The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-09-08
THE CECILIA.
A DAISY LITTLE VESSEL.
Mr.. A. Filters beautiful Country Seat at
Town Point.

II DhlD L LII i LII FIODDI,
Mr.. A. Filters Beautiful Country Seat at
Town Point.
Among the little colony of prominent
Philadelphians who, for purposes of
health aud pleasure, have located their
summer homes on the upper tributaries
of the Chesapeake, that of Alfred Filter
Esq, the well-known financier and con-
veyancer at Town Point in this county
is conspicuous. As our readers are aware,
Town Point is located at the confluence
of the Elk and Bohemia Rivers The pro-
mentory which separates the two rivers
at their junction, is bold ridge of land
affording magnificent view of the bay
to the southwark, t1anked on either hand
by the equally bold and we'll wooded
shores of the two rivers named. For
beauty of scenery these rivers far sur
pass the Delaware, the shores of which
are generally flat and unattractive. Here,
however, they are high and bold Offering
bay, aud affordiug unusually attractive
sites for residences. We accepted on Fri
day of last week an invitation from Mr..
Filter to make the sail from Elkton to
Town Point on his recently purchased
Naptha Launch, the Cecilia" a short
notice of which recently appeared in THE
WY =.
tic yachtman would term
LITTLE DAISY
and was built by Nicholas Shepherd, of
lila Beach street, Philadelphia, her en-
CINE being set up by Messrs. Henshall u
Sons, of the same city. Her motive power
is furnished by newly invented Naptha
engine built in New York by the d" Gas
Engine and Power Company of which
Mr.. Clement Gould is president and man
ager. That uninitiated readers may
known something about the fuel which
this little craft consumes. we may say
that naptha is one of the numerous gas
generating products obtained from ordi-
nary petroleum. 1t is developed by boil
ing at a low temperature, and containing
the hydro carbons, is very explosive.
Exposed to higher temperature benzine
is evolved. When still higher temper
ature is reached the crude petroleum is
freed of it's dangerous elements, the
hydrocarbons, and we have the coal oil
of commerce 80 widely used for illumina-
ting purposes. At still increased tenn
perature paratine is obtained, aud finally
a residuum known in commerce as as.
pbaltum. We mention these products
simply to show what prolific source of
useful chemical agents our petroleum is,
not considering the beautiful analine
colors made from it and which are used
in every household for dyeing purposes.
1t has been reserved for American in
genuity to apply these petroleum pro-
ducts to an infinite variety of uses both
in the mechanical arts and in the house.
hold, and now as one of the latest appli
cations of them we have the Naptha
engine, which promises to revolutionize
the uses of steam where a small power is
required The cleanliness of this agent,
when applied to marine uses, the COM
pactness of the engine using it, its sim
plicity and ease of management, requir-
ing no licensed engineer, and its freedom
%
recommend it. The Cecilia is twenty
five feet in length and cost $1,000. Her
model is perfect. She has straight
stem and the usual over-hanging round
stern. Her outline is as clean cut as any
racing yacht, and her sharp PROV cleaves
through the water with the keenness of
knife. Her sea going qualities for YES
sci of her size are excellent, and as to her
speed, twelve miles can be easily made
under favorable conditions. Her fittings
and joiner work are of hard woods, ma
hogany and ash. Every appliance for
safety and comfort can be found in her
equipment even to little yacht howitzer
and a caliope whistle. With strong
southerly wind and tide against us we
made the run of sixteen miles in less
two hours. In less than three minutes
after lighting the gas we had pressure
of forty pounds, which after starting,
was raised to sixty and held there
steadily. To prevent the possibility of
hn h, h. aI,
is highly volatile, is carried in metal
tank located in the extreme bow of the
vessel. This holder is connected with the
engine, which is in the extreme stern of
the boat, by tube running along the
side of the keel on the outside of the
launch. By this means the gas is kept
cool as it passes to the engine, few
strokes of the air pump being sufficient to
force the gas from the tank. 1t is not our
intention to attempt a description of the
mechanical construction of her engine,
but simply to say that its management is
so simple, that any one can with the least
knowledge of machinery run it with per
lcCG Sdloby.
In our delightful sail to Town Point
we had jolly crew, Mr.. Filter, as jovial
and companionable as ever, was com
mander, with his nephew Mr.. Edward
F. Weaver. good second as mate; Capt.
Robert FL. Hastings, pilot and engineer,
and the boy George, gunner. Under a
stiff southeastern and lowering clouds, we
rounded the white anchor buoy off the
Town Point mansion in fine style. With
a ready tender we were soon ashore, and
the welcome recipient of the generous
hospitality which Mr.. Filter ever accords
his guests. A single glance at the man,
sion house shows, that money has not
been spared to realize Philadelphia
business mans dream of bachelor com
fort. Elegance and good taste not taw.
dry display mark every apartment in the
Filter mansion. From garnet to cellar
from hall door to scullery everything il
in perfect order. Town Point is thu
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