The San Francisco call., 1895-07-29

other ways putting everything shipshape
in Bristol fashion. The cutter is carried
amidships, the dingy abreast the jigger-
mast and two collapsible boats aft on the
counter.
The enthusiasm continued all the way
down the Firth, guns being fired from
Levan House and Haddow's Inn. The
ensign on the Cloch lighthouse was dipped
as the cutter passed that point Incoming
steamers whistled in salutation, steam and
sailing yachts saluted and the people
aboard of them cheered husiastically.
AS the yacht passed the Cloch Light, her
fore staysail was set, but it was of no SER
vice, as the wind had fallen almost to a
zephyr. The steam yacht Mohican, owned
by William Clark of Newark, N. j., then
steamed abreast of the Valkyrie on the star
board side, while the Madura was on the
port side. They moved in these positions
until the Skelmorlie buoy was reached,
when the Madura set signals expressing her
good wishes. She then ran alongside the
Valkyrie and her crew cheered the chal-
lenger, after which she turned back. The
Mohican shortly after followed suit. firing
three guns and signaling her adieus. Navl-
gator Harrison, signal-book in hand, in
structed one of his crew in the hoisting of
suitable replies. The steam yacht Ger
trude accompanied the Valkyrie to Gar
roch Head, being the last of the yachts to
leave.
The wind was then strengthening, and
when the Valkyrie was off Cumbraes she
set her mainsail, but kept hold of the tow
line. At 80 P. NJ. she passed Garroch
Head. and the representative of the United
Press steamed alongside and spoke to Cap
tain Cranfeld, who replied that all was
well aboard the yacht and that everybody
was in excellent spirits. He added that
the boat would tow for while longer,
owing to the light contrary winds. The
patent log was out, the watches set and all
was snug on deck. The rain had now
almost ceased and the crew was lolling
about the deck.
At $50 o'clock the Valkyrie was still re-
ceiving and acknowledging cheers of the
crowded excursion steamers and also from
incoming line steamers.
At6:3O the yacht was off Lamlash. There
was a faint northerly wind. and the boat
was still in tow. At 7:15 she passed the
Kildon signal station on the south end of
the Isle of Arran. The coast guard sig
nailed an inquiry if he would report the
Valkyrie, but the yacht made no answer.
The wind was now getting more westerly
and the sea was smooth. The course was
altered to westerly to clear Sanda Island,
making the soft wind dead ahead. The
captains and the remainder of the crew
were on deck in easy attitudes enjoying the
tow.
At8:15 the wind still held light and was
due west, making the sails useless. A
heavy haze set in and darkness was fall
ing. at $40 the jigger-sail was set, and
the yacht was close hauled on the star
board tack. The yacht looked exceedingly
shipshape and seaworthy, all her sails be-
ing on board, but her freeboard appeared
to be small for an Atlantic voyage. At 10
o'clock Sanda Island was passed. The
night was dark, but the haze was lifting.
at that hour the yacht was close hauled
on the port tack. She was meeting a
strong food tide, which made her progress
slow.
At o'clock day began to break. The
vanguard still had the yacht in tow. The
sky was clouding and wind was coming
family out of the west. There was long
swell on, into which the Valkyrie f1ashily
plunged. At a o'clock it was broad day
light and the yacht was well around
Rathlin Island. The wind held true from
the west, blowing family and was still dead
ahead.
A little after $50 nothing could be seen
of the yacht and her voyage had fairly
commenced. Her signal letters in the
commercial code are N. V. P. G. Her
night signal is three blue lights in the
main rigging, two above and one below,
forming a letter V.