Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-10
A BOAT FOR HORSES.
Ono Building At Cfssnpoint 70 II.
Lonlllfd's Order.
II WILL ACCOMMODATE SIX HORSES.
Also Two Cows, Ten Dogs. and Two Wsg-
css-Ths Celebrated Boat-House
Csiman In Csravssend Bay.


tNeW Jofh SUM-
Anchored In Gravesend bay, three quar-
tsrs of mile from shore IL novel-look-
ing craft. which. though not a thing OF
beauty In the eyes OF the boatmen VINO
pass 70 and fro. Is a palace inside. 10
the casual observer the craft looks IKE
q clumsy steamer sitting unusually high
out Of the water The lines are ho'
drawn like those Of the speedy steam
yacht or even feet ocean tug. but they
give the impression thar the vessel was
bsilt more for good solid comfort than ior
anything else.
The natiyes~ Of Gravesend, those who
know a thing or two about boats. nave
been clrcling around the pecuiiar-looking
vessel ever since last Sunday. when she
steamed slowly into the bay and dropped
anchor. II took the natives n fnll day
10 find out what their strange VISITOR
was. They learned that 1t was house
boat, and that IL belonged to Mr. Pierre
Lorillard This same house-boat was con-
structed some time ago for hunting and
pleasure trips in Florida waters. She has
been on the ways at Wilmington. Del,
until a few weeks ago, when Mr.. Lorii-
lard decided to have her come to these
waters During the summer she VIII
cruise around Long Island sound and ad-
jacent waters wherever there may be good
hunting and fishing. and In october Mr..
Lorillard will go south In her TO spend
the winter looking for alligators and
various kinds of game. The boat is
named the Caiman, and is most remark
able affair
sOMBRE-LOOKING.
A Sun reporter went down TO sec the
Caiman. She Is sombre-looking anair
from the outside. She is painted slate
color with light trimmings. and as one
draws close to her she closely resembles
a big freighter She is l32 feet long. rs
feet 6 inches beam. and draws feet OF
water. She is fat-bottomed, 10 permit
OF her entering the shallow F1orida
streams but 1t Is also fitted with two
centre-boards, one forward and the other
aft. The boat is propelled by twin
screw. and three Sullivan triple-expan-
sion engines Of 100 horsepower each
She is also fitted with a Moran boiler.
and has dynamo which provides cleo
trcty for 120 lights, each OF sixteen
candle power. In smooth water the
Caiman can steam ten knots an hour She
carries half dozen small boats and ca
noes. together with naphtha launch
capable of travelling eight knots an hour.
The Caiman is very properly caiied
house-boat. She is not built ike the
usual pleasure craft as 10 cabins, etc,
but resembles sumptuous dwelling
when one first steps upon her main
deck. Everything has been con-
structed according TO modern IDEAS, anu
there is nothing wanting The entire ves-
L. Nrf execution
OF the bow, where there is just room
enough on the main deck for the anchors
and capstan There IL also hatch when
shows the way to the hold where fishing
nets ammunition. coal. wood. and ABOUT
600 decoys are stored. Proceeding from
the open bow to the ''house" proper. on
the main deck. one finds what Is termed
the "gun-room. This Is FOR the use Oh
the officers and crew whenever there's
chance for a shot at game. Guns ana
fshing-rods are kept there In glass
cases. ready to be seized at a moments
notice Then there's the officers room,
or IN other words, place to lounge about
and talk shop II is cosy place ana
peculiarly cool. as it is contiguous 10
the huge ice-box. which has capacity OF
five tons, and Is well stocked with good
things. Directly behind the ice-box If the
engine and machinery, while the stern
kitchen. both models of neatness. Around
the sides OF the main deck are rooms
they do not call them cabins on board
the Caiman First, there's doctor s
room. which Is nothing more than COM
fortably large stateroom. such as one
may find on Fall-river boats 1T Is htted
with a big medlcine-chest. Then there
the wine-room. togetf er with rooms Ior
the captain steward. chief engineer. hre-
men. walters, sailors. and maids There
a wash room, too. and lounsing room
for the crew. This is all on the main
deck
REAL COMFOR".
On the upper deck, or Mr.. Lorillard.s 2
deck" as the crew call II, one Hnns
what real comfort means. Money mas
been lavishly expended TO make every
thing as much like a city mansion as
POSSIBLE. Overlooking the bow is an open
space. fitted with comfortable cane chairs
and rockers, where Mr.. Lorillard sits and
watches for game His gun-cases are
close at hand. and there are countless
fshing-rods and tackle hanging In brackets
overhead From his chair near the Tor
ward rail Mr. Lorillard can shoot duck
In the river as easily as he could from
a rowboat. He can also throw his line
into the water for bite, and can
a
whenever he shows his snout above water.
Directly behind the owners hunting
space" is the parlor and a most beautiful
room II is, too. II is about 16 feet by y
feet. and is very high studded. The floor
Is of inlaid hard wood. covered with rich
Smyrna and Turkish rugs. The wood
work is of white and gold, while the walls
and ceiling are richly covered with Grim
son plush. An upright plano and large
comfortable chairs take up most OF the
room. The ornaments are beautiful, and
the electric-lights are encased In hand
painted globes.
There is a passageway around the en-
tire upper deck, into which the various
rooms open. Every window is fitted with
a wire screen and blind, and so are the
doors On hot nights in the South, when
the mosquitoes are seeking whom they
may devour, the screens are pulled up
and the mosquitoes go hungry while the
occupants of the staterooms get the bene'
fit Of the fresh air.
GUESTS CHAMBERS.
Besides Mr.. Lorilards private state
room there are six guest chambers. three
on the port and three on the starboac
side They are sumptuously furnished
with brass bedsteads and white and goiC
furnishings Each room has bath at
tached, and in the main bathroom II II
possible to enjoy fresh or salt water abiu
lions. Mr.. Lorillard's private parlor
amidships, is a beautiful apartment Al
inlaid. hardwood floor. covered with sof
rugs luxurious arm-chairs, the walls ant
ceiling covered with plush and SILK o
a blood-red hue. and many fine pieces
bric-a-brac help TO make the room perfec'
Mrt Lorillard has his desk here. ana cal
smoke in solid comfort. In case OF cox
weather the room can be heated b!
steam, the radiator being hidden in |
pretty fireplace.
The dining room is In the stern, direct
N over the kitchen. The floor Is Of hare
wood. and Is covered up partially by &
heavy rug This room Is Is by 20 feet
and, like the other apartments. Is higf
studded There are eight large windows
around the semicircular wall, fitted will
nj ihlla q ulida llQrl