The sun., 1903-09-19
SEAWANHAKAS CHEER Upton.
ROOSEVELT PROPOSES TOAST TO
ABSENT lACHTSMAN.
Commodore Bourne and the Club Hope
There Are Five Leaves 10 Sir ThOmas's
Shamrock, but Believe the Limit In
Ninety.FOOters Has Been Reached.

Ninety.FOOters Has Been Reached.
OYSTER BAY Sept 1S.-The main feature
Of the annual dinner of the Seawanhaka
Corinthian Yacht Club, which took place
this evening in the clubhouse on Centre
Island, with President Roosevelt as the only
guest Of honor. was the apparent desire of
everybody present, the President included,
to erase any unpleasant impressions that
might still linger in the mind of Sir Thomas
Upton
His name was mentioned time and again
during the evening, and never without
calling forth tempest Of cheers and ap-
plallse. The President proposed a toast
in his honor and voiced the general regret
at his inability to be present Never did
an international episode" end in more
satisfactory manner.
The affair otherwise was as informal
as the President wished it to be. He was
practically the only speechmaker OF the
occasion, and what he said referred ex-
clusively to yachting matters and Sir
Thomas. Everything possible had been
done by the club Of course, to make their
premises show that the day was one OF
unusual Importance. The building and
the surrounding grounds were brightly
illuminated by strings Of electric lights
and clusters OF Japanese lanterns.
Another illumination, still more effective,
was to be seen on the waters OF the bay.
where scores Of pleasure craft had gathered.
All were dressed in festoons OF lights. Con-
spicuous ia that way were the steam yacht
Delaware, which brought party of twelve
New York Yacht Club members, headed
by Commodore Bourne, down to the dinner,
and r. A. c. Smiths yacht Privateer which
brought another group of guests from the
same club.
The President came across the bay on
the Sylph, landing at the dock of the yacht
club at sl5 o'clock. He was received there
by committee Of five and escorted to
the clubhouse. The dinner began shortly
afterward. About 100 guests took part in
it. an overwhelming majority of whom
were members of the club and immediate
neighbors of the President.
On the table in front Of the President
stood a miniature model Of the Reliance.
He had on his right side Colgate Hoyt,
chairman Of the board Of trustees of the
Seawanhaka club and on his left Vice
Commodore William j. Matheson. Among
the other guests at his table were Commo-
dore Bourne and E. c. Benedict. Vice
Commodore Matheson introduced the Presi-
dent in few words.
1T is a pleasure to be with you tonight"
the President began. Il always feel when
here that am here under false prefer COS,
for in yachting matters l am at the feet of
with glance at Commodore Boulna of the
New York Y 1t Club Gamaliel.
Il like to see man play himself and
not hire some one else 10 play for him.
The club is prominent for the sport in which
the members take an active part l feel
that this club at ands as a type for sporting
decency. You ought to be encouraged,
but don't think you need encouragement.
During the past summer | have been
deeply interest ed in the Internal ional races.
1t Is twenty-five years since the first of
the single-stickers came to begin that
great duel which has been feature of
yachting interests during these years.
II is not wise to boast when we put the
armor off, rather when we put it on. But
il is a curious fact that not only has an
American boat won each series, but each
race of all series. We owe debt of graf
itude to tho designer, the captain and the
scamen who contributed to the winning
Of these races by the American boat.
Il am going to ask you now to drink
the health of all our gallant opponents
of the last twenty-five years, and especially
the health of Sir Thomas Upton, whom
we hoped to have with us tonight"
The gale that blew last Wednesday was
not more violent than the wave of enthu-
siasm that swept through the room and
brought everybody present to his feet.
A telegram Of greeting and regret to Sir
Thomas was promptly indited and unan-
imously adopted by those present, 1t was
despatched at once, and in time for the
receipt Of return message from the secre-
tarv of Sir Thomas, who expressed regret
at not having been able to place the tele-
gram before its addressee.
Then the guests sang song, which had
for it's refrain: Here's to You, Tommy
Upton
Commodore Bourne expressed the hope
Of himself and the club he represented that
there might prove to be five leaves to Sir
Thomass shamrock. He then devoted a
few words in seriousness to the topic of
Yacht racing. The limit in Improvement
of the present type has been reached, he
said, and it was to be hoped that some
new kind OF boat would be tried to give to
designers and others concerned a fair
chance The R-footer now built for the
races had been developed TO point where
ii must be regarded as perfect racing
machine.
The President left the clubhouse at 1890
o'clock and was carried back to his home
by the Sylph. The others stayed much
longer, and as the hours passed on the
informality that had characterized the
affair from the beginning became more