San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-09-06

The Valiant was the result of this
order and she is a veritable float
ing palace. There are other yachts
nearly as large, and some faster,
but there is not a more luxuriously
fitted vessel in the world than the
Valiant. She cost her owner nearly
$l,000,000.
Ex.Commodore E. d. Morgan is
one of the most ardent yachtsmen
in the country. He used to be a
patron of the hunt meets, but some
years ago started yachting by
cruising around the world in the
steamer Amy. This created the
fever, and it has never cessated.
Following the Amy he purchased
the big steamer Catarina of the
Duke of Sutherland, and had her
brought across the ocean. 1t was
in 1888 that he first began sailing,
and among other boats he had the
40-footers Tomahawk and Mecca
sin built. Then came the big
schooner Constellation. He did not
have much success until 1891, when
Nat Herreshoff turned out the
Gloriana for him, and he won eight
consecutive races retiring the boat
at the end of the season with a
clean record. That year he also
bought the fast steamer Javelin
and the flying launch Henrietta,
which he renamed Daisy. In 1892
he purchased the steamer Ituna in
England, and had the 35-foot fin
Drusilla built.
That year he was elected Vice.
Commodore Of the New York Yacht
club. In 1898 he was elected COM
modore of the club and purchased
the fine steamer May, Watson
boat. He was a member of the
Vigilant syndicate that year and
when George Gould took the Vigil
liant to England last year, Mr.. Nor
gan crossed the ocean in the May
to see the racing there. This year
he has chartered the steamer
Shearwater and will devote his
time to the Defender. Mr.. Morgan
is a nephew of the former governor
of this state of that name and from
him inherited his wealth. He has
one of the finest houses in Newport
built on the rocks at Brenton's
Cove.
G. Oliver Iselin is known all over
the yachting world. He managed
and sailed the Vigilsnt when that
boat defeated the Valkyrie in 1898.
He is an ardent yachtsman, Of
course, or he would not be working
so hard on the Defender this year.
He is a member Of the family Of
Iselins of New Rochelle, n. Y,
and owns a handsome house on
Premium Point here. Some years
ago Mr.. Iselin married the wealthy
Miss Garner. She died in 1888, and
last year he married Miss Hope
Goddard, of Providence, another
wealthy lady. Mrs. Iselin takes al
most as much interest in yachting
as her husband does. She made
several trips to Bristol while the
Defender was being constructed,
and was on board in her trial trip.
For several years Mr.. Iselin sailed
small boats, notably the Dare
Devil. Then he had the famous
70.footer, Titania, built, and raced
her successfully against the Kat
rina and Shamrock. After that he
did not take an active part in
yachting until the Vigilant was
built. He is daring sailor, and
the defense Of the cup could not
be in better hands.
Lord Dunraven is probably the
best known Of all the English
yachtsmen. He first opened nego-
tiations for a race for the cup in
1889, and had the first Valkyrie
built then. Unfortunately he and
the cup committee could not agree
on the conditions of the challenge,
and so no race was arranged. In
1892 he tried again. and with better
success. The Valkyrie II. came
over here, and the story Of how
she was beaten by the Vigilant Is
still fresh in every ones mind.
When he went home he said he |
would make one more try, and he |
has kept his word.
Lord Dunraven might almost be
called yachting crank. He owns
now about seven yachts. Some are
for cruising, and one, the 2O.rater,
Audrey, he designed himself. She
is one of the best in her class in
England, having defeated the
Niagara on two or three occasions.
Lord Dunraven takes an active
part in politics. he is conserva-
tive, but does not believe that the
House of Lords should exist as it
does. He has travelled considerably
and written entertainingly about