Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-17
THREE PALATIAL YACHTS.
How James Gordon Bennett Spends Hi
Time.


The three largest steam yachts in the
country are the Nourmahal, Mr.. Astor,
80 feet long and $50 tons burthen; the Ma
mouna, Mr.. Bennett, 216 feet long and S45
tons burden, and the ATLANTA, Mr.. Gould,
$50 feet long and al tons burden. The Ma
mouna is probably the most luxurious and
extensively run yacht in the world. She
is an iron three master, with steel decks.
and carries at all times full complement
OF men. She is always ready for an ocean
voyage, and can, at any moment, man
all her boats in case of necessity. Her
crew all told numbers upwards of fifty
men. Mr.. Bennett commands and naYi-
gates her himself. Then there are four
officers who take watch and watch, four
engineers, nine fireman and coal passeTs.
ten men before the mast, bOatswain, gum
ner, ships carpenter, two deck boys, four
quartermasters. first and second steward
and four cabin walters, two cabin boys.
chief cook and four assistants, tour mess
boys, etc. Mr.. Bennett has among the
crew many old employees, who receive
large salaries, but even at the usual
figures il will be seen at glance that his
monthly payment will foot up over 1000
and in all probability il reaches 81, 800.
At very moderate estimate il must COS {
an average fifty cents day per head TO
feed this crew, and that alone ioots up the
snug little sum of $3.50 per month. When
the NamOuna is at sea she burns in the
/ neighborhood oftweuty tons OF coal day.
This at $3.50 per ton amounts to S7j per
day, or IN month Of cruising 70 s., go.
When TO this IS added the cost OF repairs
/ engineers and mates stores (cordage,
etc. the interest at six per cent on an in
yestment Of about Sl25i 600 and proper
allowance for the depreciation in value
OF the property, II will be seen that, with
out any reference to the cost Of maintain
ing the cabin and the wine locker. the ca
pense Of running yacht like the Ma
mouna for month is sOmthiug fabulous.
At rough estimate $4,000 Is probably
within tBe mark.
But for this money the owner has a
floating palace as a home. he is free 10 20
wherever he chooses at whatever time
suits bis purpose or pleasure. Whenever
he crosses the Atlantic he can choose his
companions instead of being obliged 70
f0regnther with the travelling hoy who is
always 20 be found On an ocean steamer.
He has his own luxurious cabin. dressing
table and bed, instead OF being cnOped up
IN "A seVen-by-nine room with two men he
doesn't know-and doesn't want 20. aud
lighting for a chance at the looking glass
and wondering II the gentleman from
Oshkosh has hammered with his tooth
brush. He has bis own bath, adjoining bis
room, aud doesn't have To wait his turn
until breakfast IL cold. He can have bis
meals whenever be wants them without
feeling the steward for every mouthiul that
tastes as II 10 were all cooked Ia the same
stew pan; he can write ut a table with
out being hustled away 10y the steward
who wants TO clay the cl0th"a hour and
n bal before luncheon. More than all, ne
doesn't have 90 Die TO the ships doctor I'm
order 20 Keep light In his room all night.
That rs the advantage. The benefit 20 the
world at large is that he puts great deal
OF good money in circulation every year.
/ The Nourmahal and the ATLANTA, as
/ they are principally used IN home waters,
/ are not 80 extensively run. They each
\ carry "a crew Of about thirty, all told. and
/ thetreXpcnses are therefore proportion
I utcly smaller SO with the Electra. which
may be- taken ne faireNample of n steam
/ yacht half the size OF those mentioned. She
I is ia feet long aud carries "a crew OF about
/ twenty men. Her payroll would foot up
something like thousand dollars mouth.
She burns about eight tom Ofcoal a dav.
ana the cost OF feeding her crew is proba.
/ bly, trihe more than ON LARGER steamer,
/ The expenses, as has been said, of sailing
vessels are much smaller, but then they
/ do not always have fair wind, fact
I that is atoned for in the opinion of her
owners by the sport OF beating 10 wind.
ward,