The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-19
YACHTSMEN OF HARTFORD
HAVE 4 LITTLE CELEBRATION OF
 THEIR OWN.


 Prospects-A Gratifying Increase in the Membership of the Club.
 The Hartford Yacht club had very pleasant time at their annual banquet held this week. and occasion was taken in the speeches made to indulge in little very proper glorification, over the clubs work of the year and future prospects. In his remarks the commodore, MT. Maercklein, reviewed the clubs doing of the year, and pres ent very satisfactory conditions as follows:
 ''I feel that few brief remarks on the past, present, and future of the Hartford Yacht club would not be re- miss here. The club can look back up- on it's record for the past year with feelings of pride and satisfaction.
 "A little less than a. year ago when we were gathered about our festive banquet board we were bemoaning the fact that all we could boast of In the shape of home or headquarters was lease of 100 feet of Connecticut River bank and hump backed and water logged barge Daisy, I presume it is not generally known that we recently dis posed of the barge to the Cuban insur- gents to be used as transport ship and blockade runner,bu unfortunately, on her way thither, she was intercept ed by 8 Spanish gunboat just below Middletown and sunk in eighteen inch- es of water. But I am digressing. To- day the club has a substantial wharf, 90x30 feet, far better than the average yacht club can boast of, with a con- venient runway, landing, float, stage, coaling dock, and a pretty and commo- dious little clubhouse that Is amply adapted for our present needs. The piazza on the east and south sides af- lords fine view of the river and with it's easy chairs is one of the pleasant est and most comfortable places in this city to spend a hot summers afternoon or evening. The house was formally opened May 30, 1897.
 ''The club held three successful re- gattas the past season, the one at Es- sex July being considered by attend ing yachtsmen, who came from points all along the Sound as one of the big gest yachting events held in Connecti- cut, there beirSg nearly tff1tynreiese xc cut, there being nearly fifty entries, representing number of different clubs. The great success of this regat- | ta, its excellent management, and handsome prizes, established a prestige t1oD n1, 1satn | future races.
 We have been ably represented in the races of other clubs and many l a boat has followed our flag over the | finish line. The famous Mascot, whose record for first prizes I venture to say | cannot be excelled, has won many vic- tories in foreign club regattas. At the | Sag Harbor Yacht club regattas last summer, she won first prize in her class besides making the fastest corrected l time over the course. At Crescent Beach, she took second and but for a misunderstanding at the start might have won first. The Hindoo, which by the way, has probably the ablest mate and cook in our fleet, finished first in her class in the Proidence Yacht Club race at Bristol, R. I.
 | This only goes to show that we have boats in the club that cannot only | follow/the procession but lead it, and this fact is very gratifying, for nothing | contributes more to the success of | yacht club than good boats and good l racing.
 There is now hardly port between I New York and New Bedford where the Hartford Yacht club burgee is not 1 known, and I have seen in such har- bors as Newport and New London at least dozen of our flags at the same time, which is very creditable show ing for any club away from it's home port.
 we are registered in the standard l yachting lists and therefore recognized everywhere, and our cruising members report many courtesies extended them by the yacht clubs. We have extended the freedom of our clubhouse and land- ing to many visiting yachts, ranging from the humble sharpie to the million aires steam yacht, and these courte- sies have been gladly availed of and greatly appreciated by the visiting yachtsmen.
 'In the matter of membership, we show a gratifying increase, having in- creased our members from 90 to 113, an increase of over 25 per cent. for the year.
 "The number of yachts now owned in the club is fifty-two, a remarkable and splendid showing for young club These consist of twenty eight sailing craft and twenty-four steam and power boats of all sizes and description.
 Tt gives me pleasure to state that the officers have received the hearty support of the members in all that they have undertaken and what has beer to this harmonious support.
 accomplished is in great measure due
 Some say that the boom Hartford is enjoying dates from the advent of the trolley in 1895. We, as club, will be pardoned in believing that it dates from the advent of the Hartford Yacht club in the same year. At any rate
 Hartford, the 'Figurehead City, ma, well feel proud of its representative
 yacht club.
 ''So we may look back upon our pas
 record with a great deal of satisfaction
 and feeling that we are on the righ
 tack with all sails drawing and bowl ing along at a good pace toward tn, stakeboat of prosperity and success Financially, the club Is in a sound con |, | ditiOD all hills are maid to ota aoa ,,.