Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-13
A RICH MANS PAsTuME,
How James Gordon BENNETT Lonfs...
me treasures of "a Cruise in Ills

How James Gordon Bennett Lonfs--
hacht"NamOunu.,
While visiting, several davs mo
steamship that has recently been char
tered for the West India trade by a prom
lnent firm in this city, reporter of th,
New York World happened to learn tba
the steward employed on board had bee,
the first cook on James Gordon Bennett,
famous steam-yacht Namouna. Suppos
ing that he might be able to relate som,
interesting experiences ON board that yes
sci. he sought him out.
"Oh, yes. sir said the man in reply tc
a question, 81 was first cook on board
Mr. Bennetts yacht for long time, and
had five men under me too There was
lively times, you bet He used to kee,
us al pretty busy servingup fancy dishes
and entertaining his friends"
"Did MIR. Bennett entertain much Oh
board his .yacht?' was innoccntly asked.
'"Did MIR. Bennett entertain much o.
echoed the steward, with an expression of
mingled surprise and pity "Well, |
should say he did. Why, he did nothing
else but entertain all the time. When he
started out he had big party of friends
on board. Then, us soon as he reached
the other side they scattered, and he took
new ones on, and so it was all the time
changing at every place we went to-
Where did You cruise in the Ma
mouna ?"
"In the Mediterranean while | was
aboard OF her. The great time began at
Gibraltar. There was big band on
board, but they couldn't play much to
tell the truth. Well, as we went INTO the
harbor some of the men-o'-war there sa-
luted us, and we returned it, and there
the German band began to play March
ing Through Georgia. Pretty sick music
it was, too, and when they got tired of it
on one OF the war ships they played Yam
kee Doodle Came to Town. That eve
nlng Mr.. Bennett entertained at dinner II
number of officers, and before we had
lett Gibraltar he cf me mighty near to en-
tertainlng the whole garrison, officers.
men and all. "
Were the dinners lively and merry 2"
asked the reporter, innoccntly.
'What exclaimed the worthy steward,
with astonishment. "Were they lively
and merry? Well, you can bet they were
pretty high times, and loud, too. Some
times MS many as twenty gentlemen would
set down to table of an evening, and,
while that same German band was play
ing airs On the deck until it would make
You sick, they, down in the cabin. were
eating and drinking. Each day there
would be new bill of fare, and MS many
ms ten courses-sometimes more. accord
ing to the occasion and the company.
Before they got fairly down to the coffee
they were pretty lively set cutting up
all sorts OF capers. Then they would
come up on deck and sing some more.
Mr.. Bennett used to have all the men
called up on deck and have them dance a
sailors hornpipe. Then when they got
through he had champagne served to
them like n prince. All the time we were
at Gibraltar | had mighty hard time
getting any sleep at all. what with the
cooking ami the rest of it. Then Mr.
Bennett was all the time playing tricks
like student. One night very late, he
went down i'll the hold and filled II big
pan full of some sort of. burning stuff and
set 1t atire. There was big flame and
n great deal of smoke at once, and he was
delighted, and sent boy rushing around
the ship shouting Fire = Fire = at the
top of his voice like n mailman. The
guests down i'll the saloon and the sailors
and all on board came up on deck terri
bly, frightened and most of them only
half dressed. Some of them Jumped
overheard and boats had to be lowered to
pick them mp. They were very sheepish
when Mr. Bennett told them it was only
Joke. He only wanted to get them up
SO that they might have some more fun
with him. Now, | tell you, most of them
fellows were pretty mad, but you see they
didn't say word, because they were all
lls guests and didn't want to offend him.
lie ordered NJ. tizz and polly, and they
sat there laughing and talking in their
shirts and nightgowns till morning.
another time, aftern big dinner, about
O'Clock in the morning Mr.. Bennett
came up on deck alone, and calling one
OF the men on watch told him he wanted
hose. The man fetched it to him, not
suspecting anything, and taking the noz-
zle III his hands he stumbled downstairs,
opened the state-room doors, and quick
er than n flash poured big stream of
cold water into all the beds where the
men were sleeping. That time they were
hopping mad and did some tall swearing;
nut IN the morning nothing more was
said about it,"
Were there ever any ladies on the
yacht on these occasions?"
mo, sir, we scarcely ever had any
ladies' ON board, and then only for short
space"
after leaving Gibraltar where did Mr..
Bennett go with his yacht?"
I'VE cruised through the Mediterra-
mean, stopping at all the nice places on
the way. He must have lots Of friends.
Tor wherever we stopped great numbers
OF gentlemen came out to see him, and
he always entertained them handsomely.
We went to Alexandria Just before the
Dombardment to leave couple of Ucratd
correspondents there. Before entering
the harbor we received message from
the admiral advising Mr.. Bennett to
Keep outside because the firing might be-
GIN mt any time. So the two gentlemen
had to be sent ashore in the launch. and
we waited outside till she came back with
two others that we took to Malta. After
that we went back to ,lIavre, where the
Namouna was laid up, and Mr.. Bennett
went to Paris"
You were on board the Namouna for
some time and saw her under all circum-
stances. What kind of boat is she?"
well, sir, she's mighty handsome in
side and out, and about us convenient MS
any craft ever saw or got into : but as n
sea boat she amt worth anything You
see she is too short for two waves and too
long for one, and SO she can't right her
self properly and rolls like the deuce.
Mr.. Bennett was pretty dsgusted with
her before he got through. lie offered
her for sale to II young Russian prince.
who liked her looks, went down to Havre
with party Of friends and took II short
in har L., 1