The New York herald., 1876-12-24
CRUISING FOR NEWS.
What a Graphic Writer Saw on
Board the Herald Yacht.
DOWN THE BAY.
A Sketch Of the Herald's Marine
News Service.

ship news altogether too slow, Withdrew from all
nectior with tho other papers which were and are
associated for that purpose and built two small steam
yachts which cruised around outside the harbor
cordng arrivals and departures In fair weather these
little vessels sometimes ventured iorty miles out to
sea, but when storms prevailed they were found to be
too small and he accordingly Thad a steam yacht
Of sixtythree tons built which replaced them and Is
now use This perfectly seaworthy boat capable
OF sicaming sixteen miles hour, and has made a
cruise to Virginia She lies in the Horseshoe when
cruising and mp TO the city only for few
hours once month in order to have her boilers cx-
amined. Besides this great agent in the collection
OF ship ncws the HERALD has number OF men sta
toned Whitestonc, l. L. to board vessels entering
or leaving the Sound From the station at that place
4 t'sgraph line, owned exclusively by the HERALD
connects with the office in New York, and operator
constantly in attendance forwards all news directly
Tito the HERALD building BY these means that paper
notices in advance of the other morning papers large
proportion of the vessels arriving in tins port.
To the same newspaper belongs the credit of first
having arrival and departure of vessels from every
port in Europe cabied every day for publication with
almost much regularity as those arriving or leaving
the port OF New York. A vessel crosses the bar at
Midnight, and long after ono O'Clock in the morning
drops hor anchor in the dark waters OF the lower bay
The merchant at his breakfast the samo morning,
alarmed at tho prediction Of stormy weather in one
column, turns to the shipping page ana has his mind
by tho record Of her sale arrival with his
precious cargo. The shpowner and the underwriters
rejoice tho line two that toll of their good for
tune and tho anxious relatives OF those who
tho sea upon the craft prepare to extend happy well
como to tho wanderer.
Let spend few hours board the HERALD
yacht and how this marvel is accomplished.
AZ the cedars on Sandy Hook cast afternoon shad-
ows across the storm beaten strand the littlo
vessel leaves her moorings and makes circuit Of the
bay boarding such vessels may have entered during
tho day and anchored there awaiting orders All those
which passed up have bcen spoken by reporters who
boarded them with the doctor at Quarantine. The
names OF the vessels and other details entered in
the note book OF tho marine reporter, s.Petc" Van
Pet ana the yachts hoad is turned seaward he
stands In the bow sweeping the horizon with glass
for incoming sails. In few moments he nounccs
vessel TO the southeast and Captain Lyons
Of the boat from his post in the pilothouse, after
stendy gaze pronounccs her to be large squarergged
ship probably OF Dutch nationality To the anGsmans
view there nothing visible save the mastheads Of vcs
eel just peepng above the horzon but the train ed
Eyes on board the yacht can build the whole vessel
from them as an Agassiz would build up perfect
FOSSIL animal from single bone. Tho accuracy with
which the character OF incoming vessel be de-
lermined by the cut OF her topsals II saler, the
Solor and density OF tho smoke from her funnel IL
steamer long before the vessels hull appears truly
marvellous The PROV OF the yacht is pointed to in
tcrcopt the vessel and she continues her course Tho
rdiculously small Storm flag Is seen flying from the
roof OF tho signal station Shore although the sky
is clear Flocks OF seasulls soar and hover around
the boat above the hope of the sanguine shot,
and, higher stil flock of wild ducks wingng
its way southwark. The sudden frost has npped their
Guatemala suck puddlcs in Campcachy."
