Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-18
RACE TO EUROPE.
TWO aTOCELE SHELLS" LEPT BOSTON HARBOR
LAST EVENING
Ii a Voyage Across the Oeesn-Each is Just Large
Enough Ter One Man-Capiains Lswlor and
Andrews Are the Men Who Will
Dare the Raging Main.

BoSTON, June 1.-Two men started
on >, 500 mile race this evening at :
o'clock. Each man is the crew and cap
tain OF a tiny vessel and the Atlantic is
their race course.
The lust completed Sea Serpent has
the following dimensions: Length over
all. "A feet H. inches; beam, feet;
depth, . feet, and extreme draft OF
water, , feet. The length of the mast
from the deck 10 cap is 10 feet; spirit,
IL feet; main boom, Is feet; bOwSprit
out-board, feet.
The model of the Sea Serpent is that
of a dOuble-ended life boat, such as can
be seen on harbOr steamers, and the air
tanks in the bow and stern give Suihcl-
ent buOyancy 10 float the craft even
when she is filled with water. Two feet
from the stern post begins the stand
ing rOOm." which will also answer Tor
sleeping apartment. lt IS feet long,
feet wide, and when Captain
LawlOr is once inside slide
can be drawn over the1 open
space, thus making the boat as light as
a bottle. The keel is of the L shape,
made from a natural crook, white OAK
timber, the flange acting as keelSon
TO which the larbOard streak is bolted.
Below is added another piece of two
inch oak, in the centre Of which there
is placed 800 pounds of lead securely
fastened with long brass bolts. The
deepest part of the keel is twelve and
one half inches.
The frames are oak, steam bent, and
spaced from eight 10 twelve inches
apart. All the plankS run the full
length OF the boat and are Of selected
half-inch cedar riveted through and
through with copper faSteningS. The
deck will be of half-inch pine, covered
with canvas heavily coated with paint.
Light brass tubes and StanchiOnS Will
constitute a rail, which will be three
inches high and answer for foothold
when setting or shortening sails. Should
the boat ship sea or become leaky i
pow9rful pump, made for the purpose,
which will throw eight gallons a
minute. will be brought into use.
On the StarbOard aud port sides or the
standing room there is ample room for
provisions, such as canned meats, pre-
serves. a sufficient number Of five-ga!lon
cans OF water, cans of biscuit, extract
of beef and coffee, an oil stove and
lanterns, while forward is the StOwaway
place for spare sails, anchors, cables
and numberleSS other neceSSarieS. The
boat ways 25O pounds without the lead.
Josiah LawlOr, who will skipper
the little craft, is a Chelsea boy, born in
1854, of dark complexion, with large
eyes; is loosely built, yet wiry, and In
conversation has little to say about his
own abilities.
His opinions on nautical matters have
been thoroughly formed, and once he
makes up his mind TO carry out an idea
there is no hesitation.
His voyage in 1889 across TO Havre,
France, in the 26-fOOt boat NeverSlnk,
was an eventful one; he being cast into
an English prison for four months for
an assault committed while protecting
his property
CAPTAIN LawlOr will carry camera,
one that does not require focusing, and
being loaded with a roll of film, Is al
was ready for instant use. As his boat
will be close TO the surface OF the water
all the time, and going slow, COMPARE
lively speaking, he is in hopes TO get
pictures aud specimens pertaining TO
the fauna that could be got in no other
way, and consequently makes the voyage
q benefit indirectly 10 every one inter
ested in the increase of knowledge of
natural history.
CAPTAIN LawlOr will carry ten gallons
of oil, TO be used when running or lay
ing 10 drag or sea anchor during bad
weather. He found out that heavy
gravity oil did not spread quick enough,
and by adding one half kerosene it
spread much quicker and gave better
results. With the assistance of an oil
stove and a steam cooker the domestic
economy will be carried on expedi-
tiOuSly.
The boat will be supplied with set
OF colorS and signals. Captain LawlOr
may aStoniSh some of the sea captains
by hosting them some day. He has
been supplied with shoes made eX-
preSSly so that he eau get out of them
quick, and in case Of falling
overheard he will always keep a
line tied around him, the end
of which will be made fast to some
part Of the boat so that she will not get
away FROM him. He will carry gun
to use in case Of getting in the vicinity
of waterSpOut 70 break the column by
conclusion. He has drag made in the
shape of parachute, so as TO hold the
boats stern 10 the wind when laying tC
in ba0 weather. The mainSail is in two
PARTS, with a lacing, his own invention.
To hold them together he will use a
sprit for the peak of the sail, and when
he wants the reef he will take the peak
off by unlacing. Then he has leg OF
mutton sail. He will carry about 36C
square feet in light winds. Most OF the
sleeping will be done in bad weather
during head winds He will then furl
all sails and let the boat lay 10 drag.
He expects to carry two carrier pigeons
and let them go at two or three hun
dred miles Oft TO bring back message.
The other boat is the Mermaid. which
will be sailed by Capt. William A. An
drews, who is undoubtedly the best
known man among the navigatorS OF
frail crafts that have crossed the ocean.
He is a man of determination and cOur-
age, he having proved himself such by
making voyage in the little dory Nau-
titus, accompanied by his brother.
The Mermaid is Of the deep, round
sided dory type, fifteen feet long, two
feet deep and will have a long center
board and considerable room for exer-
else in the cockpit She will wear a
latteen sail Of improved shape.
Capt Andrews is confident that he
will win the race, and expects to make
the passage inside Of fifty days.
Tue Mermaid like the Sea Serpent,
vii be completely fitted with proviS-