The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-11-01
LUCBRO DISABLED
Fairs New Freak lowed Into
Astoria by the Elder.
THE GRAF VIEWED BY HUNDREDS
Eats Up Gasoline by the Barrel
Cabin Room Made at the Expense
of Other Quarters.

Yesterday morning, just before daylight,
Charles L. Fairs new pleasure launch
Iucero. broke down about four miles on
THE mouth Of the river while on Its maid
en- trip from Seattle to San Francisco,
and, despite an the efforts Of Its three
engineers, the machihery remained at a
standsttH, though nobody could possibly
ten what was wrong. The sea was far
IRON calm at the time, and Captain
Hughes, commander of the little craft,
htoisted sail on both masts and lay on
for a while to decide what to do. AT
daylight the Geo. w. Elder was sighted
on her way from San Francisco for the
mouth of the river, and Mr.. Hughes hoist
ed signals and asked for a tow into
Astoria. That was how 1t came about
that early users in the west end Of the
city saw with surprise the Elder steam
ing slowly along the channel and hauling
by a tow line something that looked like
a diminutive gunboat with beautiful bow
nnes and a most extraordinary set ostern.
AS soon Jas It was ascertained that this
was the much-talked Of Lucero, the big
gest gasoline propelled boat in the world,
a large crowd OF people crowded the a
factory and bonded warehouse decks
when she swung away from the Elder and
dropped anchor opposite the Astoria Iron
Works.
Mr.. EngSebrecIt, the builder of the
Luecro. who Is aboard, WAS very much
discouraged over THE breakdown, though
OF COURSE 1t had nothing to do with his
end Of THE construction. The mlshap was
the eliminating trouble of a series OF
minor accidents that have happened to
the machinery since the first u she
made down the Sound. 1t took her four
teen hours to steam from Seattle to Port
Townsend, a distance Of Gfty-hve miles,
and during that time she had to stop
four times to repair her engines.
Captain Hughes anne ashore as soon
as the boat dropped anchor and wired an
account Of the accident to Mr.. Fair, ask
Ing for instructions. Up to a late hour
last night he had received no reply, but
there 10 no doubt that the Lucero VITA
be repaired here, though 1t win take some
expert wei versed In gasoline to tell what
the trouble really is and how much tirae
will be needed TO repair her. Even then
IT is extremely doubtful il she will be
able to make the run down to San Fran
cisco In safety. for THE weather is getting
worse every day and the little craft
Is not built 10 withstand very heavy treat
ment on the open ocean,.
During the morning she was towed up
to iuhe o. r. and N. deck and tied up on
the inside of the sheds where a great
many persons criticised her build and
general appeaatance. A big sign keep
OF" was suspended from the rigging n
nobody allowed to go aboard, a solitary
sailor doing sentry go" on deck being
the only evidence of Glfe aboard. AS a
full description ot the Luecro was print
ed in the Historian last week It il I'M
necessary Ito detail 1t again, but a few
facts concerning the remarkable little
vessel may be OF interest. She cost Mr..
Fair $4,000 and the people who prophe-
sled that the investment WAS a stupid
speculation seem On the light Of recent
developments, to have about hit it right.
Mr.. Fair, however. Is we'll abe to stand
1t, and n ne has chosen to satisfy a
novel within and theerSy throw a good
many thousands into the air, 1t is his
own business. She started from Puget
Sound with $500 gallons OF gasoline and
she used up about 1000 gallons OF this
up to the present time. She has made her
run from Seattle at an average speed OF
about Sh knots, not including stoppages
'wthidl 1t is stated have been umerous
The Lucero Is fitted throughout with
electrtc light and her deck houses n
cabins are all made. and psne,ed in Bra
zfifte wood which gives a rich and dainty
appearance to the whole vessel. She is
very narrow from bow 10 stern and her
stem tapers OFF to a rasor edge, being
nnlSiped in the regular yacht style with
fiddle lines and q long. curved ~bowsprit,
Her name shines respondent In several
places, and forward OF the wheeshouse
She has a miniature search light focmeu
by a ten candle power Dd!son globe and
reflector. None OF her interior fittings
are yet in, and she carcics several tons
of lead ballast. Everything has been
sacrificed 90 cabin room, THIS apartment
Is large and handsome. but its size has
been obtained by a cutting off of space
in every conceivable manner. The com-
panion ways hooked yesterday like a tight
squeeze Tor a fair sized man, and, II
Mr., Fair ever intends to give afternoon
tea aboard uis purchase, he will have to
orders to the ladies to leave their
fashionable sleeves at home. The state
rooms have been cut down to the small
est possible compass.
It is certain that the Lucero will be
with US for several days yet.