New-York tribune., 1905-01-06
NOT FOR WAR, BUT A RACE.
GREGORY OFF TO FRANCE.
Niron's Yacht VII Compete from
HaUre to NczC- York for so, 900.

Scarcely hundred days have elapsed since the
keel of Lewis Nixon's twin screw motor yacht
Gregory was laid in his shipyard at Perth Am
boy At 2:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon she
passed out by Sandy Hook, fully manned and
equipped bound across the Atlantic. under her
own power for a port in the Mediterranean,
where she is to be Joined by her owner.
Although built somewhat on the lines Of the
nine torpedo boats which. it is said, Mr.. Nixon
made for the Russian government. the Gregory
is not in any sense a torpedo boat She was
built by Mr. Nixon for his own use, but chiefly
to compete for the $4,000 prize offered last fall
by NJ Charley Of Paris for the winner in a race
of motor boats from Havre France, to New
York, to take place next summer
Scientists and shipping men are equally inter
ested in the departure of the motor yacht
Gregory. The sending of this vessel across the
Atlantic in midwinter is looked upon as a tri-
umph for American engineering.
THAT the Gregory will make the trip safely
and speadily," said a friend Of Mr.. Nixon yes
terday. 1--WE have no reason to doubt. She is
commanded by Captain August w. Loose an
exnerienced navigator, and her chief engineer
&c Philip r. Adams, OF the best known gas
engine experts. She carries a crew of nine men,
and ample provisions. water and gasolene to
carry them five thousand miles When Mr
Nixon bade them bon voyage this morning
he told the captain TO his own judgment as
TO the route he takes. He may touch at Charles
ton S. c. and then follow the route OF the
Tinted States torpedo boat destroyers sent last
year to Manila, or he may go to Bermuda from
there to the Azores and thence to Gibraltar.
The Gregory which is ninety feet long and
t1,alve feet BEAM is painted white. and is built
of steel of the greatest possible tensile strength
She Is a twin screw vessel. of the conventional
motor boat type. She is equipped with two re-
versibl4 engines of about 85O-horsepower each
and as she is entered for the race from Toulon
% Aleiers she will probably need all this power
IN win the Mediterranean Cup. This trophy Is
offered bv the ''Matin" in the preliminary con-
,est for the purpose of testing the speed and
seapoine- capacity of the boats entered for the
transatlantic race. Sufficient gasolene is car
riad ~, the Gregory In alright tanks TO take
hor Ave thousand miles. She is also fitted with
tvvo n1as.s with emergency sails, a large stand
ard compass and many of the modern require
nents Her hull is strong that II is esti-
mated It will stand any that she is likely
10 encounter In rough weather the crew re-
main below, the helmsman steering from a con-
ming tower that is watertight. The boat is
lighted and heated by electric plant IT as
estimated that the yacht which has already
shown a speed of thirty miles hour, will be
able to cross the Atlantic in ten days, including
stops at several harbors.
THE ONLY AMERICAN BOAT ENTERED.
on September II eleven motor boats had been
entered for the from Havre to New-fork
for M Cbarley's cup. The following men sent
in their entries and boats are now being built
FOR them: Baron Henri de Rothschild NJ Garcin'
of Marseiiles; NJ. Thubron. NJ. Verdrine. NJ Mar
eel GassIer, NJ. A. Clement, NJ. Perret, NJ e.
IamberJack and NJ. Lancia.
Lewis Nixon began the building OF his boat
several weeks after these entries were mace.
His is the only American boat officially entered
so far. but IT is said that Frank Croker william
Continued on second page.