The sun., 1902-03-09
LOOTED THE ERIN, TOO.
Souvenir Hunters Raidcd Sir Thomas
Hpton's Yacht Like the HOhenzoliern.

The Kaiser's yacht Hohenzollern is not
the only one that has been looted by the
army OF souvenir hunters. Twice Sir
Thomas Upton has visited these water
with his handsome steam yacht Erin, and
each time the yacht has left with many
small articles missing.
Sir Thomas is the most hospitable yachts
man who has come in quest Of the Americas
Cup He spent money lavshly TO win the
Cup, and he entertained royalty on board
the Erin each time he tried for the famous
trophy.
When he came first In 1909 he issued many
invitations to friends to witness the races
! from the deck Of the Erin, and some days
| he had as many as $50 guests on the steamer.
| His hospitality was grossly abused, but he
never complained about the way he was
| treated.
All who were on board we're not invited
| by Sir Thomas Some who received invi-
tations brought friends with them. One
man appeared one morning with fifteen
others who had never met the Irish knight
before. All were welcomed on board and
treated with the utmost cordiality.
Every one on the Erin could do just as
| he or she pleased on the yacht. The COM
| pany was TOO large TO be entertained In the
| dining saloon, and so tables were arranged
! on the decks under awnings, where break
| fast and luncheon were served every day.
The Erin. like other big steam yachts.
has large stock Of china, glass and silver,
! and each piece is enamelled or engraved
with the name Of the yacht and with the
private signal Of the owner and the club
! flag The cut glass has these embleme
neatly etched, the china has them enamelled
in colors and the silverwsre is engraved,
with some pieces enameled.
! These pieces at once attracted the eyes
of the souvenir hunters. After the first day
the steward, Mr.. Nobbs. in taking stock at
the end OF the day found that the stores had
! been seriously depleted
After-dinner coffee cups and saucers
, were missing; 80 were liquor glasses, small
spoons and many other small articles that
| could be easily slipped into pockets. Many
/ larger pieces were broken, but the break
age was thought TO have been caused by
the Yachts rolling In the seaway.
The next day the loss was still larger and
| Steward Nobbs set his assistants to watch
| and try TO find out where the things were
| going TO- The stewards soon reported
that some Of the guests were putting them
| into their pockets.
This was reported TO Sir Thomas. but he
| would not believe the stories and forbade
any steps to stop the depredations Before
| the series OF races was ended. however,
| Sir Thomas had TO station some Of his
servants in the staterooms and cabins TO
see that things were not disturbed.
| When the small articles could not be taken
some Of the guests dropped larger pieces
on the deck TO break them and then
carefully picked out the piece Of china OF
| glass that had the enamelllng on. and this
they carefully preserved.
| Some OF the guests lost scarf pins and
| Chevalier de Martino, who had come over
! TO paint the scene of Sandy Hook lost
| handsome pair of marine glasses which he
| priced very highly. Cigarette holders,
| match safes, ink stands, pen holders bonbon-
| nieres, rvs and everything portable re-
| ceved the attention Of the souvenir hunters
Sir Thomas did not complain until q
| silver tray on which stood a cigarette holder
and match safe disappeared and then he got
| angry. These things were given TO him by
a friend and the loss annoyed him very
| much After that the yachts stores were
put away and n caterer furnished the dishes,
glasses and silverware for each days enter
tainment. -
Last year the Erin was here again and Sir
| Thomas entertained as he did on his former
visit, but he profitcd by his experience and
a caterer stopped great deal of the plunder-
ing Still he lost many small articles that
were in the saloon and staterooms.
Twice each winter the New York Athletic
Club gives what IL calls ladies day The
members can issue invitations TO women
who enjoy tho privileges OF the clubhouse
for n few hours The stock of small china,
glass and silver is always much smaller
after one OF these days than II was before.