The Republican journal., 1897-04-15
Famous Old zach !
.merica Getting Ready to Spread Her Wings.

After lying at the Chelsea Bridge for
! more than four years the famous old
schooner yacht America, which W as own
ed by Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, is to go
into commission. The America is prob
ably better known than any other craft in
this country, for it was she which went to
England and brought back the Queens
cup to this country, where it has since re-
manned, although the English men have
tried many times to take it back.
| The famous old boat was built in this
country in 1850, and on Aug. %, 1851,
captured the cup offered by Queen Vcto-
ria, called the "Royal Yacht Squadron
Cup" The competing yacht Of the Eng
lishmen was the Aurora Exactly % times
since then have our English cousins at
tempted to carry back the cup, but their
attempts have been in vain, and the
''Royal Yacht Squadron Cup which the
| gallant old America brought over here is
| now rightly called the ''America Cup.'
The America was owned by G. L.
Schuyler at this time. The course follow
ed was from Cowes around the Isle of
Wight. The America S time on this occa-
sion was 10 hours and 81 minutes. On
Oct "a, 1887, Mr.. Schuyler gave the
''America Cup to the New York Yacht
Club with the proviso that the cup will be
open for competition at any time by any
foreign yacht.
When the old yacht was brought back
to this country she was engaged for some
time in the slave trade, but at the break
ing out of the Civil War she was purchas-
ed by the United States Government and
was used for carrying provisions and
stores to Union armies 1t is said that on
one occasion the America, while carrying
a load OF provisions, was pursued by a
Confederate boat. The captain, finding
escape impossible, had the boat bored full
Of holes and sunk to prevent her capture
by the Confederates. She was afterward
raised and repaired
Shortly after the close of the war she
was purchased by Gen. Butler, who had
her fitted up in a thorough manner, and
many pleasant time was passed by her
owner sailing about the Eastern waters
: When the famous General had any very
complicated political scheme to prepare
= he used to board his yacht, where he
could work out his ideas and lay his wires
without fear of interruption.
AT the time of Gen. Buffers death the
o valiant old America was pulled up along
side Chelsea Bridge, where she was board
ed over, and there she has lain, almost
. sadly neglected until recently, when the
Butler heirs decided to bring her forth
into the world once more. She will be
. put into commission by Paul Butler, a
son of Gen. Butler, Butler Ames, SON
in law of Gen. Butler, and Cakes Ames
These three gentlemen will pass the sum
- mer cruising about the Atlantic
April 9th the work of putting the
< America into shape was begun. The
wooden coverings were removed and she
will be thoroughly overhauled. All the
@ interior work of repairing the yacht will
be performed at the place where she is
I; now lying. When the work is done she
a will be put in the dry dock at East Bos
ton, where her bottom will be secured
y and cleaned. 1t is expected that this
work will be completed in time for the
). America to go into commission by June
b 18th.
The work on the yacht will be pushed
under the immediate supervision Of Capt.
Canning, who will have a gang of six men
n at work on her. Capt. Canning was with
I Gen. Butler about Is years. For about
eight months he was one of the crew.
: Then he was mate for ten years, and the
rest of the time was her captain. When
the yacht goes into commission Capt.
Canning will select skipper for her own
ers, as he is now employed on the steam
yacht belonging to Moseley of Boston
The yacht will be in attendance at the
Harvard Yale races, the Eastern Yacht
, Club race, and at the annual cruise OF the
New York Yacht Club. Boston Journal.
f The apple shipments for the past eason
from this country and Canada have been
?, 1874 ia barrels, which is the largest
amount ever sent in one season A small
crop in Europe and large one here ac-