Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-06-13
THE YACHT "MYsTERY."
Capt. blank" Half, Famous skipper of
Cup Defenders, Tells Her History.


Cup Defenders, Tells Her History.
The sloop yacht "Mystery", owned by
Messrs. Hamlin and Gallert, OF Ellsworth,
and now the queen OF Union rivers rap
idly growing fleet, formerly belonged to
the New York yacht club, and is known
all along the Atlantic coast wherever
yachts ARE sailed. THE AMERICANS as
sistant editor had known of her and seen
her many times before ever he had heard
her history. lie has just received this in
personal letter from Capt. Hank" Half.
the famous skipper who has sailed so
many cup defenders to victory, lshp,
W here the "Mystery" was built, Is Capt.
Haffs home port. His brief history OF
the yacht will be OF interest to Ellsworth
yachtsmen, and TO none more than the
owners of the Mystery. Capt. Haf
writes;
The sloop yacht "Mystcry" was built by
Alonzo +. Smith. of Islip. for William Barclay
Parsons of New York, and launched In the
spring OF lsss. Capt. Leander =. jeffrey (now
captain OF the steam yacht Virginia. that was
launched at Bath. Me. last fall. was her cap
tain. 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 10 the light
ship, and had to be towed 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 well. ~
was sailing the sioop yacht Fanny" in that
race, and won It, 1t was the first race had
ever sailed her, and the irss race the Fanny
had ever won, though she was six years Old.
The My s;ery" was not built 10 race for the
cup; In fact, WAS not built for a racer. MIR.
Parsons had her butt for n comfortable cruiser.
and she flied the bill to the letter. DOM
think MIR. Parsons ever entered her in another
race after breaking her mast, hat she was al.
ways to he seen on race days following the
yachts over the ceur-e. aud che was always
prrseu, on the annual cruises. Mr. Parsons
made his home the boat In the summer
months aud took some long cruises in her as
far east as Halifax, New brunswick. etc. She
was a very staunch, able craft, an Ideal cruiser.
and ve-y comfortable,
have had the pleasure of being on her a. n
guest OF BIT. Parsons several times. In the
Sewanaka- CoriDthiaH yacht club races Il, that
time the owners their friends {amateursl
used to sail the boats. The sailing masters
could so the boats provided they staid down
below. ! preferred to go ashore rather than to
he shut up below with amateurs calling the
boat ,"ranny"l, so II happened that was sew
eral times invited by Mr. Parsons to sail with
him ON the my stery'' over the course to watca
the races.
/ think Mr. Parsons owned the My stery'
until he died. She was soli to MIR. Borien
OF Troy, and afterwards to a Mir. Lamb. oil
Boston. Capt. Jeffrey sailed her for Mr.. Bor
dea end Capt. James Waters was her sailln !
master while Mr. Lamb owned her. To my
knowledge she was never raced except the time
above mentioned. Capt. Jeffrey. who is now In
steam yacht "Virginia" at Southampton. Eng =,
could give you. | have no doubt, some very In
'eresIiug particulars In relation to the boat, as
he always keeps record OF his cruises In dit
fereut yachts. GAIT. II. C. HAFF.
Yacht "Noluuteer"