New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-26
WV
LOCAL MISCELLANI L.
AN AMERICAN HOME AFLoAT.

Np;er No. % East River lies typical American n
clipper ship, commanded by IyPliHeS s 70 accom-
sailor VINO OLA, n his long VOYAGES and to make his
cabin as acceptable home as ne COMO n nf this
oa her Yankee rigging and sails her bold cnt
water and her noble stern couid ihiS'a mt 70
for any other than an American shlp: honnbts
ber deck suggests two sad and striking thougn,,s-
ono that American sailing ships are becoming opso
lete and the other that SO few American sa,iois 0
he found This vessel is the clipper ship Norsn1 hI
Light. of nearly 1000 tons measurement oSheu ~
Bcnner & Pinkney. of this city. enc S1 IS
commanded by CAPTAIN Joshua SlocmIn,
who is one Of the most popular commanders sailing
from this port, both on account OF MS geheId OaP"
bIlity and his kindness TO his crew., 49,
The tantpess triInness aud cleanliness OF this YES
eel from keeson TO truck and from stem 10 stern,
are features not common on merchant ships. Inc
neat canvas cover over the steerlng-wheeL bearing
the vessels name and hailng port worked with SIN,
is the handiwork of the captains WIFE DESCENDING
In the main cabin one wonders whether he is not
in some comfortably furnished apartment On e NJ
When TRIBUNE reporter visited ulc Eessoi, -
Slocum sat buSIly engaged at neede-"o.h, nei paoy
nov fast sicen IN his Chinese cradle An older son
was putting his room in order, ana the son was
sketchmg. The captains state-IIon rs oo hnrtb
which one might mistake for black-walnut Oed-
stead: a transOm upholstered hike a lounge; a
library, chairs, carpets waIdfooe anu me ;% e
eters This room is aGatt the mann CABIN, whlch Is
furnished as a paror In this latter apartment are
American square piano, centre t taniie, oTg ~
easy chars and carpets, while on tie walls hahS a
number of OIL paintings. In 'front.' oil the parlOi ~
tie diaing-ro om, which, together with the other
rooms. exhibit neatness OF which only woman 5
hand Is capable. -, II.
Going ON deck the captain with great pride
showed TO the visitor his cleanly kept steamengine
used for handling cargo, condenSlng water, eX-
tinCuishing fire, pumping ship or other emergencies
he being the engineer. The carpenter shop was
next VISITED. In this We're lathe, saws anG othcT
tools for making new work or repairing. Inc cap
taiu's baby is the captains PRIDE, ana
hears an honOrcd name. lie was born IN
Hong Kong on board of the Amethyst, the Oldest
American Ship aioat. The birth of tins child was
on March g. 1881. and the following day IL was
cr1stened and registered by the United States Con-
sui as james 4. Garfield slocum. About the hrst
distingulshablc uttcrance of the child was Gar.
Genetal Garfield acknowledged the compliment IN
an auiogr. Oh letter 10 the child. Inc letter was
read bv the fai her to it, and the child SAID Tar
The Amethyst commanded by Captain Slocuih
She was better known as Old Hickory or Oi0
Is22D the year III which she was built. The bur
zee never displayed the vessels NAME but simply
lie ROniail numerals of tue year Ill which sue was
built "MDCCGXXlL" 1t was III this vessel that
CAPTAIN Siocum feared he would cad his seaiarlnS
caIeor IN a typhoon III the China SEA, eighty miles
east OF Great LOochOO. The Amethyst was also
fast snip, and a few years ago was as much talked
about As The Alaska and Otner fast steamships OF
to-day. NheI the Amethyst returned home Zap
tam SIocuu was given the command OF the NOIlA-
err LlTut,