New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-01
THE METEOR HITS A PIER
KAISER'S YACHT SAILS MAG
NTFTCENTLY.
HER STERNBOARD CRUSHED, But THE
PLATES ESCAPE INJURY-MAY START
FOR GERMANY TODAY

II is now beyond peradventure that the
German Emperor will be greatly pleased with
his American schooner. Certainly every
body else is. Her sailing yesterday magnifi-
cent. II fine that it went far to blot out
the memory Of the awkward and aggravating
accident that sent her out her first trial with
part of her fair form distorted. This damage
occurred when a tug captain endeavored to re-
move her from the yards Of Townsend & Dow
Dey, but II was not of kind which interfered
with the splendid exhibition of speed which the
boat was eventually able to make. In the fore
part OF the day there was much delay through
the tug which cid the damage carrying away
her own steering gear, and after the police
steamer Patrol towed the Meteor to the more
open waters of New-York Bay there an
hours further delay while Mr.. Bliss adjusted
her compasses.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, the owner of the TO
foeter Rainbow, sailed on board the Meteor
with Edward Willard, Emil L. Boas, Kari
BuenZ. the German Consul here. and Lieutenant
Commander Won Rebeur-P -Paschwitz the naval
and acting military attache of Germany at
Washington The yacht found at Shooters
Island, with an army of workmen still aboard of
her, adjusting the brass gratngs over the glasses
Of the skylights and doing other small jobs that
had 10 be attended to before the vessel could
start her trip. The tall Oregon pine masts
were most perfect in their freedom from knots
and il their slimness suggested the racer rather
than the cruiser. The canvas was all bent and
the only addition to her rig that has not been
descri ribed square sail yard which was
hoisted and swung a sort Of gooseneck on the
stout steel strut running down in front of tne
soreuest to the deck
This neat and new arrangement was adjusta-
bic so that the spar might be easily removed At
the stern the yacht carrying the Hohenzol-
lern house flag, which is white. with a black
cross and an eagle in the centre. In the union
were three horizontal stripes, with a black cross
sn the centre. The halyards were all Of wire in
the parts OF the strain and rope in the hauling
parts and il noticed that just aft of the
wheel the top Of the wheelbox lifted up and
stood on a support, so that the whole made
deck table The top OF the table, which was
glazed and framed like picture, lifted for the
insertion OF a chart. This device is new on
sailing yachts, and allows the chart TO be ex-
erained on deck without blowing away getting
wet
YACHT CRASHES INTO PIER.
There was one line of ratlines in the shrouds
OF each side Of both masts and both working
.opsails were slowed aloft. The cruising main
boom was short, and only came TO the end Of
the taffraiI il being IS feet long. and ii feet
shorter than the racing mainboom, which meas
ures 81 feet Captain Ben" Parker and his
brother William, the lrSI mate, were OuSs
directing the crew OF twenty-six men. After 10
O'clock the tug Sisson backed into the narrow
waterway in which the Meteor was made fast
10 one Of the yard wharves. Wallace Downey.
of the building firnl- wanted the tug TO come
alongside, and there seemed to be a doubt Oh
The part of the tug captain whether there was
water enough for his vessel, though the Meteor
was known 10 draw fifteen feet Anyway, the
towlirle was sent aboard and made fast at the
stern of the Meteor. and long delay occurred
while the crew put aboard four large and rough
dories-the two launches the 26-foot gig and
the market boat having been sent across by
steamer SO as 10 better protect them from in
Jury The burgee Of the Kaserlicher Club, pat
ronized by the Emperor, was then sent up TO
the rr1aintopmast truck, and everybody was anx-
ious to get away.
But there seemed to be q multiplicity of. cap
tatrs in the neighborhood. This vas apparently
connected with a widely spread sense Of re
sponsibility and the right doing Of little. In
stead Of taking short line or better still, going
,lp alongside the captain Of the tug save the
,achr 4 long line which promised to do damage
,,-lar7 The vessel was to be toWed stern first
through the lane of water between large
steamer at the wharf and some small piers used
for guiding ships 70 the ways. NO one seemed
40 notice that theF- line 10 an anchor OUT Oh
the starboard quarter Of the Meteor, ana one OF
the crew had report this at the last moment
Two long bow lines were then Stacked up anu
,ryesen,lv che cry came from the Meteor, Lines
all gone: go aheadr- But the port bow line was
still holeing and il threw the Meteor out to"afu
the little piers before IL was cast adrlf1 from lhe
-. According to the captain of the tug
,.s s-esrjr,e syear gave way just at TINS crltlca
,,.or,ent There was gale of tnlrty-lNe hliies
~ bo,,r blowing at the time, ana as the 1hete"r
rs,idIv gathered sternway. the tug was uiaple
10 assist her .so
The yacht drifted back toward one "l ',ie
s.-.u nters and then damage was seen to be
inevitable 1t was only a auesoion u NV
~ +re boat would be smashed LUCKILY lne
-. L,, which was lashed in its heavily
fa5e crotch did not strike the pier. or the con
-.,o,l6 have been lamentable Ihe
-. - -, rbe rafrail struck first, ana the
-, c-.ebed and crushed down on the ii''ie
.,.re ,,ier tiIJ il was thought that ~ "ouu
s,,.,ze Tho sfernboard Of the Meteor WHICH
nss graceful outward slant, was crusheo up
,orne,6,cularly but the yielding OF the per
esyn6 rhe IMPACT from being very des'i
TIE Yacht went on sliding back and the que'
.io, Was whether she would smash hei Do
snrit on the other pier. Wholly by iuch% Inc
,o-, cleared this as the craft SLID IN pet"ee
.batwo and an active member OF the ere" "e'',
az, .,,l the pier and made fast a lhe. "iiio" So
,b. Yacht from further damage
There she lay for a long time, nearly wv
,,,,e white the tug which had got her to"iiiie
r,pled round TO windward Of the pier uieu "
sv ,,, her steering gear The damage was 'i'e
-, m be not very costly, but most disngu'i'is-
rr1,e sterr1 looked something like unG'ai sh"
-, q siedge hammer. The heavy teak ram %
he port side and all across the stern was on
I'm fgsu