The Republican journal., 1885-07-02
The Early History of the Yacht Amer
iCa,"

The Early History Of the Yacht Amer
| ica."
Prior to 1851 the English yachts were believ-
ed to be, and were on the Eastern continent,
the fastest vessels in the world. In 1850 Mr..
| George Steers, who had already built from his
| own designs several boats that had shown con-
siderable capabilities as to speed, built the
| yacht which he named the America for Com
modore Stevens, of the New York Yacht Club.
| In 1851, at the time that the first 'World's
Fair" as such international exhibitions were
then called, was held In England, under the
patronage and supervision of the Prince Con-
| sort, Commodore Stevens sailed in the America
for Havre, where he arrived after an exceed
ingy quick passage, although careful not to car
| ry too much sail lest he might strain his yacht
On her arrival at Havre she was thoroughly
retltted. and sailed for Portsmouth. where she
was docked and cleaned of the harnacles and
weeds which during the voyage had attached
TO her. On the 22d of August race, open to
| the yachts Of all nations, took place, which is
described in the following language by the cor
| respondent of the London Times
CowEs, Friday, TO- 30 p. NJ
"The 100 cup for all nations was run for today
and after most exciting contest was won by the
America. which beat all her competitors with the
greatest ease. The day fine, and at starting
there was not much wind Eighteen vessels enter
Ell 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 of to the Needles to see the
race, anu the royal steamer ran part of the way
home with the America. She rounded the Needles
at eight minutes 10 six O'Clock. The America was
loudly cheered by all ashore and a1ioat."
Perhaps the description given on the same
uaV Dy TWO Old Spa-uOpS will best describe her
performances
"D'ye see that ere steamer! I'm blest if the
Yankee don't beat her out of sight around the
island!'
to Il gentleman who asked for information as
to whether the yachts would not catch her
when they came to beat to wtndward, 'Pshaw,
sir! catch her: you might AS well set bulldog
to catch a hare"
In the Illustrated London journal, a few
days after, appeared cartoon which showed
the interior of the cabin of royal yacht, with
the Queen AT lunch, waiting tine return off the
Needles of the yachts. Her Majesty says, Sig
nal-master, are the yachts in sight:'
Yes. may it please your Majesty"
Which is tirst?"
1.-The America"
"N hch is second!"
"Ah, your majesty, there is no second.''
The Queens Cup was hers.
An objection was made that Commodore Ste
vens varied a little from the prescribed course;
but his explanation to that, which was accept
ed. was that his variation gave him a 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 25tI Of August.
Commodore Stevens declined to start, owing to
the almost entire absence of wind on the day
appointed. This determination of the Commo-
dore was the subject of the following doggerel,
tan law ,th hi. f,r
"Says he. My noble lord,
ask one favor, if you please:
DO not start me TO race, my lord,
Unless it blows a breeze
\ sir-knot breeze at last, my lord
Or else IL Is no test,
Unless to show, not which Can sail
But which can dritt the best"
The Imertca having. however,, a cruising par
ty on board, subsequently got under way, and
beat the whole fleet by upward of an hour, not,
however. winning the cup, because she had for
mally Withdrawn from the race.
Il. Stephenson, NJ. F., challenged her for a
race on the 2Sth of August, forty miles out and
in. in competition with the TttoAia an English
iron schooner. They started at eleven O'Clock.
steering southeast, with a strong wind from
the northwest, and at five O'Clock the Amerlcu
returned in sight from Portsmouth, when about
ten miles outside of the Nab, but nothing could
be seen of the 1ttuatu at that time.
Commodore Stevens sold his yacht to Lord
DE Blanquiere. Before she sailed. another Eng
lish gentleman challenged her to race, which
Commodore Stevens declined, being anxious to
come to the United States, and invited his chal-
lenger to come to New York and trv his speed
against some other of our American yachts,
which, however, the Engii>hmau did not do.
The subsequent history of the Imerica has
almost been ii romance. Her English owners
altered her rig somewhat, cut down her masts.
and used her for cruising until 1861 when her
w phanpRI n he WI han
ing her the fastest vessel in the world. an Amer
lean gentleman, who was then living in the
South. and who has every qualification now to
represent his country abroad, purchased her as
Confederate cruiser, put on her heavy gun,
ana named her the WeMtjhtS: but he soon found
his mistake, for although with good wind she
could beat most of the steamers even yet, with
out wind she was no match for the >loWest tub
of the Northern bockading fleet. Thereupon
he took her up the st. Johns River, Florida,
and sank her III the mud for safety, where she
remained for several months, until she was dug
out and sent by the American frigate UdbtNb TO
New nrk, whence she was taken to Annapolis
and rehtttd, and nominaly used as training
schooner for the cadets at the naval academy.
Her actual use, however. was Il pleasure yacht
for the officers.
Afterward Admiral Porter had her brought
to New \ ork and retitted, at an expense of some
twenty tive thousand dollars, to sail in the race
against the Ltcouiu, an English yacht which
came over here to contest the possession of the
Queens Cup, but beng fitted up like man
of-war, and sailed by man of war who knew
nothing of yachting, she only came in third in
that race, and it wonderful that she did
well.
In 1871, being found by the then Secretary OF
the Navy. Mr.. Robeson, to be simply useless
burden and expense for the navy, She was sold
at auction, and bought by General Benjamin f.
Butter and Colonel Jonas III. French. of Boston,
by whom, taking off from her the man-of-war
ab>urdities, she was put in the order in which
she is now represented. General B. F. Butler,
in Harper's Magazine for July.