The Washington times., 1901-08-25
KAISER WILHBLM'S YACHT.
The Imperial HOhenzOllern a Mag
nificent White Craft.

Pride of the German Navy-Carries n
War Vcssei-Designed by the EN-
Peror ana Cost 100000 Marks.
| Kaiser Wilhelm II, like King Edward
and the King of Sweden. is a first-class
| yachtsman and handles sheet and tiller
| with experience and smartness. When
| on board he likes to be at the helm, nor
does he allow anyone else to steer even
| the gig when he is in it.
| The Emperor owns many pleasure
| boats. Besides his racing cutter Meteor
| and the Hohenzollern he has a couple of
| first-rate steam yachts and innumerable
+ electric launches and rowboats. The
| Meteors racing record is a long one
| Under the title Thistle 1t competed for
the Americas Cup in 1887; in 1892 it won
the County Down Cup. Royal Ulster re-
| gatta, and in 1898 the Queens Cup at the
Royal Yacht squadron regatta at Cowes.
to mention only a few of its earliest
performances.
AS a matter of fact the imperial yacht
Hohenzollern is really no yacht at all,
but cruiser, a goodsized man-of-war
Ii was built at the Vulcan works, Stettin,
and is larger than even that gigantic
ironclad KONG Wilhelm, the pride of the
fatherlands fleet. 1t carries eight quick
firing Krupp guns 1t is a double-screw
craft with eight boilers. and is faster
than almost any other vessel in the Ger
man navy. Though primarily intended
as pleasure boat, its warlike attributes
are due to the fact that the Reichstag, on
being asked to pay for 1.-THE construc-
ton was to cost 4,50o,ooo marks. a pretty
rNInl nat
agreed to the outlay on the understand
ing that it should be capable in time of
war of flying the imperial eagle in the
line of battle ships.
The Hohenzollern was designed by the
Emperor himself, and in this connection
rather a funny story is told. 1t is said,
with how much truth it is not possible to
say, that the yacht as originally planned
contained only saloons and Offices.
Sleeping accommodation there was none!
The oversight was discovered and recti-
fed, but by that time the vessels fittings
were in so forward a condition that 1t was
impossible to make some of the cabins as
convenient as they might have been
otherwise.
The bulwarks of the Hohenzollern are
white. The Kaiser is fond of white. AT
Queen Victoria's funeral he rode milk
white charger and in the imperial stables
in Berlin all the horses reserved for his
use are of this color. The crew OF the
vessel consists of $50 officers and men, and
1t is one of the stateliest crafts ahoat.
The imperial apartments are furnished
with lavish magnifcence. The Emperors
rooms on the middle deck amidships are
on the port side, the Empress being to
starboard. The dining room is lofty and
spacious, and will seat eighty guests, al
though by a clever arrangement OF por-
there's it can be reduced in size. The cell
ing is in a charming scheme of pale fawn
and gold and the upholstery Is grey and
white.
The main fittings and furniture OF the
yacht, including wainscoting. doors. and
staircases, are of the finest bird s-eye ma
pie, so light as to lie almost white Inc
famous blue saloon is upholstered in blue
and silver brocade. the walls being Gov
cred with tapestry in the same colors.
The furniture is Of maplewood and the
beautiful fireplace is composed OF marble
and nickel.
The Emperor's bedroom is remarkable
for its magnificent aluminium bedstead,
hung with dove-colored satin. The En-
press bedroom is also a fine apartment
ings of grey satin.
The Emperor's private rooms. including
the conference chamber, are also on this
deck and their walls are hung with water
color sketches and photographs of Queen
Victoria, the Empress, and the royal chill
dren. On the upper deck is yet another
of the Emperor's workrooms. which Is
supplied with a telescope, nautical books, |
and the ships log. Adjoining the EN-
peror's apartments on the middle deck
are the cabins and messroom of the i'm |
perial suite. Those of the ships officers,
with their messroom, are situated for
ward, and the kitchens on the deck below |
are most convenient and handsome.
Immediately over the dining saloon is |
the promenade deck, with, at one end, the |
Emperor's bridge, approached by ma |
hogany stairway and ratings, and the |
smoking saloor at the other. The smok- |
ing saloon is lined with porcelain plaques |
depicting with considerable spirit, IA |
nous German battles both on sea and !
land.
The Hohenzollern has three masts and
two tunnels, and it possesses two wheels,
one worked by steam, the other by hand,
both of which have nickel spolSes and are
painted white and gold The gilded i'm
perial crown on the PROV. and the Hohen-
zollern coat of arms in black and silver
disposed within a laurel wreath, on the
stern, are the emblems of the yachts
ownership.