The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-25
LONG VOYAGE
ON HOUSEBOAT
Capt. Isaac Golden Of Pawtuxet
AstonIshed Natives Down East.
R0XANA SAW ROUGH WEATHER
John W. Gates Steam Palace Reaches
Cove After Trip 10 Thousand Islands
and Back Yesterday
ROXANA SAW ROUGH WEATHER

miles along the rugged New England and
Nova Scotia shores the houseboat Rox-
ana, owned by John w. Gates. the WELL
known New York banker and broker.
reached Pawtuxet yesterday morning
about $3.50. and Capt. Isaac Golden was
happy man, for he was home after three
months absence on the toughest voyage
he has had since he has been yachting.
When one figures that the Roxana Is
floating summer cottage and has % feet
nine inches OF elevated upper works above
the water and only three feet two inches
below Il. IL is easy TO see that II was
taking t..eir lives in their hands for that
crew OF II to make the long journey Few
OF them would want TO repeat IT, Tor
there were times when IL seemed as IL all
hands would have use for the big life raft
on the stern, because she rolled SO IN the
high seas.
In appearance the Roxana is like
snub-nosed steam yacht, minus the jaunty
bowsprit and masts. which make them so
graceful looking. and she has very large
amount OF upper works.
When she hove in sight along the Maine
coast she certainly astonished the natives
for the engine and frerooms are not
housed in. but located In an open hatca-
way. with only the hurricane deck and
small combing TO keep the weather
put.
The craft has lis feet six inches length,
m feet beam and draws three feet two
inches amidships. She was built al
Racine In lS.3 and is equipped with double
engines after the Herreshon type, 10 drive
the twin screws. She has three ruooers'
which steer her quick as thought almost.
USED ON THE LAKES
After a couple of years Of lake use the
Roxana was brought through the canal
down the Mississippi. 10 New York. where
she was cut In two and Is feet added TO
her length. This addition prevents her
taxing advantage OF the S-foot locks IN
the canal and forces her into the OUTSIDE
passages. 49,
main deck IL located the library, state
rooms. with full-sized beds. several path
rooms. white tiled, with big TUBS ana
showers the owners quarte,S'
boudoirs and private baths and lots OF
closet rooms. The galley Is wen arr,
ana the cooks sleep aft too. The houses
are all OF mahogany finish ..
On the upper deck about amidship ~
,he dining room with well appoihteu
nantry and plenty OF benches ana chalIs
out on deck. All the doors ano wiiluom' sun,
house centains a big smoking and soclal
room where oil the tables are conVeru-
HE into comfortable high backed arm.
chairs and settees and push buttons eau
tubes give indications OF prompt service
with which the Ice machine, big reirlg
orators point to comforting REFRESHMENTS
This is finished In antique oak.
The nilot house which Ia all under COW
er contains the captains effects and
cushioned sofa can be made INTO dou-
BILE berth while big wardrobe holds his
clothing. The crew is housed below deck
and is somewhat cramped Tor elbow
room.
Mr.. Gates did not take the long outside
trio with his craft but sent Capt Golden
who is a Pawtucket man. resident OF
the Neck. along with the craft
He has as mate Oscar Nelson and Mi
chael Mcnamara a former shipmate, is
his chief engineer and he managed to
null the machine through without a sim
gle breakdown or delay save by storm or
fog.
STARTED JUNE 18TH.
II was June 18th when the Roxana LETT
Morris Heights and reached Pawtuxet on
the 18th leaving the following day for the
Eastward The craft was bottled up In
Vineyard Haven from the time she reach
ed there the 18th until the 2lst. Northeast
and southeasterly storms prevailing but
the natives never ceased to wonder at
the nerve of the captain In taking that
floating summer cottage up the coast. on
the 23d they left Hyannis at a. m. and
made Gloucester at 4:So p m. leaving at
4:45 on the oath and reaching Boothbay
at 4 D. m. They got underway at p. m
and at / As were at Bar Harbor. Thick
weather came up as they were leaving
and they had to make the Winter Harbor
s& miles out for shelter. Next morning
they steamed away at 7:23 and made
Eastport encountering heavy seas but
fair weather.
Clearing from -Eastport at sos a. m.
on the 2sth, they reached st. John. N b,
at 1915 p. m. Next day they made Var
mouth at $3.50 p. m. and on the 30th reach
ed Halifax after a run of les nautical
miles. Captain Golden managing without
pilots, even though IL was his first visit
there.
They were kept in Halifax by the high
east wind and fog forcing them 10 re-
turn. A half-hour later they saw the salt
laden steamer Salerno run on the rocks,
where she is now an abandoned wreck
Next day. July 2. they made Biscomb,
N. s., where there was more fog delay
and on the 4th OF July Port Mulgraw, n
g.. was made at 400. On the 5th they
passed through Northumberland Straits
between Prince Edward Island and Nova
Scotia and anchored at Somerside, Prince
Edward Island at 7:2o y. m.
The run Of 234 nautical miles from Gas
per. Quebec. 10 Bic, was made on the Sth
III 40 iouiH Oil Ou minutes. Leaving BIC
on the 10th, they made Princess Basin
Quebec at $50 D. m. run OF II hours
Trips to Tadusac Saguenay river ST.
Jeans Cove TO Chicoutime and back 20
Quebec, were taken with the owner
and party on board. with a pilot
on board they went through the Rich
lieu rapids In 20 minutes on the 18th. and
reached Montreal on the 18th Several
weeks were spent In cruising there and
the houseboat lay at docks I'm Montreal
for n month awaiting orders. Then the
trip for home was begun and made I'm
very good time. despite the storm delays
There were two or three times when Il
looked as though they would need a
new conveyance home.
The Roxana was tied up outside Mr.
Fulers yacht Thetis at Mrs O'Connor's
wharf and will lay there while fitting out
for southern cruise. Many prominent
local yachtsmen were interested TO view
the splendid appointments OF the boat.
The trip OF 46S3is nautical miles and
the experiences OF the three months and