The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
SAILED ON THE AMERICA.
CAPT. HENRY HoFFMAN's STORY OF
THE WINNING OF THE CUP.

So far as II is known there Is but one sur
vivor to-day OF the original crew that
sailed across the ocean In the old yacht
America In 1851 and returned with the In
ternational trophy. This is Capt. Henry
Hoffman, who was the youngest member Of
the crew, being only 15 years old He had
run away to sea from his home in Dantzig,
Prussia four years previous, and
had his training before the mast. At 60
years Of age Capt. Hoffman is still keen Of
eye, firm OF chin. square shouldered. and
so fond Of the wind and weather that his
eyes snap when you ask him II he would
not like to help sail the Columbia in her
coming race.
That would" he says. "Id join the
crew Tomorrow, IL could get away from
business"
"She was witch in any breeze" he will
tell you when asked about the America.
land every one Of us fell in love with her
the minute we stepped on the deck 1t
took dozen men to handle her, not count
Ing Capt Brown, our skipper, and two
mates. Most of us had been at sea, and the
others were old hands at navigating the
pilot-boats about New York harbor. Capt.
Brown himself had this berth for many
years and he could sail yacht with any
Of these later cracks. He was a good Yam
kee, and It was due to his influence that
we hung together so we'll. He told us the
boat was built for a syndicate. headed by
Commodore Stevens Of the New York
Yacht Club. who was a dead game sport,
by the way. He came on board several
times, and looked US over very carefully.
Boys. we can clean up anything that floats
he said. and ordered up some superior rum.
This was after we had beaten a number OF
sloops in trial races down the bay, and
word came to make ready for an ocean
trip. There was not a man who did not
feel little uncertain at this proposition,
for crossing in small boats was not so
common then as now. and the America was
only 100 feet over all and 20 feet across the
beam. But when the skipper asked II any
one was white livered enough to stay be-
hind, not a man sung out. Soon as We
got under way the boat showed she was
Just queen. We seldom used topsails, for
there was enough breeze to keep us going
without them. and though we struck heavy
weather twice. we never felt in danger.
"On putting in at Cowes we were boarded
by nearly every small boat in the harbor
capt Brown had called us all aft before
making port, and cautioned US against talk
Ing. You needn't say anything about our
centreboard. nor what We draw he said, add
ing that Mr.. Stevens had offered to sail any
thing in England. and there would be a race
Not day passed that the deck did not swarm
with visitors, and part OF the crew we're told
on to see that they did not pry too much. In
fact, they kept so close that we lost the first
races we were In.
'You know" Capt. Hoffman went on with
q wise blink Of the eye, that sometimes you
want to pitch a stove overheard when you
are getting a yacht into sailing trim and It is
not convenient to have spectators about
Well, when the day came for the cup race,
we had the boat cleaned from stem to stern
We did this before the English recruits came
on board. Those chaps never forgot that race
I'll bet. You see. twelve men were not
enough to handle the boat In a race. and the
skipper had six go ashore and hire six Brf-
fishers, who were turned over for us to
watch"
I'VE didn't like the looks OF them very
much. and they didn't seem to fancy us.
We're going to have trouble with these
John Bulls reported a big quartermaster
named Connors. Not II you know your busi-
ness" replied the Captain. One of the
suggested that the Englshmen be divided up
so that not more than two would be together
at one station and this was done. They
wore surrounded and under such vigilance
that they could not do anything crooked.
The morning Of August 20 broke with
a clear sky and soft breeze from the west,
and before ten o'clock fifteen boats. of. all
lengths and sizes. had gathered about us. AS
the Aurora went by mannuvrlng, her crew
were hoisting the mainsail. When they got
abeam little cockney started up the old
song, A Yankee Ship Sailed Down the Bay
and the rest OF the crew came in on the cho-
rus Pull. boys, bully boys pull You'd
better save that sheet for a tow called one
Of our men. but the Aurora had passed and
did not hear 1t.
"T fancy its us'n need tho tow said one
Of our English recruits.
" Let me give you some advice said the
second mate. who overheard the remark.
Don't let the skipper hear you say that
when the signal was given. the breeze
blew very light. and some of the English
boats forged ahead, among them the Au-
FORA We crowded on every inch of canvas,
and not a man Of us who did not pray for
It to freshen. Word was passed quietly
10 see that the Englishmen did not shirk
Capt. Brown stood BY the English pilot, for
him also we had to take on, as the course
round ths Isle Of Wight was new to US, and
we had to rely entirely on the pilots
guidance. Capt. Brown watched him like
a hawk. but I want to say that he acted on
the square with US all the way. With a
little freshening. we began to pick up, and
our good boat soon fairly leaped along
I say remarked a Sootchman, who was one
of the six taken on at Cowes, DO we get
some prize money II We win this for your
mate, pointing to the Stars and Stripes.
Well, that's what you're working for.
That's all the bloody prize you get Be
fore that our crew had given no thought
to the subject, and no one would have
mentioned 1t again II the skipper had not
after the race. Americans are too damn
to do this for prize money
he explained. but you've done we'll that
there's a small divvy coming AS a matter
of fact. we each got a few dollars and our
pa ssa ge money home.
when the breeze got fresh we simpl,
walked away from everything in sight.
The English yachts seemed to be standing
stlll AS we passed the leader at a steam
boat speed. the pilot made remark which
afterward caused trouble Capt. Brown
he said by way of Joke. I believe you have
a propeller astern.
This was caught up and passed along
until the English sailors heard 1t. and asked
il 1t were true. They would not be con-
WINGED otherwise, and after the race
spread this report ashore Then we were
boarded by greater crowds than ever, and
were not cleared of the charge really, I'M
til the America was put into dry dock.
No one could understand how the Aurora
was beaten so badly without some device
such as this She finished about half an