The Republican journal., 1875-04-29
One of Secor Robeson's Frauds.

One of Secor Robeson's Frauds.
Apprehended difficulty with Spain wa
the reason Secretary Robson gave fo
buying the yacht Dispatch for errand pun
poses. But if this were the design, wh
has he built upon her deck room exclu
sively for himself and wife?
"Would sou like to see the Secretary
state room?" inquired the sailor who wa
detailed to show visitors the yacht so 500
to be laden with Senatorial rubbish. "Cer
tainly, "replied the modest representativ
of the common people. Imagine a room
small in size, but dainty and exquisite a
jewel box, with mirrors. bureau. dress
ing case, writing desk, all constructed a
part of the polished walls, and fair,
couch Of fine linen, on which Aurora nigh
recllne after her weary race with Cupid
Rutf1ed slips enclose the downy pillows
and the perfect draperies are tinted lik,
the pale silver gray Of the morning |
this boat was purchased simply for dis
patch or errand boat, why is she fitted in al
her appointments regardless of expense
And it costs as much to keep her afloat as
a man-ot-war The sailor was again in
terrogated: "Does she carry any weap
ons of warfare?" "Only swords for the
officers A single gun fired from her decl
would shake her to pieces. This is q
pleasure boat, to be used by the Secretary
and his friends" said the blunt, outspok
en- sailor.
Besides the purchase money, the i'm.
provements and the excursions cost the
Government $40 900 last year The Sec
retary has named his yacht U. 5. Dispatch
instead Of U. S. Grant, and all this is done
out Of Difference to the feelings Of the hon
est people of the country. This nava
plaything was built by Henry Smith, c
banker of New York city, but after being
completed it was found she was too long
for her width and depth, and therefore
she was no match for the sea. So Henry
Smiths darling, which cost him 5000, ,00(
hard money, snuggled close to the coast
of New York, or firted her clean white
sails in the huge harbor, costing her mas
ter small fortune monthly to keep her
ahoat. Such was her character that no
man of sense would touch her in tinan-
cial way but she was in the market, and
Secretary Robson with naval appropri-
alton could afford to buy her Alas the
vast sums which pass through the hands OF
a Secretary of the Navy unquestioned
Secretary Robson took his Toodles prize
to the Navy Yard at Norfolk, and the work
men built her pair of false sides. This
was done according to the DarWiniau the
ory, so that she might in time evolve some
sea-going legs. Then she was crowned
with a new upper deck to accommodate
the guests who were expected at times to
partake of her hospitality. An old sailor
Of ha Noc
says: "She is no more tit for cruise in
the West Indian waters that flatboat of
the Mississippi river pattern. y
Her state rooms and cabins are finished
and furnished in the most elegant and
substantial way. The vessel is 1875 feet
long, and said to be 333 feet beam and 73O
tons on the register. 1t takes forty men,
"all told.' to man her, and seven Of these
are officers. Last year the yacht carried
a Senatorial excursion party. composed OF
administration friends, but the court, not
grown as bold as now, attached mission
to it, that the people might better swal-
low the sugar-coated dose. The Senators
were to report what navy yards had bet
ter be abolished.
This year Senator Cameron announced
through the columns of the Philadelphia
Press that business has nothing to do with
the trip. 1t took weeks tor Robson and
Cameron to make up this disgracetul par
ty, for these men have no right to appro-
pirate the property OF the government
than the weakest yagrant Of the street
Before the yacht left the Washington wharf
three hundred tons of ice We're taken on
board besides the most lavish outlay Of
seagoing provisions. Canned fruits and
vegetables were carried in by the wagon
load, besides hampers, baskets, kegs, and
barrels, all paid for out of the naval tund.
A clerk from the treasury department was
annexed to act as extra steward to the
party, besides the one attached permanent
ly to the boat. Only a pleasure yacht.
To the "Halls of the Montezumas" they
started Let the lightning tell the story
NEW ORLEANS, April 5. The United
States steamer Dispatch, with Senators
Cameron, Anthony, Dennis, Chandler and
Patterson, LETT yesterday for Florida Tom
Scott and Ben Perley Poore sailed tor Mex
leo Senator Morton and wife and Pay
Director Cunningham 60 to indianapolis
in Tom SCOTS special car. This ends the
Senatorial invasion of Mexico TPhiladel-
phia Times