The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-19

something between twenty-five and
forty tons, small enough to be worked
by myself and a crew Of three, or at
most three men and boy, and large
enough to keep US occupied while at
yea.
OF course studied the advertisement
columns, and for some time found moth
ing that seemed even likely to suit.
But at last in the Field, and in the left
hand bottom corner-where 1t had been
squeezed by the lists of the usual
world-known agencies-I came on the
the following coy announcement:
"Yawl, 35 tons. For immediate SALE
that fast and comfortable cruiser Siren,
lately refitted and now in perfect con-
diti1n throughout. Rigging, ETC., as
good as new. Cabin appointments of
Unusual richness and taste. f400. APP
Fly, Messrs. Dewy and Moss, Agents
and Surveyors, Portside Street, F."
On reading this took down Hunt
and Lloyd's Yacht Register" and hunt
ed for further details. Sirens crowd
pretty thickly in the yachting list, only
little less thickly than Undines, and
including Sirenes and Sirenas, l found
some fourteen-and not yawl amongst
them, nor anything of her tonnage.
There were two more in Lloyd's list
of American yachts-one a center
board schooner the other a center
board sloop; and in a further list
came upon a Siren that had changed
her name to Mirage-a screw schooner
of one hundred and ninety tons, owned
by no less a man than the Marquis of
Ormonde. On the whole II seemed
pretty clear that neither Lloyd nor
Hunt knew of the existence of this
fast and comfortable cruiser Of thir-
ty-five tons.
However, If half the promises Of the
advertisement were genuine, the
chances ought not to be lost for lack
of further inquiry. So sat down there
and then and wrote a letter to the
POLITICALLY named Dewy and Moss, ask
ing some questions in detail about the
boat, and, in particular, where she was
to be seen.
The answer came by return of post.
The boat had been laid up since the au-
tumn in a sheltered creek of the F
river, about three-quarters of a mile
mp from the harbor side, where Messrs.
Dewy and Moss transacted business.
The keys lay at their office, and she
could be inspected at any time. Her
sails, gear and movable furniture were
stored in roomy loft at the back of
Messrs. Dewy and Moss own premises.
Their client was a lady who wished to
keep her name concealed-at any rate
during the preliminaries; but they had
full power to conduct the sale. The
yacht was bargain. The lady wished
to get rid of 1t at once; but they might
mention that she would not take a
penny less than the quoted price of
f4OO. They would be happy to deal with
me In that or any other line OF bus-
ness; and they inclosed their card.
The card bore witness to the ex-
traordinary versatility of Messrs.
Dewy and Moss If to nothing else. 1t
proclaimed them to be, "Auctioneers;
Practical Valuers; House and Estate
Agents; Business Brokers; Ship Brok-
ers; Accountants and Commission Mer-
chants; Servants Registry Office Fire,
Life, Accident, and Plate Glass Insur-
ance Effected; Fire Claims prepared
and adjusted; Live Stock Insured;
Agents for Gibson's Non-Sllpplng Cy-
cles; Agents for Packingaon's Manures,
the best and cheapest for all crops;
Valuations for Probate; Emigration
Agents; Private Arrangements nego-
tated with Creditors; Old Violins
Cleaned and repaired; vice-C Consulate
for Norway and Sweden"