Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-14
A YACHTMEN'S PARADISE.
CUMBERLAND ISLAND TO BE A
WINTER RENDEZVOUS.

all the yacnI CLUBS IN InlS country anu
even in Europe. and for building the
grandest yacht club house in the world
has been agreed upon.
The location chosen is the southern end
of Cumberland Island. This island is
Just off the extreme southern coast of
Georgia, and is remarkable for its fertility
and beauty. 1t is the most important OF
the celebrated group Of sea islands OF
Georgia. Its Indian name was Mlssoe.
This was changed to Cumberland when
Oglethorpe visited it at the request of an
Indian chief who had received some kind
ness from the Duke of Cumberland. The
island is about twenty miles long and has
an average breadth of two miles.
The magnificent property known as
Dungeness, once the property OF Gen.
Nathaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame,
is on the Southern part of the island.
Dungenes5 comprised a splendid mansion
and a magnificent estate. The fields were
highly cultivated, and there was an
abundance of semi-tropical fruits
oranges, lemons, olives. The mansion
stood on a fine terrace, and was sur
rounded by magnificent live oaks, and a
grand avenue of the same kind of trees
led to the sea.
The mansion was destroyed accident
ally some years after the war, but
the live oaks and the lemon,
orange and olive orchards yet remain.
The olive grove, containing Italian and
Syrian olives, is celebrated. Two years
ago Mr.. Thomas NJ. Carnegie, of the firm
of Carnegie Bros, of PIttsburg, Pa,
purchased Dungeness. The Carnegie
brothers are steele manufacturers, and
employ about 1000 hands. They are
gentlemen OF very large wealth.
A FAMOUS PROPERTY.
Mr.. Thomas NJ. Carnegie has restored
Dungeness, and has reared palace on
the site of the old mansion. 1t is
built of New Hampshire granite,
and the cost was 100000. Its
style of architecture is Queen Anne,
with some of the features of the old
Scotch castles added. 1t is crowned with
a tower rising to the heigth of 135 feet.
From it a magnificent view is obtained of
the island and portions Of the coast of
Georgia and Florida. The surroundings
of this splendid house are in keeping with
the house itself. The cultivated terraces,
the orange, lemon and olive groves, the
flower gardens, the date-palm trees, and
the magnificent live oaks form fresh
and beautiful picture all the year around,
of which the eye never tires. AS a mat
ter of interest it may be noted that Gen.
Lee of revolutionary fame, the father of
Gen. Robt. Z. Lee, died at Dungeness
while a guest there. He was buried
from the Dungeness house. The last sad
rites were superlntended by Commodore
Henley.
The information relative to the scheme
making Cumberland Island the winter
station of all the yacht clubs of this
country, was obtained from Mr.. Alexan-
der Curtis, of ST. Mary's, who was yes
terday visiting Savannah.
In reply TO the query as to how far
matters had progressed, Mr.. Curtis said
that the architect had been for some six or
eight months engaged on the plans, which
would be ready for final approval before
the new year; that the project had long
been a fayorite one with him, and had
been, in fact, first mooted some six years
ago, but owing to the disposal of the in
tended site, had remained for the last two
years in allegiance.
THE YACHTMEN'S STATION.
The Incompatible site, whether as
regards actual fitness for the purposes
intended, or magnificence of local sur
roundings, was absolutely only OBJ
tainable through the generosity of
the noble owner of Dungenesss,
and to Mr.. Carnegie and his kind
ness every fellow yachtsman in America
and, indeed, III Europe, as for that
will be indebted for the most magnificent
yacht club station without any exception,
in the world. The exact location selected
for the site is the extreme southern end
of Cumberland Island. The southern
facade of this magnificent club house will
face Fernandina and the entrance to
its harbor. The western front Will
have magnificent view of the
St. Mary's river at its confluence
with the Cumberland and Amelia
rivers. On these waters, nesting behind
the headlands of the adjacent islands, or
under the sheltering lee of the magnificent
live oak forests of Dungeness thousand
yachts can safely lie at anchor: and vet,
at a signal from their Commodore, within
thirty minutes shake out their reef-knots'
and show their seamanship on the dane
ing waves of the Atlantic.
''You speak with enthusiasm of the
scenery%'
Spy no means more than it deserves.
The appearance Of those land-lOcked wa
tiers, belted with forests, protected by
islands. such as Cumberland, of abso-
lutely ideal beauty
kissing the sea sands with the kiss of peace
or running in wantOn happiness to join
the gambols of the broad Atlantic-break-
ing SIN diapason of mighty tones" along
THE NEIGHBORING BEACHES,
forms a picture of misunderstanding
beauty realizing the ideal Of Keats
a joy forever!
Whose loveliness increases.
Ana will never, never
Pass into nothlnsnee- :"
ITO whom have the designs been en-
trusted?"
''To Mr.. PEBBLES, the eminent architect,
who has lust completed MIR. Carnegie's
singularly beautiful mansion at Dunge-
ness. distant about three miles from the
club house."
"Have any steps been taken as to the
organizations
"Oh, yes; l have been for some months
in correspondence with parties regarding
the preliminaries, and the conditions
named by Mr.. Carnegie are so favorable,
tending, in fact only to increase the con-
venience of the members of the clubs,
and largely enhance the value of their
property, that we shall have no difficulty
in carrying out the plans to a successful
issue.D
Glow was it Mr.. Carengie was induced
to grant the site?"
''Well, that's a long story; but his kind
intentions were no doubt much influenced
by the unbOunded admiration expressed
as to its fitness by such ardent yachts
men as the Earl of Huntingdon and Lord
Hastings (bOth owners of noble yachts
and thorough going yachtsmen) J. and also
Mr.. Jay Gould, who twice during the past
year were guests at Dungeness, the two
former saying that if only a good club
cOulu De 65ldDllsueu many VI OuE IIduS-
Atlantic brethren would pass their
WINTERS AT THE SOUTH,
and they (and Others) pointing out what
an advantage winter quarters for the
yachts and a winter rendezvous would be
to all yachtsmen and squadrons."
From what you have stated, buildings
of very beautiful kind are contemplated.
About what will be the cOst?"
'The buildings no doubt will be both
unique in design and of palatIal magniti-
cence, in conformity with the surround
ings and in accordance with the wishes of
the promoters. No reasonable amount
will be wanting to render them the most
fitting as well as attractive for the pur-
pose in the world. Some of these fea-
lures are so novel and attractive that |
regret l am not at liberty Just at present
to mention them, but the estimated cost
so far, and which the architect has been
informed he 'can consider as assured
will be about half a million OF dollars"
Mr.. Curtis has been extremely active
in promoting this scheme, and he has rea-
son to be proud of his success. There ap-
pears to be no reason to doubt that within
a year, perhaps. the finest yachts in the
world will be anchored almost in the
shade of the grand old oaks Of Dungeness.
Arrested for Stealing Money.
Rosanna Harden and Celia Cuyler were
arrested by Officer Wetherhorn yesterday
on charge preferred before Justice Ty-
son, by Elizabeth Harden. of the larceny