The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-12-20
Florida Times
THE ADVENTURES OF A YACHT.


just thirty years ago yacht became
famous by crossing from the New to the
Old World, the first "vacht" that did
this feat, unless the term can be applied
to something very much larger than a
gentIeman's pleasure craft. Such was
this yacht, and nothing more Two or
three good men could manage it any.
where the little water-sprite chose to push
herself OF course there was an immense
throng on the pier as she started from
New York, and an excited waving of
feminine as we'll as bandana handkerehiefs.
Hearts palItated strongly and anxiously
till the little vessel was lost from sight.
The object Of the voyage was to par
ticipate in a grand regatta in English
waters, the invitation being given by the
Melville Yacht Club. The news Of the
starting of the tiny ship had been expect.
ed, and her arrival in due time confirmed
it. The enthused Englishmen-for who
ever knew an English yachtman or turf
man that was not thrilled in his nature
when the reputation of keel or equine
bottom was involved ?-sailed, steamed,
or trotted down along the banks of the
Channel to know g if the yankee yacht
had come. I" And at last she came. The
"egads and 'szoundzes " in every crowd
on the banks were whole-soulcd and b.
bel-likc, but they were buildings from
the big English hearts that had held the
warmest kind of welcome in their very
core. The British flag was waved and
guns were fred. The regatta in time
passed of, and the American yacht hon
ored the American name by winning the
race. We all know the ecLdt of great
event must cease at some time. One
surge of good international feeling rises
sand subsidies to be followed by another
on the coming of some future happy
event, reaching the climax in the honor
to the British flag at Yorktown. An in
terval of subsidence followed the winning
of the yacht race of the Melville Club and
the crossing of the Atlantic by the winner
like bird through the sir in her eager
ness to match her speed with British sails
in British waters.
In the early days Of the FIRST year of the
civil war in this country, when the first
military company that entered the Con.
federate service in Florida was encamped
near the beach, just south of the mouth
of st. Johns, where now the summer cot
tages line the riparian frontage, the cap
tain in command, from his glass, espied .
small vessel dashing into the mouth of
the river, scattering and rolling the foam
before her a. if breakers were small mat
tiers to thing that seemed entitled to its
personating gender by the daring with
which il came 10. OF lay the sleepy
blockade vessels. and perhaps the watch-
fnl Captain Of the Confederate squad,
from his Entertainments on the shore, was
the only one who saw the fearless visitor
in her suit Of full white, intact and ffesh,
after the long iaunt over the ses and in
running the blockade. We Ill like bravery.
II single individual eneay walks right
into IN opposite camp without . white
nag, or With his hande not appraised, no
true soldier fnshes ont n shoot him II
bex lldevms1t Is Ga asaaranes - ii
lsaat aeke for the eonpts md PR
] lPx tos planation C'api sin Steele sent
het from hip oaifl6 ling ~ the
eaesesa ol enlnity q l.ip rs