New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-25

his plans were carefully carried out by the VII
mington builders 10 the minutest detail. Inc
English model, however, was declared to oe uh-
canal 70 the American model, on which most
yachts about here were built. 1t was aro
rumored that the Alva rolled heavily, anu
in many respects wa not good sea-Doa,' %
much was said, in fact that Mr. vanderbilt wrote
a letter TO the Editor OF The Tribune about her
under date of April IL, 1889. Mr.. 'anuerpI'
said:
The Alva was not built for speed. In my letler "
Mr. St. Clair Byrne distinctly stated that "hat
Desired WIS first safety In a seaway. or good sea
going vessel, second, comfort; third, speed. Inc
specifications called for speed OF 10 knou' oh Oe
trial trip with n draft OF IL feet lhches' pu' ""0'
laden for sea she to draw IL feet. Inc Sp'''
Of Is knots only for the trial tr1p IL pehS uue
stood that this meant 13 IL or IA Knots al inc
utmost in an ordinary seaway AS n matter OF iact
the yacht drew fully laden for long cruise IL feet
inches or o inches more than intended. The highest
speed was 321 . nos in twenty four hours. but the
revolutions OF the screw were never over IS. when
she Is supposed to at 30. and 20 ponnds OF steam
when she is presumed to carry 100. TINS was INC
initial trip OF the yacht and no effort was made for
speed-in this she should have been put IN drv-
dock where she had not been since she was lannched
to have a rolling mill scale taken Off and bottom
painted.
was exceedingly pleased with her sea-golng
qualities and think she had a sufficient test in round
Ing IIatteras to prove them. The machinery was
never stopped FOR one moment during the entire trip
during the runs, and have reason to find fault
with the yacht in any way In luS'ice 10
the Harlan e HOllnsworth Company. Will state that
the published reports have greatly exaggerated her
cost.
Mr. Vanderbilt has certainly seemed to be salts
fled with his yacht, for he and his family and
friends have taken numerous and extended cruises
In her. and the possession of her is not one Of the
least things for which her owner is noted.
In the spring Of 1891 Mr.. Vanderbilt, with
party Of friends, consisting of Winfield Scott Hoyt,
Louis j. Webb and T.. w. Jewett, cruised in the
Mediterranean with the Alva, and on their return
were detained at Quarantine by a case Of small
pox which had been discovered on the voyage.
The yacht left Funchal, in the Madeiras. on April
G. and one of the oilers taken i'll two days
later The Alva carried q physician, and he
isolated the man and took every precaution TO
prevent the disease from spreading. At Quamn-
tine Mr. Vanderbilt and his friends all showed
evidences of having been vaccinated, and although
the yacht was detained they were allowed TO
leave the vessel with their luggage. They were
landed from tugboat at the Barge Office, and
Mr. Vanderbilt and his friends made their way
still more filthy luggage
The Ava left New-Yorlr for this cruise on
February o. OF the Azores, she encountered
q terrific hurricane which blew with such violence
that the yacht ran into the harbor of Porto Del
gado for shelter She lay there thirtysix hours
and then. though the storm had not blown over,
went 10 Cahiz n distance OF 900 miles. Moth
ing mo = tL0n Il is experience was mecca 70 prove
that the Alva was n good sea boat. Mr.. Wander
bilt left the Yacht at Cadiz She went to Nice
and then 10 Gibraltar for coal. and later met the
party at Cadiz and started for home.
The Alva only n few weeks Ego ran down
row boat in the North River. In the boat were a
man and woman, and they were both drowned
The Alva was well-known in foreign waters and
she was familiar object in American waters, par
tcularly in the harbors Of New-i ork and newport
Her size and general appearance marked her as a
separate creation from all except the extremely
few yachts Of her class. She was the largest
steam Yacht owned in the United States. The
other bic steam yachts are the NOurmahal, owned
by the late William Astor. 23j feet long, tonnage
74j: the Atalanta 2l2 IL feet long, tonnage SOS,
lay Gould's Yacht; the Namouna, 2l0 feet long,
tonnage SIC. owned by James Gordon BENNETT;
the Cor~air. q feet long, PAS tonnage, owned by
j. Pcrpont Morgan; and the Electra, ia feet
long. tonnage 3Oi, owned by Elbridgc l. Gerry
As to the cost ot yachting such magnificent
scale the estimate varies with the tastes of the
o,yr,r and the character of the cruise. The
,ctr,1 cos, OF running such craft as the Alva Is
something over $1,000 n month. This is for the
necessary c\penscs such MS salaries, repairs. coal
ctc Able scamen get $40 month. stewards 500
and calling masters 500 10 $i2j. Engineers get
from So a month 10 $4,000 a year
But when il comes TO the determining OF now
much a yachtslnan has 10 spend on his yacht IN
,bo acason the factor OF the stewards department.
coucs in. This is an unknown and underlined
,u,ntitv ard depends entirely upon what man
,,r of table the yachtSman keeps up Some yachts
mon ocnuirc reputation by the magniiiccnce OF
rhcir tables and Others rputetlon for the piali
moss and simplicity of their fare Some entertain
hr,,.l,. and gorgeousy, others scarcely ever en-
tcr,,in but cruise around with one or two
cric,Js only on board. Others exercise the most
unlimited hospitality AMI lavish their money on
.ostlv wines and the most expensive table that
o,r no desired on the Alva Mr.. Vanderbilt sup
uor,od a good table as was consistent with his
non,ficent craft and her palatlal fittings and with
his nrinccly fortune but the profuson and mag
| miGr,ncc did not compare with that kept up Oh
'n,,c other yachts, notably by Mr.. terry on the
i%",ro Mr. Gerry was once asked now much
his yacht cost MN year, """ l' i'P W "
aid not know. II.
VI" IL woud take all the pleasure out OF yacht-
;r" said he if one had to think OF the cost.
THEIR MARRIAGE 4 SECRET FOE YEAR,