Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-08
ROY Atty AFLOAT
Handsome Yachts That Are Owned
by Europe's Rulers,
CZhR'S STANDARD HEADS THE list.
The HohenzolIern Is Third in Point
of SIZE.
DESIGNED FOR PLEASURE.

Written for The Evening Star.
The coming of the imperial yacht Hohen-
zollern naturally suggests the query, Are
the rulers of other nations provided with
steam yachts2'' and the answer is, Most
of them" But 1t may be added parenthet
tcaily, that only two other crowns possess
vessels of the same magnified class.
To those familiar with the discussions in
the reichstag of the naval budget in 80, the
story is old one of the hot debates
aroused by the item of a certain dispatch
boat"-tacitly understood to be cover for
a new imperial yacht. Although urged as a
staff boat to accompany fleets and squad
rons in action, the thrifty-minded Germans
had but little to warrant by way of past
service for the creation of such a craft Had
our own war with Spain then been fought,
the task for the royal partiSanS would have
been easy. for We all of US know the good
work accomplished by some of our convert
ed yachts; but as 1t was, Emperor William
had to make known his pleasure in unrnis-
taxable terms before the day was won and
the handsome provision made which made
possible that luxurious vessel.
Taking the royal yachts in order Of their
size the imperial Russian yacht STANDARD
naturally comes first. To begin she is a
yeritable floating palace and represents an
original outlay Of quite 81, 600, 900. Although
the POlarnaia SvieZda was only three wears
old when the Hohenzollern was finished,
Alexander III decided that he must have a
newer and larger craft. In 1893 the car
himself drove the first rivet in the keel of
the yacht at the shipyard of Burmeister
& VAIN, at Copenhagen, and three years
later the ship was launched with all the
religious ceremonial common to Russian
launchings- The boat was furnished with
the greatest elegance and luxury the i'm
perial apartments. which are aft being
beautifully arranged in suites for the car.
czarina, the grand dukes and other lords
OF the imperial retinue. In the wide pas
sage running around the engine shaft
magnificent altar has been built immedi-
ately In front Of the cars dining room
All the carving and wainscoting is Of the
most costly wood. The cars APARTMENTS
are finished in bird s-eye maple and ma
hogany; the czarina's in brentwood while
walnut has been used in the dressing rooms
and ash In the dining room In the pas
sages the woodwork is painted white with
out gliding, the result of desire expressed
by the late car By way of fighting equip
ment-a feature pretty generally common
to these royal pleasure craft-the STANDARD
carries very effective battery of eight Al
en-. rapid-fire guns, handsomely ornament
ed and nickel plated Standing well out of
water, and with long clean lines. the yes
Sci Is said to be a most excellent sea boat
ana II was In her nat their ma jesties made
their recent trip to France. The cornple-
ment of the STANDARD Is $40 persons.
King Edwards Pleasure Craft.
Il
bert III. the royal steam yacht of the King
OF England This vessel was built at the
government dockyard at Pembroke. after
the design of the director of naval com
struction. Sir William White, the man that
planned all of the present great modern
hghting ships Of the British navy.
rms yacht was his most trying task
IN 1&ct, the rock upon which his profession
al career was wrecked. The vessel was
launched in 1899 and when partly com
QIeted. was taken in to a dry dock for 1pal
WORK Her masts were stepped, her smoke
STACKS put In place, and many of her ex-
traVaganty magnificent appointments
placed on board while in dock Finally. her
bottom YVES cleaned and painted prepara-
tory 10 a steaming trial and the water Voc
let into the dock The vessel had barely
begun to float before she heeled over. sud
Denly to an alarming extent; in fact. her
masts rested upon the quay of the dock An
attempt was Immediately made to close the
gates again. but as the ebb-tide had set
In the water level was too low and the yes-
Sci could not be righted
Proved to BE Topheavy.
1t was found out, too late for the de-
signer's reputation. that the vessel had
peen overloaded In the upper parts by an
O'er-apundance OF magnificence. To dead
en- sound the cabin bulkheads had been
covered with a thick layer of teakwood
al , me nun outside. too. had been sheath
T.
mospheric influences. All Of these thinps
contributed to make the yacht tonbeavy
ana TO cause her to capsiZe The masts
were subsequently shortened as were aIso
the smokestacks, and down in her hiIees
were stored 800 tons Of iron ballast before
the snip could be called safe The shin not.
outstanding these mishaps, is a yery trim
looking yacht. and, on her trials eIceedaa
by half knot the contract speed Of twenty
knots ieS
The afterpart Of the upper deck contain,
the royal apartments. Bed room. dressing
room, bath. parlor and dining room 90.
oupy the forward part Of this space. Fur
ther aft are bed rooms for princes. court
ladies and lords. An electric elevator leads
up to the promenade dock. besides a pri-
waite stairway for the king. The furniture
Of the royal apartments was partly taken
over from the older yacht Of the Same name.
The new decorations were designed by Mr..
Wartng. and numerous incidents taken
from the history Of tho royal family form
their inspiration Aside from wood carv-
ings. copper has been used extensively in
the decorations The heating IL electrical,
and there Il q cold-air installation for cool
ins the living spaces In warm weather
The Victoria and Albert unlike other royal
<achte. carries but Q very small battery.
ma this 70 composed Of only four small
oeofussay decorated. saiuting guna
The Kaaserss PpaAa.