Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-22
A FLOATING PALACE
The Sapphire is Now at Anchor Opposite
Georgetown
Description of the Magnificent Steam
Yacht Belonging to Mr.
A. l.. Barber.

The chief attraction along the river front,
and the source of as much envy of its
owner as of admiration for it's beauty. is
the steam acht Sapphire, which lies in the
Potomac channel near the Aqueduct
bridge. The Sapphire is the property of
Mr. A. L. Barber of this city, and when
she reached her anchorage yesterday after
nj on after a trip from New York by way
of Hampton Roads. she had as passengers
Mr.. and Mrs. Barber and their son and
daughter. The gentlemen made the entire
voyage, Mrs. and Miss Barber having join
ed them at Old Point Comfort. This after
nj on Mrs. Barber is holding a reception
aboard the yacht, which will last till
o'clock, and if tomorrow is fair, party of
friends will enjoy her hospitality on trip
down the Potomac.
Description of the Yacht.
The Sapphire is one of the finest yachts
afloat. and was built by Ramage & Fer
guson at Le!th, Scotland. She is PIG feet
over all, with 211z feet beam. Her draught
is IA feet and her tonnage 675. There are
ten state rooms for the owner and his
guests and accommodations for a crew OF
twenty-six men. The yacht Is white, with
sea green boat tapping. She has triple
expansion engine of the compound surface
condensing type, with boiler pressure OF
100 per square inch, and is fitted with
steam reversing gear. She has three fur
naces, AZ inches in diameter, and one
donkey boiler capable of working all aux
iliary engines board. She has storage
batteries for the purpose of lighting at
night, thereby dispensing with the noise of
dynamo running There is fresh water
300 gallons per day. The yacht is fitted,
too, with an ingenious arrangement for
putting ashes overheard. 1t consists or a
steam hoist tipping bucket which empties
tcaIf INIT ,taarp rhn mol a a
line, which discharges itself into the sea.
Tasteful and Exquisite Interior.
The interior decorations are beautiful.
are of teak, with ceiling in white and gold.
Over the door leading into the main saloon
is handsome silver plate, with the name
of the yacht, inlaid with large polished
sapphire gems. which cost a small fortune.
The main saloon below is wainscoted in
stained English oak. The walls are in
silk and natural oak trimmings, with an
eight-foot skylght, surrounded by growing
plants.
Mr. BARRIERS room, of the main saloon.
is provided with three speaking tubes,
through which direct connection may be
had at any time with the captain or the
stewards, without rising from his berth.
His cabin is finished with black walnut
ceilings and white silk trimmings, while
Mrs. BARRIERS has been similarly treated.
Steam Heat and Electric Lights.
The yacht is heated throughout with
steam, and is lighted electrically. The Of
f1cers' mess rooms in the stern are sur
rounded by the certified state rooms, bath,
etc. The fo'castle contains the crews mess
rooms
The Sapphire steams fourteen knots. Her
sailing master is Charles H. Greenlow;
first officer, c. H. M. Presley; second off,
Ger. Charles M. Small; chief engineer, J. r.
Thompson; second engineer. c. H. Abra-
hams and third engineer, W. R. Service.
Attached to the Sapphire are two rapid
and commodious steam and naphtha
launches.