The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-27
N DAVY JONES' LOCKER.
,r THAN A MILLION OF
N0' VANDERBILT MONEY.

Froru the Ne,O York World.
GORGEOUS palace fioated on the
.ban the steam yacht Of W. K. Van
Wit Wit which, in addition to being equipped
oe. ~ svsry conceivable article OF comfort
VIII ,s,nry. was a sea-going vessel larger
aHN ~ an ocean steamship. The Alva
tn'H OK feet in length over all and was
was - Oct. IA, 1885, When the vessel
la'lI 1.Iivarsd complete TO her owner she is
"As have cost, with her equipment and
sa,l aT,re over 81 900 900, and the expense of
Z .aing her in commission was never less
an 600 a month. In addition to
s"1- .,afr Of servants, 1t required crew
40 ss,v.five men to run the ship, and her
u -, had formerly commanded an At
-, liner. while there were many grades
% ~r5er officers, with big staff OF en-
-;,ssrs. and electrician, stewards and stew
sll ,.s.os and a man to look after the wine
b. Two Jersey COWS formed an i'm
cens. mart of the vessel equipment. They
nsdded stalls like fine horses at New
srkat Heath, and they supplied cream
- fresh milk throughout the voyage.
Tha smoking room was on the upper
~ II was finished In mahogany and up
Ite.tared IN embossed leather. In the center
~ his room wax large table fitted with
n tH'aniors lockers with silver mountings. In
n .Lssa we're kept cigars, cigarettes and to-
B 80 Tor the convenience of the guests.
n The cigars were all wrapped In sllver leaf
& - ~ Urotect them from the saturatIng infu-
s,,6o NJ the salt air aud to preserve their
sayor Close to the right hand OF every
& t,nsst was an electric button, which on
& seiDg pressed summoned servant in
livery.
.vss generous The guests who accompanied
n him mon any of his voyages had carte
4 blanche 10 order any manner of solid or
a lj0nid refreshment at any hour Of the day
Il or night, whether champagne or water,
Dste de foie grass or a mutton chop. AT
Almost every turn about the vessel the
rJnsst was confronted by electric buttons
which would bring q servant with whatever
might be desired.
Unlike an ocean steamer, the Alva was
h not fitted with berths in the guest rooms,
bu. each of them contained a roomy bed.
The dining room was the largest apartment
aboard the vessel. 1t was elaborately fin
isbsd in white and gold with furniture Of
The same delicate tint. Rich carpets and
rugs covered the floors, growing plants were
4 half concealed in various recesses, and at
night the room was illuminated by soft cleo
tric lamps. With the table spread for din
ner and glittering with the costly plate and
cut glass with which the yacht was fur
nisbed, this dining room in midocean RI
vailed IN richness that Of Mr.. Vanderbilt's
house IN New York.
From the dining room a long. low pas
sage led aft to the library, which also served
as a music room. In this apartment were
q bra n y,ia uiO.
lin with other musical instruments, so that
time should not hang heavily during the
voyage. The vessel was fitted with two
steam launches and FIVE lifeboats.
AS usual, the sailors had their quarters in
the forecastle, but the officers cabins were
sstern and the staterooms Of the owner and
yhis guests was between. The officers mess
froom was forward on the main deck.
Beneath the smoking-room was the chill
dren's nursery, well-lighted play-room !;
plenty OF light, indeed, being feature OF
every apartment in the yacht. The stabe-
rooms began here, too. They were ranged
about the nursery and extended aft, with
break here and there, to the stern. There
we're sixteen STATE rooms in all, with accom-
modations for twenty-five persons, though a
good many more guests could be accommo-
dated on a pinch. They we're as far ahead
Of the average ocean steamship staterooms
as yacht is ahead Of a canal boat. These
were variously finished in cherry
aud walnut, and supplied with dress
ing-cases, wardrobes, Scotch marble
basins with running water, and a number
OF Ingenious contrivances in the line of con-
veniences. The rooms were fully equipped
wltRNrich carpets, curtains and tapestries.
Among the interesting features Of these
state rooms were the bath tubs sunk into
the floor aud 80 neatly fitted with trap doors
that even without carpet their presence
would not be noticed. Hot or cold, fresh
or salt water baths could be had at will
The furnishing Of the two children's bed
rooms, just off the nursery, was also clev-
erly arranged. A small berth for q child
was built against the side, about four feet
from the floor. The nurses couch fitted
closely under this. aud pulled out when the
child was put to bed, so that should lurch
or roll of the yacht cause the child TO fall
Out 1t would fall upon soft bedding.
Inc pantry and dining room were next
alt the nursery but scattered here and there
In the vicinity were linen closets, toilet
rooms and a small, glass-faced section fitted
up with large assortment or rifles, shot
guns, pistols and fishing tackle. Through a
trap-door in the pantry the swine
cellar" and general storeroom for pro-
visions was reached. Artificial ice was
made here. Over the pantry was the
Kitchen and no smell Of the cook
ing could come from it to the dining
room below. This room was beautifully
finished in white and gold. 1t waf
Tie most spacious apartment in the
yacht and would seat half hundred
people. A long, narrow passage led aft
from the dining room to the library. On
Tue way the great engine was passed, and
t9r the benefit OF guests fond of watching
Ihe plunges OF the big, brightly polished
Steel rods handsomely upholstered settee
was provided. The library was finished in
french walnut and the adjoining state
rooms matched it. A few steps TO the outer
ueck and sharp turn forward brought the
visitor TO the ladies' sitting room and
Doudolr. This, in the way of comfort, ele'
gance and general utility was counter
part of the smoking room forward, but ever
more luxuriously furnished. The "aftel
oeek house" was fitted up as an Office anC
secretary's room.
Inc crew comprised ffty-fve men. Tt
maintain these, pay for coal. provisions anc
tne endless expenses Of a yacht, it was esti-
mated that Mr. Vanderbilt would have tc
pay out about $40 900 month.
81: Clare Byrne OF Liverpool wa
tne designer of the Alva. The general plans
1Cr the hull and engines was brought from
LAglani The principal dimensions wert
as follows:
egh over all 2S5 O
Js+sE rom stein 10 post..'..'.'.' .'...Soo v
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