The ship at first discerned Is now in full view. and
outlined against the sunset sky few moments more
and wc are just asorn OF the vessel on her lee, ana
our bow. II is like some picture. From the gltcrng
wave bolow looms mighty tower or snowy canvas,
gttcring III the moonbcams, which cast upon the
white surface fantastic shadows the swaying
cordage The silence OF death regns for the rip
ping Of thc waves IRON the stern the plashing At
tho bow OF tho yacht ne she clears tho The magic
Of tho scene is soon dispeled by the hoarse voice Of
Petc from our boy. .Ship ahoy!'' sHulo-a-a!n
responds from the vessels stern, a ..ws,. VOICE
tho ships names" cries Pete, unable
m the shadow TO discern In SIN letters the word
there ainlcst possible trace OF articulation the
rst two syllabes alone being hnted at .Ikc who did
slll moro barbarous shout grccts his from
vessel Tbe captain complies with the request and tho
tho captains When Pete has had 'trcpcated
twice he passes on In despair to ask about the vessels
and then ventures to the attack. "what did
you say your name was, Captan?" All in vain At
last the reques, TO spell il Is made, and the skipper
complying, he found reckless enough 10 dare tho
seas under the cognomcn Of Schnitzhunstcin Think
OF noting that in tho Dark oI n cold night, with the
rs that You, Charley wcoiseyYn calls out Captain
Lyons 10 the pilot on tho Dutchman's deck.
Yes Captain Marty" is tho reponse; ''who's
seive it up When did You got aboard theres"
1.-TWO days ago, southeast OF this"
"Did you see anything astcrn OF you coming In be-
.sYes, there arc dozen barks and schooncrs about
twelve miles down. Can you spare q papery"
'sCcrtainIy,n responds the Captain, he folds
neatly. The hclmsman takes Il out on deck. and BY
means OF "hookcr," or net, with long handle,
passes II up to the man upon the ship. Good nights
and thanks arc nerchanged and We fall asern to wait
for the expected b,rks and schooners
The captain OF the yacht became fpl 1cdgcd pilot
In 1854, and knows every pilot of long standing in the
service; and many an Interesting scrap OF news s
OF their course to do kindness TO captain Marty"
they call him, abbreviatng his Christian name Of
Martin. He lett his pilot boat IN 1865 sail the Hen
rictta in the great race with the vesta and the
Ficctwing and when tho proprietor OF the HERALD
bought the L'Hirondelle and changed her name TO
Dauntlcss, Captain Marty sailed her from Norfolk,
Va 10 Staten Island in thirty hours Later hc sailed
her from Sandy Hook TO Queenstown harbor IN twelve
days twelve hours, and he has also brought
The winning yacht In score OF matches. The fine gold
watch be nowstrikcs match to look at Is souvenir
Of one season presented Dy her owner INSIDE the
case inscription, cambria vs. Darnticss, 1870;
Lvonia vs.. Daunilcss, 1871, in :ommcmora,ion oi
Captains creed that the yacht named Is the finest and
best equipped boat ever constructed.
While cruising search OF the vessels tho weather
verincs the predictions OF the Signal service by be.
coming stormy; the sky IS overcast and darkness
settles tho In order that tho expected ships
may know OF the watch Kept ior them, that their
captains may their reports and ba wing
the yacht burns her night signal port fire which
burns iirst red, 'hcn white and then red again.
An hour later vessels lights seen, and she Is
soon spoken Before hailing her she is set down Tor
Dutch craft account OF tho light spars, small sails.
and tho generally prudent aspect which cbaracerzes
vessels OF that nationality. And Is evil
dcncc OF Yankee enterprise in the shape OF one Of
those busting little tugs which 100 miles
search OF vessels tow into the harbor Coming up
on the lee OF the bark xhich is making slow progress
against wind and tide her captain bails that craft
.Hulo, Cap don't you want \ towy''
"No. guess ware up. - - the answer.
The tug people not rcpellcd, however. They
accustomed 10 drlve bargains with customers the
nigh soas those negotiated in the slop shops
OF Chatham street and by much the tactics
After stcaming along astcrn OF the bark for quarter
OF nm hour they try again.
"Cap you had better take a tow The wind is shift
ing dead In your teeth. The tide will be out. and
you can't get In until tomorrow" !"
sswe, what Will you charge.o