The Republican journal., 1882-07-13

'NfiAlN NI'' l VI NNb illN MA re- tANl'f.I
MATE.
At Pier No. % Fast River lies a typical
clipper ship, commanded Wy 4 typical
American sailor, Who has 4 typical Amer
lean wife to make his cabin aS acceptable
i home as he could have OH shore. No
one TO look ut the graceful lines of this
vessel, her Yankee rigging and sails, her
bold cutWater aud her noble stern could
mistake her for any other than an Amer
lcan ship. \ visit to her deck suggests
two sad and striking thoughts one that
American sailing ships are becoming OBJ
sulcte and the other that 50 few AmcTi
can sailors can hr found This vessel is
the clipper Ship Northern Light, of nearly
2OOU tons measurement, owned 10y Ben
ner 8 Pinkney, Of this city, She is com
mandcd by Captain Joshua SIocum who
IL one Of the most popular commanders
sailing from this port, both on account of
his general capability and his kindness to
his crew.
The tautncss, trimness and cleanliness
OF this vessel, from kcelson to truck and
from stem to stern, are features not com
mon ON merchant ships. The neat can
vas cover over the steering wheel. bear
ing the vesstls tame and haiHng port
worked with silk, is tile hdndiWork ot
the captains WIe. Descending to the
main cabin, one wonders whether he is
not in some comfortably furnished apart
ment on shore. When Tribune report
er visited the vessel Mrs. Sl0cum sat
busily engaged at needle work, her baby
boy fast asleep in his Chinese cradle. An
older SON was putting his room in order,
and the second son was sketchng.
The captains state-room is a'commod-
ious apartment, furnished with a double
berth which ono might mistake for 4
black walnut bedstead; a transom up
holstered like lounge 4 library, chairs,
carpets. wardrobe and the chronometers.
This room is abatt the main cabin, which
is furnished as a parlor. In this latter
apartment are American square piano,
centre table, sofa, easy chairs and car
pets, while on the walls hang a number
of oil paintings. In front of the parlor
is the dining room, which, together with
the other rooms, exhibit 4 neatnesS Of
which only womans hand is capable.
Going on deck the captain with great
pride showed to the visitor his clcanly
Kept steam engine, used for handling
cargo, cOndcnSing water, cNtngulShmg
fire. pumping ship OF other emergencies,
he being the engineer. The carpenter shop
was next visited. In this were a lathe
saws and other tools for making new
work or repairing.
The captains baby is the captains
pride, and bears an honored name. He
was born in Hong Kong on board OF the
Amethyst, the oldest American ship
atloat The birth of this child was on
March 3, 1881, and the following day ii
was christencd and registered by the
United States consul as James \. Gar
field Slocum. About the first distinguish
able utteranCe of the child was Gear
General Garfield acknowledged the com
pliment i'll an autograph letter TO the
child. The letter was read by the father
to it, and the child said Gear" The
Amethyst was commanded by Captain
Slocum. She was better known rs "Old
Hickory" or cold 1892" the year in
which she was built. The burgce never
displayed the vessels name but simply
the Roman numerals Of the year in which
she was built, "MDCCCNNII." 1t was in
this vessel that Captain SIocum feared he
would end his seataring career, in a ty-
phoon in the China Sea, eighty miles
east of Great Loochoo. The Amethyst
was also a fast ship, and few years ago
was rs much talked about us the Alaska
and other fast steamships of to-day.
When the Amethyst returned home Cap
tain Slocum was given the command of
the Northern Light. n. y. Tribune.