Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-03-28

Ac sylvan Iee< OF New York has 81
most national reputation, and a rel
esencs 70 its history and its recent end
VIII be read with pleasure. The boat
belonged to the ones famous Harlem j
New York Navigation company. Nor
than twenty years ago they began run
nlng, and mp TO this time that the elevat
ed road reached Harlem. they uern
recoynized Institution of the city. a
great value 10 the residents OF Il al the,
distant suburb, and famous for thai
beauty and sviftness. To them Vac dns
~ some measure, the building m a
Harlem az place of suburban residence
and dweliers there, recognizing that :.
more viii they be enabled 70 eniov m
delightful summer trips and the eIcite.
! ment Of the races Afforded hy tharn
nov speak of them with regret. Il nse<
TO DC denied by the officers OF tha boats
that they raced on the river. Peonss
thought they did, but they said ina
erroneous impression arose simply from
tie fact tia: they were in q hurry ana
couldn't help going fast.
The first boat put on the line vaa the
Sylvan Shore. During the war. vher,
the company had built faster boats ID
take her place. che was for a long while
Chartered by the government for tran
sport purposes, and finally she was
wrecked. Following her were the
Sylvan Glen, Sylvan Grove, Sylvan
Stream and Sylvan Dell. New Workers
never used the word sylvan" in speak
ing of them, but simply referred Ia
them as the Glen. Grove. Stream and
Dell. or. in the case of the latter as Tai
mans Pet. SO called in recognition Of
the great admiration felt for that
swlftest of swift boats BY the late Cant.
IalDian, when he was superintendent
OF the company. The Sylvan Dell was
the latest addition to the fleet, and
faster than any of the others, faster.
indeed, than any other steamboat In
the harbor, not even excepting the
Mary Powell. Several years ago abe
ran against the best time ever made on
the Hudson river and beat it. Five
years ago the line ceased to paw.
through the opposition Of a rival line.
IN competition with which fares were
cot down from ten to six cents. The
Sylvan Glen was taken off and sold to
company now running her on the ST.
Johns river, Florida. The rival line
Ntss1 Sct DAt Va OAA6kCfiCSs Dut 0O-
Ing that had loft the company in poor
condition to compete with their new
aud mor6 dangerous rival, the elevated
raiiroad- The company stilLretained
three boats. but three years ago only
found employment in their own service
for one of them-the Sylvan Stream
and little less than year ago with
drew her ana discontinued the service
entirely. During the past two years
the Sylvan Grove has been chartered
during the summers by the Manhattan
Beach Railroad Company. and used to
ply between the foot of East Twenty
third street and Greenpoint.
Tue boats remaining wore sold at
auction on the 7th inst.
The Sylvan Dell was first offered, with
all her furniture and ready for immedi-
ate service. The opening bid was $20,-
UDO. The bids rosa slowly to 81, COO.
Then followed two bids of $500 each. and
finally she was knocked down at x28,-
90 to MIR. William Robert, the man who
made the first bid. He was supposed to
be an agent for some line, probably a
Coney Island COMPANY.
Bids on the Sylvan Stream opened at
$4,000 and went up by $1,000 bids to
$1,000. and at that price she was
knocked down to Mr.. Robert. TIE first
offer for the Sylvan Grove was 5000.
and she was sold at last for $4,000 70
Dir. +. l.. Hall. II was the opinion of
the steamboat men present that the
boats sold cheap.
Whether true or no. we cannot say,
bat it was stated here quito positively
three years ago that the hull Of the Geo.
T.. Starr was modelled after that Of the
rapid and favorite Sylvan Dell.