The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-13
KNIGHTS CRACK LAUNCH,
The Athlete Turns Things
TopSy-Turvy on Her
Trial Trip.
A Mirage on the Bay Saturday After
noon-BruSh With the
Satellite.

Attorney George Knight launched his
new launch on Friday night from the foot
of Howard street, and on Saturday he took
a spin over to Sausalito and around the
bay.
The name of the newcomer is the Ath-
lete, and she is aptly called, being one OF
the stoutest craft of her kind on the bay.
She was built for rough weather, and her
trip on Saturday was not test of her sea-
worthiness, as the bay was smooth as
glass.
The Athlete is 40 feet in length and 8
Oriental engine. The hull was constructed
by George Hitchings in Eureka and the
cabin and furnishings were put in by
Andrew Wilson of this City. M. II.
Graham of Beale street built the engine
and guaranteed the speed ten knots an
hour strong
Colonel knight started to build boat
which would eclipse DR.. V. P. Buckley s
Satellite, and the colonel thinks that the
Athlete is the craft to do it.
'.I'll race DR.. Buckley" said he on Sat
urday, from Sausaiito out to the heads,
then up the bay again and around to Hun
tiers Point, thence around Goat Island on
the Oakland side and out to the heads
again, Tor an orange.
"How do you like the manner Athlete
that's the proper name. 1t took me a
long time to think of it, but as soon as it
occurred to me said, That settles it, At
first l was going to call her the Pleiades
and go the Satellite basket of stars better.
Then l thought l would give her some
thing soft and call her the Escondido,
which means shady place. consulted
with Jack Bivens and he suggested Ell
f,,,,, Il
acrobat. Neither of the last two names
suited me, and then out of the darkness
came light. The great thought dawned
and the next day she was called the Ath-
lete.
"She is an athlete, too, for she will breast
the waves Like young Achilles"
The launch went over to Tiburon Point
from Sausalito in ten minutes by the watch.
Her trial trip was perfect success In every
way. For new boat she acted like a
charm. Although the engine was not well
braced, there was only the slightest vibra-
ton perceptible.
On the return from Tiburon a most re-
markable looking object was sighted over
near the San Francisco side of the bay and
Inc Athlete headed for it. The object re-
sembled in appearance big boxcar, but it
was only harmless steam-schooner TAX
ing, on most fantastic shapes in the waves
OF heat which swept through the atmos-
phere.
"Hellol What's the matter with Bios
som Rock?" exclaimed Colonel Knight
suddenly.
ALI eyes were turned toward the rock
and the staid old bunch seemed to be dane
ing in midair. Alcatraz Island was en-
tlrely out of water and sailboats afar of
were seen sailing upside down in the air.
The Sausalito, which was beyond Alcatraz,
seemed TO be as large as the Palace Hotel
and over on the Berkeley side immense
breakers seemed to be flooding the very
hills. 1t has been long time since such
mirage was seen on the bay and the
picture was completed when the Satellite
appeared in the air above Sausalito.
That's the only way she can beat U.S."
said Charley Knight the attorneys son,
who was one of the party.
Back toward Sausalito sped the Athlete,
and the mirage faded from view. The
Satellite was sighted and away went the
Two boats toward Richardson's Bay, with
the Gazelle in their wake. They were
pretty close at the turn, and side by side
they came down past Sausalito, the Yachts
nrlng salutes as they passed. The Satellite
seemed to cut the water like knife, while
the Athlete rammed her way through with
vigorous strokes and neither vessel had
any bone, the white water falling
away from the bows. The Athlete left an
immense swell in her wake. The vessels
ran nose and nose for nearly half mile,
Wnen the Satellite commenced to reacn
out and steadily walk away from the Ath-
lete. The latter was not in racing trim
ana she headed for San Francisco.