The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-10-10
FAREWELL, TOLNA
Departure of Festetic's
Famous Yacht.
BOUND FOR THE SOUTH SEAS
Count and Countess Were Taken to
.Sausalito on the Tug Sea King
and Bid God Speed.

Count Festetics de TOlna took hitch in
his new pair of navy-blue trousers yester-
day, as per instructions in the nautical
way OF handling this portion of his ap-
parel given him by Captain McNeviD. and
boarded the tug Sea King. Five miles of
bay waters lay between him and the yacht
TolDa, which was anchored off Sausalito.
He thought it we'll to charter the towbOai
to carry himself. his wife, Louis Haggin
and Mrs. Haggin to the craft that long be-
fore this time is speeding away for balmy
Hawaii with its scons of nobility and
crew selected from the cream of the CON-
mon herd Of able seamen aboard. Captain
Wichman, iling-master and second in
command to Navigator Festetics. stood at
the companion way of the Tolna. hat in
hand, to welcome the Sea Kin g sspassen-
gers on board.
Under the tuition of McNevin the Count
has acquired an air of familiarity with
marine conlrivances that 60 longer SUD-
jects him to the ridicule OF OLD seadogS.
His long study of navigation has htted MIN
for his chosen life on the blue waves.
From the boxing of the compass TO the
cutting of the cabin boys ears the Count mas
completed mis- nautical education IN every
detail. When he set foot upon the deck Oh
his yacht yesterday, the conqueror OF many
trials and tribuatIOn. many lawsuits ana
much litigation, it is no small wonder tnat
it was murmured that he said lie laughs
best who laughs last.
And the Count did laugh, at least he
smiled. There was broad grin OF salts
faction bespreading his countenauce Wnen
he was told his trading schoo ner had been
duly cleared at the Custom-house and that
all was in readiness for pleasant voyage.
No unpleasant occurrences marred the
departure of the Tolna. A piping north
west breeze blew in through the Golden
Gate, stirring the bay into a multitude OF
whitecapped waves: just such breeze as
the nation was praying would blow OIL
Sandy Hook three days ago. What de-
parture could be more suspicious; good
wind, a crack yacht, jolly good crew and
a steward noted for his ability to make
salt pork taste like spring chicken when
provisions run low. Yes, the Tolna
shipped a frst-class cook, a noted chef
who knows the difference between noble
mans stomach and the ordinary digestive
organs IF an officer of q sailing vessel.
The choicest of the choice Of canned goods
grace the TolDa's storeroom. while the
glorious vintage of Champagnei is hid away
in the yachts lockers waiting to be IN
corked.
The TOMAS pure white canvas stood out
in bold relief against their background OF
the Marin hills as the vessel sailed out OF
the Golden Gate. Festetics was on deck
and so was his sailing master, Captain
Wichman. The Countess retired below
soon after the Sea King footed her last
salute and drew away for the city.
Fes tetics kept his eye upon the gather
ing f0gbanks in the western horizon and
occasionally cast knowing glance aloft.
He is to act as navigator during the south
ern trip, while Captain Wichman will do
the sailing. Not altogether an unproft-
able trip financially will be that OF the
Tolna, for slowed away in her hold are
articles for trading such as were not even
thought of by Mrs. Captain Brock, the
woman trader. There are several cases Of
cheap jewelry, some Of firearms, and a
number of rolls of calico that are destined
to set every Gilbert Islander upon the
apex of envy, and create demand for
dress reform among the bellies of the
Marshall group.
The Sea King lowed the Tolna as far as
the whistllng buoy and then let her cable
slip. For an instant the pretty little yacht
stood Topping her mainsail in the stffen-
ing breeze. Then the sheet filed and
were hoisted, and with dip OF her col Ors
Festetics' famous yacht sailed away on her
wonderful cruise in the South seas.
The vessel is cleared for Honolulu. A
stay will be made at that port. and from
there the TolEa will proceed to the Gilbert
group. A sharp lookout will be kept for
undiscovered islands and unknown rocks,
and perhaps in months to come the name
of Festetics will be handed down to pos
terity as that of one of the most famous
navigat0rs of the nineteenth century.