The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-08-07
Bar Harbor IN a Fog.

Those who made an excursion to Bar Har-
Dor on the steamer Queen City one year ago
We're favored with bright sunshine and smooth
water, and found Names most noted watering
place both hot and dusty. The excursion on
Thursday last showed the reverse of the pic
ture, and was attended by fog and rain and not
Il few discomforts. Nevertheless not many are
disposed to grumbe as they look back upon
their experiences of the two days over which
the excursion extended. When the start was
made the fog of the night before was scaling
Off and all hoped for IA pleasant day. Leaving
Belfast at A. NJ, a call was made at the Camp
Ground where some forty were added to the
eNcurSonists, making the total number on
board about two hundred and fifty. DR.. A. S.
Davis was not on hand to salute us as we pass
ed Turtle Head, and perhaps that NAV have
had something TO do with the i'll luck which
followed. When we passed Cape Roster the
fog shut in SO thick that the whistle was sound
ed at intervals. and although the mist lifted
now and then it was only to shut i'll again. and
50 the sail was robbed of most of lis pleasure.
Mount Desert hills We're completely botted
out, and as we skirted the island it seemed like
comparatively low land. only at the entrance
to Bar Ilarbor was the outline of Green Noun
tain family revealed for a moment There
We're few seasick ones on board who were
not sorry TO stand once more at terra tirma.
Before the party left the boat to 90 their
several ways sightseeing it was announced
that the start home would be made at in
stead Of H. NJ. because of the threatening
aspect of The weather. Some who were pro-
HIded with lunch baskets at once engaged buck
boards for drives to the points of interest, and
others went TO the hotels and restaurants for
dinner with appetiteS >harpened by the salt sea
air. At ?. NJ. when the excursionists return
cd to the boat there was thick fog and
strong southeastern blowing and Capt. Barbour
thought it was not prudent to venture out.
Such confidence was placed in the judgment of
our captain that although many Were disap-
pointed al not being able to reach home that
night there was general acquiescence in his de-
cision, and I 4. NJ. Friday having been named
4, the time for departure it only remained
to secure quarters for the night and make
the best of it. The Rodick and Grand Central
sheltered the larger number but there were
few of the hotel registers which did not show
one or more arrivals from Belfast.
A NOTED YACHT.
A. we steamed into Bar Uarbor a large and
handsome schooner yacht attracted the atten-
ton of the admirers of marine architecture,
and on enquiry this was found to be the Nesta.
noted craft one of three participants in
mid-Winter race across the Atlantic that will
be forever memorable in yachting annals The
match was first made at a New York y ach
club dinner given on the evening of Oct. n,
1866, by the respective owners of the Fleetwing
and Nesta, for stakes of $50 600 each, the start
to be from Sandy Hook, \. y, the following
December, and the yacht first to arrive at the
Needle Rocks the coast of England to win
the prize and honors. Before the papers were
signed James Gordon Bennett asked that his
yacht, the Henrietta be allowed to enter, and
this was agreed to. making three contestants
We're limited to mun>ail>, foresails, jibs, flying
lb,, jib-topsa>. fore and main GAIT topsails
maintopmast Staysail>, storm staysails, try
sails and squarcsa!>. The final agreement of
all was a~ follows: at is agreed that the
boats engaged in the ocean race may shift any
thing but ballast, and that the race ends with
the light on the west end of the Isle of Wight,
bearing abeam the yachts on the Channel
course bound for Cowes. The yachts to start
on Tuesday, December llth, at one o'clock P.
NJ, blow high OF blow low The yachts were
almost exactly of the sam" size, although diff
ferin@ in model. The Henrietta was 2O6 tons,
los feet long. - feet beam, 10 feet depth of
hold The Fieetwing was 203 tons, l06 feet
long a feet beam and 10 feet dep of hold.
The Nestu was POI tons, 9S feet long and 26 feet
beam-the smallest, shortest and broadest of
the three. She was also center board craft.
while the others We're keel schooners A fair
start was made with the wind abuft the beam
the yachts making II to II knots an hour and
all steering the same course. southeast by east
We have not space to give the details of this
wonderful race, which ended in victory for
the Henrietta on the fourteenth day from New
York, the FiceiWng second and the Nesta
third Ghe latter lost the race by bad judg
mont on the part Of her sailing master, and but
for a bunder Of the English pilot would have
Yacht on the twelfth day and ON the thirteenth
sighted the scillys one hour and five minutes
ahead Of the Henrietta, with the Feetwng
I>tcrn. The latter was somewhat crippled by
carrying away her jib-boom. The shortest pos
>ible distance from New York to Cowes is said
10 be ",Oi> miles and the Henrietta ran 300.
Tbs was certainly Il triumph of navigation
Ia a. m
than her competitors. The Nesta was never
hoye to- never lost even 50 much as rope
yarn. aud never Shipped sea, while both the
Keel boats We're hove to; one, the Henrietta,
was boarded by and her quarter boat
was sent to pieces by the force of the blow;
the other had six men swept from her deck
This wa, on the 10th day out. when the Nesta
encountered her iierceSt gale Such is a bare
summary of this ocean race, which for pluck
and ,,aman>hip has had no parallel, and in
these DAYS of steam yachts is not likely to be
repeated But the Ne>ta will everywhere be
an object of interest and admiration to IL real
sailor and in Maine waters will find many adj
mrers.
COLLECTION OF MAINE GEMS
"Thc Pine and Palm" The dainty and artistic
little building erected Lay +. IL, Moses, the
florist, and before described in the journal, of
cour~c attracted the sight seers 1t is certainly
gem inside and out, but we called specially to
see collection Of precious stones, taken from
MI. Mica in this State, and the property Of the
Mt. Mica company, which has been placed
with Mr.. Moses for sale. An expert from
nounced them fine collection and the most
unique in America 1t was something of Il
surprise y find that one of the gems is valued
tLlnr MIN Ii l.