one OF the most remarkable
lots OF stores and provisions ever recorded. The
article OF commerce having the chemical symbols
C. II. o.. was most prominent on the list.
The Cream o. Tartar Is not prepossessng craft.
Her lines were originally not OF the best. As
know more about the interior than the exterior OF
the vessel, l should say she was of the Chinese
model; at least her cabin ana 1orecastle look
more like Junk" store than any foatng affair
! ever sailed in and taken altogether she was q
'JunKety" craft from stem to stern.
A MATTER OF HISTORY.
The history of the Cream o. Tartar Is very
worthy OF record in this remarkable story Of ad
venture but regret to say tnat 1t is too long for
repetition. The Keel is part OF deck beam OF the
old steamship Franklin, wrecked on the beach
near Moriches more than twenty years ago. The
deck came from Jersey, in the English Channel.
The mast was originally fashioned into shane on
the rock bound coast OF Nova Scotia. The interior
wood work OF yellow plne red oak and white ash
had previously done service in several coasting
vessels, which have rather got out OF the
way of navigating the seas since they
settled into the sands OF Fire Island. Our beds
were improvised from large rolls Of mating
which were brought at great trouble and expense
all the way from Canton, China, to furnish the
cabin OF the Cream O. Tartar. 10 be sure, this
same mating was cast up on the beach in the
hold Of the bark Robert Fletcher, but never mind
about details. The sails were procured from-but
suffice it to say that everything on board the
Cream o. Tartar, from the keelson to the whip
pennant at the masthead. had done duty in some
other place. Talk OF a pedigree Why, the Cream
o. Tartar could point with pride to more than
dozen worthy dams. l have thought that the
Cream o. Tartar would be a good craft for a gov
ernment naval constructor TO secure, for under
the headof repairs new vessel could be built
from every plank In her deck and sides. Apropos,
have cane which came from the good ship Con-
stituuon, and when get the appointment OF
naval constructor some day. shall build a new
vessel on 1t and charge the expenses to the head
of repairs.
AN INTERNATIONAL CRAFT.
was pleased with the rakish look Of the cream
o. Tartar even from the outside, but when l was
admitted to the mysteries Of the cabin which am
bound to CONFESS was not until we had got about
hundred yards from shore, was more than ever
inspired with the "raksh" condition ofthe interior.
The china was all good enough, but common candor
compels me to say that the name OF different
vessel was to be read on each glded plate. got
in the habit OF observing that the china dishes
had belonged to great many different sets. The
fact that dishes were ever washed on board
during the cruise may have accounted in Slight
degree for the particular fancy which ! took for
having my chowder served IN dish which bore
the mystical words ''Nancy Bell" Whe ther l was
Influenced by my respect or Gilberts thrilling tale
OF the sea or not, scarcely know but there is no
doubt OF my affection for the soup-dish Nancy
Bell" The other guests on board have each
chosen dish which, either from It's shape or
coloring, is readily distinguishable.
RELIC WORSHIP.
Thus 1t happens that we are all accustomed to
look upon every bit OF furniture or china or piece
OF tackle as thing endowed with history. Per-
sonally, If there is anything which l abhor it is
trinket with story clinging to 1t; but we have
one fellow among US who is eternally looking alter
things with historical associations. 1t is SANS
worst falling but it does stick to him badly.
During the past weeks cruising, whenever wake
up from doze J Immediately recall the lact that
the last thing ] heard was one OF sans requests
TO tell HIM about some piece OF wood which mad
been discovered in some old nook, and the reply
OF the Captain always beginning IN these words,
'.Wall. le' me see; that was In the winter
OF forty odd.n or "1ity-so-and-so." Ithen remem-
ber just how the old man had made the main
sheet fast, and how after taking large chew of
Sam's tobacco. he had settled down on deck to
rehearse some hackneyed yarn which he had heard
Sim Havens, sidney Penney, or some OF the old
wreckers tell. The entire party knew what to ex
pect. one remarks that he must 'go below" TO
read, another must write to his sweetheart. Ike
at once strips and takes swim, and Plnkey"
crawls into the forecastle, among the old anchors
and ana cnans' chains TO get nap p. usually light cigar
hencoop, which was once case for brandy
bottles and ,eoe 0ears Ae stamp By Bark R9sa
brand on the old box | fully realized how impos-
slole It was to escape from the "reminiscences OF a
CAPTAIN CARTER, OF THE "cREAM o. TARrAR.n
This skipper OF oursis a curious specimen OF an
old man Of the sea. He is child OF tie sea only
changed at his birth. He spends his summers
down on the Great South Bay ana his winters in
"Cream o. Tartar" over the bllows and there he
directs the herce chargers which along the stony
be considered gay old sport In the city he gives
out among his acquantances that he spends his
summers IN the country, and here he declares thar
he goes back to his notel IN New York when the
weather gets too cold TO t'enjoy the watern his
cool "brass' Is charming. 1t is no use trying to
"put up job" on him. No longer ago than sat
urday last .Pinkey'' sent his sfrend,n who was
ignorant Of the 'Captains' egitlnat te occupation.
to draw him out In conversation about his lie in
the interview somewhat as iolows.-
"Weli, Captain. how does she head ~
"Patchogue landing two points on the port
bow" was the reply.
HOW TO EvADE AN INTERVIEW.
the city, believe ~
"Aw, yes; most generally" was the rather
careful reply, as he eyed his inquisitor suspi-
clously.
"Excuse me. but think remember to have
seen you last winter on the top Of Fourth ave.
nue. stage going down Broadway. thought had
seen your lace somewhere
"Very possible" calmly replied the skipper, as
he now saw through the whole scheme. "You see,
my lungs are weak-or weTe-and always IKE to
get al! the air that's about In Iact, J. may say,
that's wnat brings me down here. Indeed,
thlnk ! prefer the air here much more than at
Long Branch or Newport; and. as for Saratoga,
why II is periectlyr-
"Excnse me- Captain" said the young man.
who believed IN Keeping to one subject at time;
.out what do you think OF the base insnnatons
made by the propretors OF the stage lines In put
ting those patent boxes into the omnibusesW
"Oh, remember. We we're talking ABOUT New
YORK, but before finish want to point out to
you Governor Dix's house, away On that point