The Washington critic., 1885-06-18
BEN BUTLER'S YACHT.
The "America's" Eventful and 1,
inantic History.

lflOr 10 1901 tnc ElSllSil yacnJS were nc
licvcd to be, and were on the Eastern Con-
tinent, the fastest vessels in the world. In
1850 Mr.. George Steers, who had already
built from his own designs several boats
that had shown considerable capabilities
as to speed, built the yacht which he
named the America for Commodore
Stevens of the New York Yacht Club.
IN 1851, at the time that the first Worlds
Fair, as such international exhibitions
were then called, was held in England
under the patronage and supervision of
the Prince Consort, Commodore Stevens
sailed in the America for Havre where he
arrived after an exceedingly quick pas
sage, although careful not to carry too
much sail lest he might strain his yacht.
On her arrival at Havre she was thor
oughly refitted, and sailed for Portsmouth,
where she was locked and cleaned of the
barnacles and weeds which during the
voyage had attached to her. On the 22d
oil August q race, open to yachts of all
nations, took place, which is described in
the following language by the correspond
cnt of the London Times:
Cows, Friday, 1890 p. m.
The f100 cup for all nations was run for to-
day, and after Il most exciting contest was
won by the America, which beat all her com.
petitors, with the greatest ease. The day was
fine, and at starting there was not much wind.
Eighteen vessels entered for the cruise and
went off beautifully at ten O'Clock. At the
Nab the America shot ahead, and at the
Needles was seven or eight miles ahead of the
nearest yacht. The Queen went off to the
Needles to see the race, and the royal steamer
ran part OF the way nome with the America
six o'clock. The America was loudly cheered
by all ashore and ailoat
Perhaps the description given on the
same day by two old eadogs will best de-
scribe her performances:
"D'ye see that ere steamer? Pm blest
if the Yankee don't beat her out of sight
around the islandw
And the signal-master of the clubhouse
said TO q gentleman who asked for ini'or-
nation as to whether the yachts would
not catch her when they came to beat to
windward, "Pshaw, sir! catch her? you
might rs well set bulldog to catch u
hare
In the Illustrated London Journal, few
days after, appeared a cartoon which
showed the interior of the cabin of royal
yacht, with the Queen ut lunch, waiting
the return off the Needles of the yachts.
Her Majesty says, "Signal-master, are the
yachts in sight?'
eyes, may it please your Majesty"
(Which Is first?'
''The America
(Which is second?''
1Ah, your Majesty, there is no secondn'
The Queens Cup was hers.
An objection was made that CommO.
dore Stevens varied little from the pre-
scribed course; but mis- explanation to
that, which was accepted, was that his
variation gave him n longer sail than the
rest of the yachts had.
Another cup, valued at one hundred
pounds, given by the Queen, to be sailed
for by the yachts of all nations, at Ryde,
Isle of Wight, was to be sailed for on the
25th of August. Commodore Stevens de
clined to start, owing to the almost entire
absence of wind on the day appointed.
r. Stephenson, NJ. F., challenged hel
for race on the 2sth of August, forty
miles out and in, in competition with the
Titania, an English iron schooner. They
started at II O'clock, steering southeast,
with a strong wind from the northwest,
and at o'clock the America returned in
sight from Portsmouth, when about ten
miles outside of the Nab, but nothing
could be seen of the Titiania at that time
The subsequent history of the America
has almost been romance. Her English
owners altered her rig somewhat, cut down
her masts, and used her for cruising until
1861, when her name was changed to the
Camilla, when, deeming her the fastest
vessel in the world, an American gentle
man, who was then living in the South,
and who has every qualification now to
represent his country abroad, purchased
heavy gun, and named her the Memphis
but he soon found his mistake, for al.
though with good wind she could beat
most of the steamers even yet without
wind she was no match for the sloWcst
tub of the Northern blockading fleet
Thereupon he took her up the st. Johns
River, Florida, and sank her in the mud
for safety, where she remained for several
months, until she was dug out and sent by
the American frigate Wabash to New
York, whence she was taken TO Annapolis
and refitted, and nominally used as Il
training schooner for the cadets at tn,
Naval Academy. Her actual use, how
ever was a pleasure yacht for the officers
Afterward Admiral Porter had he
brought to New York and reiitted, mt AZ
expense of some twenty-five thousand
| dollars, TO sail III the race against the
| Livonia, an English yacht which came
over here TO contest the possession of the
Queens cup, but being fitted up like q
| man-of-war, and sailed by man-of wal
| who knew nothing of yachting she only
came in third in that race, and ii was won
| derful that she did as well.
In 1874, being found by the ther
| Secretary of the Navy, Mr.. Robson, to bC
simply a useless burden and expense TO
| the Navy, She was sold at auction, ant
| bought by General Benjamin +. Butler
| and Colonel Jonas IL. French of Boston by
| whom, taking off from her the man-ot
| war absurdities, she was put in the
| order in which she is now represented.
| General Benjamin f. Butler, in Harper
| Magazine for July.