The Republican journal., 1903-09-17
THE YACHT WANDFRER.
To Carry the Gospel by Sea. Rev. +. G. sand
ford of Shiloh her Owner.


Lying at anchorage off the New Ha-
ven docks for the two days past, the
old Yacht Wanderer has attracted the
attention of frequenters OF Bost on's
water front.
She came in from the westward Sat-
urday evening, and yesterday afternoon
preparations were being made to sail to
the eastward.
1t could be seen the vessel was not in
commission as yacht, as she flew
neither club burgee or private signal.
Hel headsails were up in stops yester-
day afternoon as if she were ready to
break them out and bear away for the
line in a racing start. Her mainsail
however, was somewhat loosely furled,
and this belied the promise of her head
sails.
Along the wharveS the vessel was
named by two men out of every three.
That's the old Wanderer," said they,
''the one that was a SLAYER. She's got
a record mile long
Investigation and slight knowledge
of the history of yachts were sufficient
to show that the vessel was not the
same Wanderer that was once SLAYER.
That Wanderer was captured during
the civil war, served the government
until 1865. and ended her days in the
gulf years ago.
The present Wanderer is chicken
compared with the original. She is
barely 80 years old, having been built in
Brooklyn in 1871. She was something
of racer in her day, and tried conclu-
sions with such flyers of the old-tlme
feet as the America, Dauntless, Sap
pho, Columbia, Fleetwing, Vesta, Hen
rietta. EnchantreSS and Dreadnaught
Therefore when she dropped her an
Choir in the harbor men who remember
ed the old schooners of the los recalled
her record.
When a reporter roWed off to the
yacht yesterday he was courteously re-
ceived by a sailorly looking man, who
said he was temporarily in charge in
the absence of Capt. Scott, who had
brought the vessel around from New
York.
shes gospel vessel now," said the
sailor.
1t transpired that the yacht has been
purchased by Rev. Frank w. Sandford,
leader of the Holy Ghost and Us socle-
ty of Shiloh, Me, to be used as a ''gos-
pei yacht"
She is en- route to Maine, where she
is to be beached at some convenient
place, probably Tenants Harbor, for
cleaning and general oyerhaullng.
As she has lain all summer at South
Brooklyn, without much attention, she
is somewhat in need of scraplng and
painting.
1t is the purpose of the yachts pres
ent owners to bring her back to Boston
after she is overhauled, and here she
will be commissioned for the work for
which she has been purchased, with a
special dedicatory service, probably on
Oct ,.
On the same day there will be special
services at Elm. the soclety's house in
Massachusetts Avenue, Boston.
Rev. Mr. sanford was seen at the
Massachusetts Avenue house yesterday
afternoon, and spoke of his plans for
the Yacht.
We intend to use her for carrying
the gospel to islands and other remote
places on the coast. where the people
do not have the benefit of regular
preaching" he said. I'VE have already
tried such work on the Maine coast,
and with gratifying success. We have
had in commission there since early i'll
August the launch called Overcomer,
with which We have done good work at
the islands We started at Barriers
island on the Sheep5cot river. We had
d tine convention there and made good
progress.
.Our success with the Overcomer led
to desire to extend the work. We
have bought the Wanderer for that
purpose / cannot say much about
our plans at present, except that the
vessel viii be taken to Maine for over
hauling and then return to Boston,
Rev. Mr.. Sandford was asked if the
yachts work would be confined to the
Maine coast.
20. no. said he, Boston will be our
Headquarters for land and sea-"
The Wanderer is in charge of Capt.
Scott, who will remain with her for
month. Assisting him as crew are
three men, volunteers from Mr. Sand
ford's following When the yacht is
placed in commission as a gospel YES
sci it is the purpose of Rev. MI. Sand
ford to man her entirely with volun-
teers from his flock, among whom
there are a number of seafaung men.
One of the number now on board has
served in the British navy and has
seen canvas tear" in many seas.
1t was from Capt. Scott. her present
commander, that the Wanderer was
plIlCIdSCu IOh. NIL ''uiioLoiu' 1HC
was entered in last springs yacht list
as the property OF w. II. Reynolds of
New York.
The old vessel has been on the sale list
long time, at an asking price of $4,000.
As her hull is still sound and she has an
ample inventory she attracted a num-
Der of prospective buyers at that price.
One who preceded Mr.. Sandford by a
few weeks looked the vessel over with
view to taking venture with her in
the line of smuggling cargo of China
men from Cuba into this country.
The scheme fell through because the
Cinnamon, who were to be rounded up
in Havana, refused to pay the agreed
passage" money, $3.50 head, in ad-
vance.
On this occasion the asking price for
the vessel was said to have been scaled
to S2400.
A description of the vessel and her in
ventory at that time contained foot
note to the effect that enough of her fit
tings could be sold to put her in fine
condition.
The WSnderer is large and graceful
ly modelled yacht, with a waterline
length of 106 feet inches, an overall
length of us feet 3 inches, a beam of %
feet 2 inches, and draft of II feet 6
inches. Her depth of hold is s feet, and
her lowest freeboard 3 feet.