The Meeker herald., 1898-11-05
SHIP FOR THE CHIEF.
YACHT 5YLPH IS PUT AT THE
PRESIDENTS DISPOSAL
For Foreign 0uests-European Rulers
Have Costly Pleasure Craft-Empsror
william's Yacht = victoria.s Splendid
Boat

For years the government officials
at Washington have been embarras-
sed by the talk of suitable govern
ment ship for the use of the President
when he desires, in entertaining dis
tinguished foreign guests OF the ma
tion, to take them for a pleasure trip
OF any kind. To be sure, some vessel
OF the navy was always at his COM
mand, but no one ship could be con-
tinually kept at hand for that pur-
pose. This difficulty is to be RENE
died and specially designed yacht is
to be built for the sole purpose Of ez-
ecutive use in social functions.
When Mount Vernon has been WIS.,
tied by representatives of a foreign
nation here in their official capacity
1t has been necessary as a rule to
transport them to the tomb on some
river steamer or else by the electric
cars. Hereafter the Sylph. one of the
nne yachts recently purchased for the
navy, will be stationed at Washing
ton for the use of the officials and
the President. 1t is of light draft.
fast, and well adapted for outings on
the river. With this ship and the
Dolphin the President will be well
provided with official yachts.
But two rulers of great powers have
finer official yachts at their disposal
than the President OF the United
States. Not even the Queen OF Eng
land is carried around on the water
in ship more sumptuous or powerful
than the dispatch boat which Presi-
dents Harrison. Cleveland and McKin-
ley have occasionally used. The Dol
phin Is not only fitted for Just such
cruises. but couples with its yacht
like arrangements a strong battery
OF rapid-fire guns.
England for the last fifty years or
more has supported royal yachts for
the queen, and the first of the number
to be built is yet serving her majesty.
The queen has insisted up to the pres
ent on all her royal private vessels
being side-wbeelers of the old paddle
wheel pattern. For twenty-five years
the queen has had four imperial yachts
for her own private use. and now she
costly, and more sumptuous than any
OF the former. The fifth vessel will
have twin screws. great length, and
be capable of fast time. Not one
of the old ships on a stretch could
make more than fifteen knots.
In designing the new ship the Brit
ish Admiralty has endeavored to meet
,toha VIII nf tha
the general plan of the vessel as far as
possible. AS the yacht will probably
some day be the royal ship of the
Prince of Wales or some other member
of the present imperial family. there
will not be that same desire shown to
sacrifice modern ideas of architecture
in order to give the numbering type Of
vessel, such as has represented the
queens ideal yacht. When completed
the new ship will cost possibly $1,O00,-
900.
Emperor Williams yacht is more of
a warship than pleasure craft, and at
the kiel celebration was the most ad-
mired of all vessels except the New
York and Columbia of the American
paratively recent date. having been
laid down in 1891 and completed two
years later. Its length is the same
as that of the cruiser New York, 1t
being $50 feet over ALL with a beam
of 46 feet. draft of 16 feet, and dis
placement of 4,187 tons. It's engines
have developed 5000 horsepower, or
80
its speed is placed at twenty-five
knots. It caSKies three 4-inch guns
and twelve 4-pounders. Its compile
ment of men is 307.
Russia has more imperial yachts
than any government of the world.
Its naval list shows that the czar
has at least five, and a number OF
small launches designated also as roy
al dispatch boats. Many of them
are old and of little further use, but
its latest, the Standard, is by far the
finest vessel of its class afloat. 1t is
even more powerful than the Hohen-
zollern, and carries more armament
than any other royal yacht in serv-
ice.
The STANDARD represents both the
highest idea Of war vessel and yacht
yet designated. 1t can fight and at
the same time take the whole Rus
sian royal family on cruise around
the world in most comfortable fash
ion. No official government yacht
is SO powerfully armed. None has
such speed or size. 1t is longer than
the Minneapolis and swifter than the
New York. Its length over all is 425
feet, beam So feet, and mean draft 20
feet. Its displacement is 5,557 tons
and indicated horsepower $4,000,
which gives speed of twenty-five
knots. Its battery comprises eight
three-pounders.