The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-02
ESPECIAL 10 THE rREss.l

| ESPECIAL 10 THE fREss.1
| Bath, December This afternoon at
1.30 o'clock about $500 people were gath
cred at the Bath Iron Works to witness
the launching of the magnificent steel
steam yacht constructed for Col Oliver
h. Payne of New York. This launch
had awakened considerable interest from
the fact that she is the largest ever built
! in the United States and the finest pleas
ure craft owned by any private individu-
| al in the world. She bears the name
Aphrodite and will be commanded By.
Capt. G. w. Scott, formerly of the Flea
nor. and her engines will be In charge
of j. d. tombstone, former chief Of the
Eleanor.
| The yacht was beneath the roof of q
ship house at the lower end of the yard
and at her bow foated the Union Jack,
whils at.sthe stern waived thes Stars
and Stripes.
| On gaily decorated platform at the
bow of the boat was the launching par
| ty, consisting OF officials of the Bath Iron
Works, officers of the transport Mohawk,
Capt. G. w. SCOTT and wife, and Others.
The central figure WAS Miss Vivie Scott,
the captains daughter, who christened
the craft as she started down the ways
at just 2 o'clock.
| The launching was very pretty one,
the boat going at q rapid rate of speed
and parting the waters of the Kennebec
oleanly when she entered them. OF course
the crowd cheersd and the whistles blew
as she went speeding into her element
Having reachsd. the centre of the stream
the tug boat Perry checked her speed aud
running up along proceeded to dock her
at the company's wharf.
After the launching few of the guests
assembled at the office where alight
lunch was served in honor OF the event.
The yacht will be ready to deliver to her
Iowner early in May, who will then, in
company with few friends. start on
voyage around the world, returning to
Paris in time to take in the Exposition
there.
The yacht is the largest ever built
in the United States and, as the speci-
fications demanded, tine finest Her di-
! mansions are: Length of hull. 800 feet
six inches; length on load waterllne,
25s feet; beam IS fest; depth of hold, 20
feet six inches; mean draught. IS feet.
The yacht has triple expansion engines,
the largest ever placed in pleasure craft,
/ giving 5000 indicated horse power which
will drive the yacht, under ordinary con-
ditions, at the rate of Is knots.
1 The yacht will be bark-rigged and and
carry sufficient canvas to enable her to-
| be speedy sailer in case of emergency.
The deck house is of steel, covered in
side with richly carved mahogany, and is
100 feet in length. The yachts will have
an unbroken promenade from stem to
stern In the interior the accommoda-
tions for the officers and entire ships
company are located forward, while the.
apartment aft are for the owner and his
guests In the forward part of the deck
house is the dining room 80 feet by II
feet, and in the extreme after part are
the owners room, 16 feet square, and
the guests rooms. each 16 by 10 feet.
Each of the apartments has a separate
toilet room with bath. Amidships, be-
tween the dining room and these state
rooms stretch the engine room, galley,
laundry, drying rooms and pantries.
| A stairway adjoining the dining room
gives access to smoking room 30 feet
long, and leading from this is the chart
room and Capt. G. W. Scott's quarters.
/ Six handsome state rooms for guests
are on the main deck. Astern Of these
are the servants rooms.
/ The yacht was designed by Superinten-
dent Charles Il. Hanseoin Of the Bath
Iron Works.