The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-30
PRIVATE YACHT
OF PRESIDENT
REACHES JACKSONVILLE EN-
ROUTE FOR PENSACOLA.
SON OF FIGHTING BOB"
is IN COMMAND.

tnan ordinary interest in Pensacola:
President Roosevet's private yacht
Sylph. arrived in port yesterday after
noon at o'clock, from Charleston.
and dropped anchor off the foot of
Laura street.
The coming of the yacht does not
mean that the president is coming to
Jacksonville; but it was reported yes
terday that Mrs. Roosevelt, with Theo-
dore and her other children, with the
exception of Miss Alice Roosevelt.
would arrive here Saturday and board
the yacht for a cruise in Florida wa
tiers.
The Sylph is handsome craft, and
from the time she dropped anchor
until dark last night a number of
people went to the foot of Main and
Laura streets to see the yacht upon
which the president of the United
States and his family have taken a
number of outings.
Converted Gunboat.
Built in 1898 for the navy depart
ment by John Roach, at Chester, PA,
the Sylph was first classeG as a gun
boat but she has since been convert
ed into yacht and assigned to the
use of the president She is 1923 feet
s inches in length on the load water
line, 20 feet beam, and has a mean
draught of feet inches. Her dis
placement, with normal coal supply,
is 152 tons and her net tonnage is 100.
The Sylph is built of steel, has a
single screw and is schooner rugged.
Her engines have an indicated horse
power of $50 and she makes a speed
of is knots per hour. Her coal bunk I,
ers have capacity of AZ tons.
Son of Fighting Bob.
The. commanding Omcer of the
Sylph is Lieutenant Frank T. Evans,
of the United States navy Lieuten- /
ant Evans is a son of Admiral Robley I
d. Evans. She has a crew of twenty /
eight men, and is handsomely fitted
in every detail for the comfort and 1
convenience of guests. She has six
staterooms besides the commanding |
officers rooms, and has a number of
swinging hammocks besides, so that
she can carry comfortably a party of
fifteen or eighteen guests.
Leaving Charleston at 3 o'clock yes
terday morning, the Sylph mace the
run to the st. Johns bar in twelve
hours, crossing at 8 o'clock yesterday
afternoon and coming on up to the
city.
Pilot on Board.
On board the Sylph. as a pilot for !
the St. Johns river and the Florida
coast, is Captain Highlander, COM
mander of the launch Water Lily of
Charleston belonging to the head
quarters Of the Sixth lighthouse dis,
trict. Captain Highlander is said to
be very familiar with Florida waters
and was assigned to the yacht through /,
the courtesy of Captain Hodgson, COM ,
mander of the lighthouse district.
When the yacht left Charleston it ,
was understood that she was to re-
ceive on board at this port Mrs. |
Roosevelt, with all of her children, /
with the exception of Miss Alice, and .
a small party of friends, for cruise
in Florida waters.
Story From Washington.
Referring to Inc contemplated trip
of the presidents family, R. NJ. Lar
ner the Washington correspondent of
the Savannah Morning News, sent out ,
the following story, which was pub
lished in the News yesterday:
The presidents family will pass
through Charleston and Savannah on
their way to Florida, but no arrange
ments have been made to stop off at
either of the cities.
The trip south will be made on
private car, over the Atlantic Coast
7 Il, 81 I
AT the White House no details of
the trip are obtainable. All inquiries
on the subject to-day were met with
the announcement. There is nothing
to be SAID about the trip at this time
"At st. Augustine they will be met
by young Theodore Roosevelt and Dr.
Rixey. who are now duck shooting
near Port Royal, s. c., and the party
will there embark on the presidents
yacht Sylph, in command of Lieut..
Evans, son of Rear Admiral Robley d. |
Evans. The Sylph is now at Charles
ton, and telegraphed to-day for in
structions where to meet Mrs. RoOse-
welt and her party.
THE Sylph will proceed at once to
St Augustine to be in readiness for
the presidents wife and children.
They will cruise in the waters along
the Florida coast and explore st.
Johns and other rivers. This will
take Mrs. Roosevelt and TIE family
away during the presidents absence
on his trip West, and practically close
the White House temporarily. At the
same time 1t will be delightful rec
reation for Mrs Roosevelt after the
fatigue of the social season"
Left For Pensacola.
Last night a press dispatch from
Beaufort, S. c., stated that young
Theodore Roosevelt and DR.. Presley
f. Rixey, surgeon-general of the navy, ;
had started direct for Pensacola, and
would not come to Jacksonville to
join the yacht.
Nothing was heard from Washing
ton in regard to the movements of
Mrs. Roosevelt and the other members
Of the party but it is now believed
hat the entire party will go to Pen
sacola to join the yacht, instead of
coming here. 4
While no official information could
be obtained from Lieutenant Evans,
of the yacht, as to the or