The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-21
YACHTING FAVOR|TE PASTlME
OF THE LATE SENATOR HANNA,
hide Down the Niagara River He Described as the Most Thrilling
and Delightful Experience of the Kind of His Career-Inter
esting Sideights on the Life Of the Great Ohioan, the Init
mate Friend of Two Martyre d Presidents.
SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Cleveland. O.. Feb. Ex-senator Marx
Hanna. whose death on Monday last
plunged the American nation into mourn.
ing. loved two sorts Of sport. yachting and
trotting races.
Inc Senator keenly enjoyed a sail on the
k with n spanking breeze blowing, and
he found much pleasure in watching a
spirited contest between a ~well-balanced
field OF harness flyers. Yachting. however,
was the great Ohio politicians favorite
pastime. He was a good sailor and per-
fectly at home on the water in any kind of
weather. The fiercest sort of a gale had
no terrors for Mark Hanna. In fact, he
rather enjoyed being bufreted about in a
good nor'wester on old Lake Erie.
The Senator had one experience In the
yachting line which. he declared many
times afterward. was the most thrilling Of
his career. on land or water. 1t was a
yacht ride down the Niagara River aboard
of Mr.. W J.. Conners's speedy steam
craft Enquirer. which had previously Won
the championship of the lakes.
During the G.. A. r. Encanpment in
Buffalo. N. Y, in 1896. Senator Hanna,
Colonel Myron T. Herrick. now Governor
Of Ohio. and Henry Clay Evans were Mr..
Conners's guests on a run down the
Niagara and back on the Enquirer. 1t
was one long to be remembered by those
ABOARD the handsome yacht that after
noon. AS Senator Hanna expressed 1t aft
erward:
1T was positively the most thrilling ex-
per1ence l ever had. and / enjoyed it i'm
mensely. although at times 1 was a triie
nervous. That man Conner is certainly a
great entertainer. l shall remember that
afternoons outing to my dying day."
The distinguished trio We're royalty en-
tertained by the proprietor of the Courier
and Enquirer. but the one little incident
that made the occasion a most memorable
one was this: 1t appears that Mr.. Conners.
who has the reputation of being a most
daring sailor himself. went quietly to the
engineer Of the Enquirer before the yacht
crowd on the full complement Of steam
and send the yacht dow the river at the
fastest clip she was capable of. The en-
gineer cbeyed instructions. Persons IA
miliar with that wonderfully swift cur
rent in the Niagara. not to speak OF the
phenomenal speed which the Enquirer pos
sessed. can form some kind of an idea as
to the rate of speed at which Mr.. Corners
carried his distinguished guests down the
river that afternoon. 1t was a sight to be-
hold.
Persons on the docks who saw the boat
go shooting down with the current were
awstricken. Many thought the yacht had
got beyond control of her crew and that
sax was III oh " GutS NScth Nio
The gentlemen aboard the yacht were
having a most enjoyable time. They ad-
mired the scenery and; complimented Mr.;
Corners on the beauty Of his boat and
the quality Of his fine old wines.
AS the Enquirer was nearing Grand. Is
land and going along at a most furious
cry most startling in character, Mr.. Con-
ners. who stood chatting with his guests
near the bow Of the yacht, turned to the
writer and said:
ASKED FOR MORE SPEED.
kelly. run down and tell that engineer
to wake up and give US a little speed.
He must be taking a nap down there.
Demned If 1 ever saw the yacht crawl
along at such an Internally slow pace"
Good gracious, my dear Corners. but
what in thunder do you call speed" ex-
claimed Senator Hanna. an expression Of
startled establishment overspreading his
usually placid countenance.
Why. man. this boat Is tearing along
at the maddest kline Of a. clip now. 1
don't see how she stands it; For heav-
tempt to crowd her for any more speed
or you will have US all blown to hades.
This Is positively the most hair-raisiEg
and 1 have sailed a good deal. This Is
plenty fast for your Uncle Mark. and 1
belieye | voice the sentiments Of our
never had any aquatic experience at ALL"
Yes. Mr.. Corners, this is fast enough"
cried Messrs. Evans and Herrick in uni
shall go over the falls"
right. gentlemen. you are my
piled WITH" said Mr.. Corners. q thought
she was moving a bit slower than usual.
and that you folks would like to see the
Enquirer go when we cut loose and put
on a little extra steam"
Mr.. Corners never cracked a smile as lie
uttered these words. and his guests
speed, in the ~vernacuiar OF the sporting
fraternity. Senator Hanna and the eth /
ers appeared greatly relieved on hearing
the order for additional steam counter;
handed. A few moments later Colonel
Herrick suggested that a better view of
the shore scenery might be obtained IL the ,
what and the distinguished trio became
Infinitely more at ease when the speed
was reduced to about eighteen knots an
hour.
LEARNS OF THE JOKE.
The writer had occasion to visit Senator
Hanna at his Cleveland residence some
weeks later to secure a political interview.
President Mckinley was there at the time. |
1t was oh Sunday evening, and they had
just finished Inner when I called. George
Edwards. then Of the Cleveland Recorder.
characteristic warmth by the Senator. and
the first question he asked was:
How is my friend Conners?"" Then.
turning to President Mckinley. he said:
Major. l shall never forget that yacht
ride. That man Corners is a daredevil II
there ever lived one. Why. man. he took
rent at a rate Of fully thirty knots an
hour. and then. when We reached Grand
Island. he almost paralyzed US by sending
word to the he. engineer to wake up ana give
Even up to that time the Senator had
not realized that he had heen made the
victim of one OF Mr.. COnnOrS's practical