The morning call., 1893-05-18

to take himself and his wife over to Oak
land, where he was shown the sights and
regaled with sumptuous breakfast at
well-known restaurant where more con-
ndences were exchanged and where the
bill amounted to SIS, all told.
But the most interesting topic between
| the pair was the Counts ardent longing to
cruise abroad among the Pacific islands in
his own yacht
This was discussed again and again, and
finally. Captain McNevin says. the Count
engaged him to draw plans for yacht OF
ninety tons burden, to be used in trading
| among the islands.
CAPTAIN McNevn had previously con-
structed two gunboats-the Taravao and
the Newheava-for the French Govern
ment, and he was to design a vessel similar
to these. with certain notifications to suit
the Counts tastes.
For this service, according to McNevin's
own story, the Count contracted verbally
in the presence of witnesses to pay him
$1,000, and on this understanding the cap
tain went to work and in about month
got out set of designs which he says cost
him considerable money besides time.
All went well. The pleasant little
of navigation training had been paid. The
sky was serene. Various instrument
owners had been consulted by the Count
for terms for chronometers and sextants.
McNevin's son had almost been engaged
to accompany the Count In bis trading
voyages and boy-pupil had been asked 10
come too, gratuitously for two months, bot
with after Expectations"
SuAdanlr hn1f fall from fha hluQ
McNevin heard that the Count, who was
still visiting him every day. had two weeks
before contracted with another man for
yacht. He, asked him if it were so.
According to tbs captains story the
Count denied it point dismissing
the subject with laugh. Finally. how
ever. the Count is said to have turned to
the captain in the same interview and to
have admitted that the report was true.
"Tou are building yacht!'. exclaimed
the captain in astonishment.
YES" replied the Count. "At leas t."
he added. ''not I, but my wife. l told her
that was accustomed to luxurious ways.
that [ could not live in country where l
had to ask that my boots be blacked and
that l would 90 back to my own country.
l intimated that had hoped to stay il
could have a yacht.
Shortly afterward," continued the
Count, "my wife came and put her arms
round my neck and told me / could now
stay in this country with her for that
could have my yacht. She said she and
Harry Tevis had been to Captain Matthew
Turner and had contracted for a yacht. and
that she had paid down $1,000 deposit for
which she showed me receipt"
The captain was paralyzed, and saving
that then the Count would have no further
use for his services he bowed his guest
out.
But when the first shock of the blow was
over the captain began to think that he
had been betrayed; that all his fine and
expensive designs were worthless; that the
Count had been merely gathering ex-
perience at his expense and then giving
the benefit of his experience to another
yachtbuider.
The captain is choleric. and at once got
out on the warpath. He swore vengeance
and that he would obtain justice.
He indited a cartel, not of personal de-
fance, but clearly stating that the Count
was falsifer and that If he did not pun
gle up $1,000 by Monday noon the matter
would be placed in the hands OF an at
torney.
In an interview yesterday Captain Nc
Nevn related these circumstances and
stated that he would be sorry to go 10 ex-
tremes, but that il the matter should get
into court there would be revelations
which would rock society to its founda-
tions.
He merely demanded his rights. He
had always treated the Count as a gentle
man and expected the same treatment
from him. What he wanted was an ample
apology, $1,000 and instructions TO attend
to the yacht being built by Captain Mat
thew Turner.
He said that he had learned from Cap
tain Turner that 1t was the Count and not
his wife who had ordered the yacht and
that the alleged scene where, according TO
the Count, his wife had thrown her arms
round his neck was fiction made up to
screen himself from blame.
This ungallant conduct infiamed the cap
tain's wrath anew and lie swore that he
would not be made a fool of all the time.
Captain Matthew Turner was seen and
admitted that he was building a vessel for
Count Festetics, not for his wife.
There had been some talk of its being
trading vessel, and ne was making
schooner. not yacht 1t was to be 40
tons burden, 95 feet long, "a feet beam and
10 feet hold. of fine lines. and the vessel
would be capable of about fifteen knots
speed.
The Count said that he wanted a very
cheap vessel, and Captain Turner was act
ing accordingly. He was not ballasting
the vessel. but admitted that If she was to
be used as trader she would not require
the otherwise needful lead on her keel.
He expected to have the schooner ready
in the middle of July, and had contracted
to have it completed by that date, b ut had
been delayed by the non-arrival of some
lumber, and could not say exactly when
the boat would be ready to be turned over
to the Count.
NJ Cousen, who the Count had spoken
of as steward for his vessel, stated yester-
day that he had heard the Count author