The Washington herald., 1907-01-01

in the course Of the twenty years that |
he has occupied his floating home. has |
acquired the reputation of being the most
eccentric individual in the British Isles.
Bayard Brown is his name and he Is an
American. Despite all the efforts that
have been made 10 penetrate the veil of
mystery that surrounds him. that is all
that has been learned about his origin
and antecedents.
He is intimate with no one. He is a mil
HoHaire. and gives away money lavishly
and Unfortunately. Those who have
come in contact with him say that his
manners and conversation az times are
those Of a polished. well-educated man
Of the world. On other occasions he is |
just as apt 10 be rude and insulting and
without any prcvocation whatever. gives
way 10 Ungovernable fits of rage. Some
times he throws gold among the people
who swarm about his yacht in small
boats; at other times he pelts them with
eggs, cabbages, and potatoes
On one of the rare occasions when he
came ashore he CHANGED to see a home
ly-visaged woman standing at the gate
of the little garden in front OF her cot
tage.
III give YOU e. to get out OF my
sight" said Mr.. Brown.
And the woman pOcketed both the
money and the insult and vanished.
His yacht, the VaIfreya, is fully man
ned, and has steam up night and day,
ready 10 get under way at a moments
notice. but only once has she left her
moorings since she dropped anchor. He
shows a strong aversion to Americans.
He viii hold no communication with
them under any circumstances It was
his desire TO get away from them that
led him to put TO sea
Chased by Americans.
Two years after the Valfreya's arrival
at Brightlingsea. 1t CHANGED that large
party Of Americans were making a tour
of the east coast. and hearing Of Brown
and his eccentriciues. decided to pay him
a visit. Through IS skipper, Brown
heard of their Intentions and the tidings
threw him into great state of excite
'""~t. He gave orders 90 have every
in readiness TO steam away. On
following day the Americans chart
"a lot of small boats and put of for
Nalfreya- Brown saw them coming
at once ordered the captain TO weigh
or and put TO sea.
ne or the men Of the party hired a
ly steam launch, and just for the
Of the thing. gave chase. The Val
IS bottom was very foul and thick
coated with barnacles, and though she
clapped on all steam, the launch gained
on her. Seeing this, Brown. who was
almost beside himself with rage. order
ed his skipper 10 hail the launch and
threaten 10 drop a shot into her If she
persisted in following The captain hail
ed but refused 20 train the yachts gun
on the launch. Brown started to do it
himself. Whether he would have actual
ly fired at the launch, no one knows. but
a this juncture. the men on board de-
cided that they had carried their joke
far enough, and put back 20 Br1ghtIing-
sea. But a week passed before the Val
freya returned to her mornings.
When the Nalfreya first dropped anchor
of Brightlingsea. il was thought. Of
course that her stay would be a brief
one. But Browns plans. which have been
carried out in such strange fashion, had
then been matured. He sent a boat
ashore 20 fetch local skipper, Capt
Smith, and having ascertained from his
credentials, that he was a good pilot and
fully qualified 10 command steam
yacht, engaged him at once. He told him
that he would have 10 keep steam up on
the yacht. and hold himself IN readiness
TO put TO sea at short notice, but that
in all probability the Valfreya would
never leave her moorings as long as he
Brown lived.
Smith has found his billet a very profit
able one Out Of his salary. perQulsites, /
and generous tips. he has saved money
enough to become the owner Of three
tugs, and several houses. and has a large
bank account The eccentric American
millionaire has been the making Of him.
Gives Away Large Sums.
Two months elapsed after the Valfreya
dropped anchor before Brown came
ashore. Then he hurried into a trap
which was there by arrangement, and
was driven away to the interior Of Fs-
sex and at some station on the Great
Eastern Railway, caught train for Lon
don On his return a few days later, be
began those strange proceedings which
have made him famous in Brightlingsea
and the neighbOrhoOd round about He
announced that on certain days he would
receive applicants fOc assistance on board
his yacht On those days small boats
swarm about the Nalfreya, filled with
more or less seedy and needy individuals
both men and women. From among this
motley collection, Brown by some pro-
cess Of selection. based apparently on
physiOgnomy, selects those whom he
makes the recipients Of his bounty and
the rest depart to try their luck another
day. But if he happens to be feeling out
of sorts when the applicants arrive, he
abuses them all roUndly. throws things
at them and sends them away empty
handed save for the things that chance
to hit their mark. He distributes his
gifts IN gold; never in checks or bank
notes. He has contributed generously 10
school funds and other local enterprises.
During the twenty years that his yacht
has been moored at Brightlingsea he has
dlsbursed over S1000,O00. So BrIghtlingsea
blesses the day when he first selected
that spot as his haven Of refuge from
the world
He is now apparently about slxty-sev-
en- years old short and sturdy OF figure,
with gray hair and beard and ruddy
cheeks. Three or four times a year he
goes 10 London, but is never absent for
more than a few days, and apparently
his sole reason for these visits IS 10 look
after his financial affairs and collect his
revenues. He seldom comes ashore at
any other time He receives no letters
Nobody ever inquiries after him, except
those who seek his help. His yacht is
luxuriously fitted up and his table Is sup
piled with the best that the market af-
fords He drinks only the choicest wines |
and smokes none but the most fragrant
/. OF Havana cigars