Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-25
FIRST OCEAN RACER.
SMALL YACHT NAMED "ALICE"
CROSSED THE ATLANTIC.
Voyage of the Little Sloop Served as
an Example for Yachts OF
Greater Dimen-
sionS.

small racing and cruising sloop, tne
Alice, owned by Thomas Gold Apple
ton, of Boston, the famous wit, story
teller and art critic, who was broth
in-law Of the poet, Longfellow.
The Alice was IS feet long on the
water line, and 81 feet on deck, but she
made the passage Of the western ocean
safely, while carrying the same main
sail and jib in which she was raced
in home waters, and mainboom as
long as herself. Up to her time she
was the only small sloop yacht that
had crossed the Atlantic, and she still
holds the record of being the only
sloop to cross without reducing her
rig.
Her voyage was so successful that 1t
served as an example to the owners
of large yachts in the New York 1acht
club, and after the return OF the anna
teur yachting men who sailed IN her,
data regarding her voyage and advice
from her sailing master were eagerly
sought by the owners Of the three large
schooners that subsequently made the
famous ocean race Of 1S66-The He'll
rietta, F4eetwing and Vesta.
The Alice was built at Portsmouth,
N. H., for Mr.. Appleton, and was
launched in the spring Of 1866. She
was intended for use in Massachusetts
bay, with headquarters at Nahant, and
for cruises along the eastern coast.
She was not primarily intended for
deep-water sailing, but being of gen
erous beam-17 feet 6 inches-ample
height of side above the water, and
generally seaworthy model, she was ut
for cruising anywhere.
About the time the yacht was COM
pleted Mr.. Appleton, who was a great
traveller changed his plans for the
summer and booked for Europe. He
regretted leaving his new yacht I'M
used for the season, but fully ex-
pected to do so, until one day, while
walking on fremont street, he met
young seafaring friend, Capt. Arthur
III. Clark, who was then about starting
for China, after winter in Boston, 60
resume command in the eastern seas,
where, before reaching the age of 20,
he made a considerable fortune as
captain Of a square rigger.
Mr.. Appleton told Mr.. Clark Of his
plans and Capt. Clark suggested that
the new yacht be sent across to Eng
land and used there for the summer.
The idea pleased Mr.. Appleton and he
accepted an offer made by Capt. Clark
to take the boat across.
Capt. Clark chose as companion for
the trip, Charlie" Longfellow, son of
the poet, who was his close friend, and
Mr.. Longfellow invited friend, Henry
Stanfield, of New York. Three sailors
and a Chinese cook were shipped in
Boston. The preparations for the voy-
age had been simple. -
On the morning of July II the Alice
sailed from Nahant. The voyage from
Nahant to the Needles was made in 10
days, eight hours and so minutes,
which is two days better than the time
of the America in 1851 from New
York to Havre. In the first week of
the voyage strong westerly winds were
encountered for three days off the
banks of Newfoundland. The remain
der of the passage was more moderate,
with two days of calm weather, and
the prevailing winds from southwest
around to northwest.
Various vessels were spoken and
several, going the same way, were
passed and sailed hull down in few
hours. Only one vessel outsailed the
Alice on the voyage. This was an East
Indiaman bound into the English
channel.
The yacht was invariably hailed as
If in distress and in need of provisions.
This amused the enthusiastic yachts
men, who declined all proffered aid
with thanks, saying they were very
comfortable. Until we'll to the east
ward of the Grand Banks vessels hail
ing seemed to think the yacht had
been blown off the American coast and
obliged to run for it."
AS the English coast was neared the
answer to the question: How many
days out? was received with unmistak-
able evidence Of disbelief. No self
respecting salt was ready to believe
such a cookie shell had made the
''v'yage" from Boston bay to the longi-
tude of the Lizard in II days.
The Alice sent up her long topmast
while still at sea and entered Cowes
roads with ali her summer canvas on
as if she had just dropped in from
neighboring port. British yachtsmen
took the deepest interest in her and
her arrival was a sort of nine days
wonder. At a dinner given by the
Royal Yacht squadron, Mr.. Appleton,
who joined the yacht at Cowes, and
his young friends were guests of
honor.
The message of Capt. Clark ANNOUNCE
ing the arrival of the Alice was the
first commercial message filed at the
west end cable Office in London for
transmission by the Atlantic cable,
which had just been laid.
The Alice cruised the remainder of
the summer in channel waters and was
brought back to the United States in
the spring. She was used for many
years in Massachusetts, bay, and In
1888 was sold to go down east" So
far as known she is still afloat on the