New-York tribune., 1901-07-07
TIE WONDERFUL MADGE.
A SCOTTISH BUILT YACHT THAT WON MANY
VICTORIES NOW GOING TO PIECES
ON ONTARIO's SHORE

Rochester. N Y. July 6-Twenty years ago
Scottish built yacht 1T up the racing heavens
OF two hemispheres like a comet Victory after
victory followed in her wake. until no one could
be persuaded 10 compete against her. One OF
the most famous yacht builders who ever lived
admitted that he had designed six yachts 20
beat her and the sixth crossed the line as far
astern the first. Racing men will nod their
heads knowingly when they hear her name. 1t
the MadSe.
To-day she lies rotting on the banks Of the
Genesee River at Charlotte. Her story reads
Ike romance and possesses an interest that Is
almost human In its pathos
The Madge forty-six foot cutter Wat
son designed her and has since said that her
equal he expects never again to see 1t is doubt
full Of course. that she could stand much OF
show against the modern racing machines whose
masts buckle in heavy weather but In her day
and judged from the point of view OF those
times she probably less than her de-
signer asserted her to he.
Watson built the Madge for Coats, the Eng
lish thread maker She was delivered in 1873
and at once began her career of victory She
was 46 feet / inch over ALL I feet 10 inches in
the beam and drew in salt water feet She
OF the pure keel cutter type Watson put
into her the best that he had for to-day her
frame timbers are as firm and solid the hour
she slipped into the water
For two years the Madge cut wide swath in
English and Continental waters At last ike
Alexander. she could have wept for others
to conquer. Her owner thereupon sent her
across to AuchincIoss Brothers. his agents
ir New-YorlI. She arrived in 1880. That sum
mer she began cisatlantic career around New
York which kept the world talking The older
yachtsmen will remember her. For two years
she won race after Once only was she
beaten The Shadow. Boston yacht did the
trick The Madge lost her spreader and top
mast, and even thus disabled trailed in only
twenty minutes behind her rival
The Madges New-York owners decided to buy
the Americas Cup defender. the Mischief In
1882. and therefore had further use for the
faithful Madge. The Madge not in that
class, but some think she could have taught the
big raters trick or two at their own game
The fresh water career of the Madge began
when the Mischief was built Captain George
P Goudng. of Charlotte, purchased her She
never felt the ocean again. With her Captain
Gouding in two years won thirteen prizes and
beat every boat which raced with her.
In 1884 Fife designed the Yama for an Oswego
man. He to America to see that his craft
behaved herself properly. 1t was then he con-
fessed that ne had built six boats for the ex
press purpose Of beating the Madge. and failed
to achieve his object.
The same fate that pursued the Madge in
England followed her here Captain Gouldlng
could find no to race with. He offered to
sell the famous yacht to Rochester yachtsmen
for one-third of what he paid for her. They
declined and the captain her the river
bank, where she has been lying for eleven years
a useless hulk. painter is now sketching her
hull just she lies. The picture will be sent
TO England where her fame Is yet green.
Her mast stands on the lawn of Emil
ius Jarvis. of Toronto. Canada. Her spars
are in his yacht. the Merrythought
Jarvis purchased them for $25 when he brought
the Minota over to against the Genesee for
the Fisher Cup last fall. He said they were
precious mementoes of the most remarkable
yacht for her inches that was ever built