The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-07-12
The Yacht Mystery.
Cant, Hank" Haff. Famous Skipper of
Cuu Defender, Tells Her History.

Capt. Hank" Haff. Famous Skipper Of
Cup Defender, Tells Her History.
The sloop Yacht Mystery, owned by
Messrs Hamlin and Gallert of Els
worth and now the queen of Union
rivers rapidly growing fleet, formerly
belonged 10 the New York Yacht club,
and is known all along Atlantic coast
wherever Yachts are sailed. The Ameri-
cans assistant editor had known OF her
! and seen her many times before ever he
had heard of Ellsworth, but was not
familiar with her history. He has just
received a personal letter from Capt.
! Hank Half, the famous skipper who
has sailed SO many cup-defenders to
victory Islip, where the Mystery.
was built, is Capt. Haff's home port
Capt Half writes;
The sloop yacht Mystery was built by
Alonzo f. Smith OF lsllp, for William
Barclay Parsons of New York, and
launched in the spring OF 1892. Capt.
Leander A. Jeffrey NOW captain OF
the steam yacht Virginia, that was
launched at Bath, Me-. last fall, was
her captain. She started that spring in
the New York Yacht club regatta, and
had the misfortune to break her mast
off about ten feet from her deck, when
half way from Sandy Hook to the light
ship, and had to be lowed in. She was
leading her class at the time. There
was very bad sea and strong wind. and
several vessels came to grief that day.
remember the day we'll, as | was sail
ing the sloop yacht Fanny in that
race. and won it. 1t was the first race
| had ever sailed her. and the first race
the Fanny had ever won, though she
was six years old
The Mystery was not built to race
for the cup; i'll fact was not built for a
racer. Nh. Parsons had her built for a
comfortable cruiser, and She filled the
bill to the letter. | don't think MI
Parsons ever entered her i'll another
race after breaking her mast, but she
was always to be seen on race days toll
lowing the yachts over the course, and
she was always present on the annual
cruises Mr.. Parsons made his home
on the boat i'll the summer months and
took some long cruises in her, as far
east as Halifax, New Brunswick, etc.
She was very staunch, able craft, an
ideal cruiser. and very comfortable.
I have had the pleasure of being on
her as a guest of Mr.. Parsons several
times. In the SeWanaka-C Orinthlan
yacht club races at that time the owners
OF their friends amateurs) used to sail
the boats. The sailing masters could
go on the boats provided they staid
down below. | preferred to 90 ashore
rather than to he shut up below with
amateurs sailing the boat. Fanny, so
it happened that was several times
invited by Mr.. Parsons to sail with him
Oh the Mystery over the course to
watch the races.
| think Mr. Parsons owned the Mys-
terry until he died. She was sold to a
MI. Borden of Troy, and afterwards to
a Mr.. Lamb of Boston. Capt. Jeffrey
sailed her for Mr.. Borden. and Capt.
James Waters was her sailing master
while Mr.. Lamb owned her TO my
knowledge she was never raced except
the time above mentioned. Capt. jeff
rey. who is now i'll the steam yacht y il
ginia at southampton, Eng, could give
YOU. | have no doubt. some very inter
esting particulars i'll relation to the
boat, as he always keeps record of his
cruises i'll different yachts.
CAPT II. G. HAFF,
Yacht Volunteer.