The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-01
Eccentric American Always
Ready for Flight.
STEAM UP, BUT HE NEVER SAILS
Bayard Brown Has Spent
Twenty Years Aboard a Luxurious
Vessel Anchored on an Out-Of-the-
way English Forthwith Have Moth
ing to DO with His COuntrymen.

Suggest ana SdteSI naNenS on the
east coast Of England lives a man. who
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 &c 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 mil
lionaire, and gives away money lavishly
and Unfortunately Those who have
come in contact with him say that his
manners and conversation at times are
those Of a polished. well-educated man
Of the world. On other occasions he IS
just as apt TO be rude and insulting and
without any provocation whatever, gives
way to 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
IN give YOU e5 to get out OF my
sight" said Mr. Brown
And the woman pOcketed both the
money and the insult and vanished.
His yacht. the Valtreya, 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
mornings since she dropped anchor. He
shows strong aversion TO Americans
He will hold no communication with
them under any circumstances. It was
his desire 10 get away from them that
led him to put to sea
Chased by Americans.
Two years after the Valfreya's arrival
al Brightiingsea. Il CHANGED that a large
party Of Americans were making a tour
of the east coast. and hearing Of Brown
and his eccentriciues, decided TO pay him
visit Through is skipper, Brown
heard Of their intentions and the tidings
threw him into a great state Of excite
ment He gave orders TO have every
thing in readiness 10 steam away. On
the following day the Americans chart
cred a lot of small boats and put of for
and at once ordered the captain to weigh
anchor and put TO sea.
Some Of the men of the party hired a
speedy steam launch. and just for the
fun of the thing, gave chase. The val
freya bottom was very foul and thick
coated with bamaCles 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 to drop a shot into her If she
persisted in following The captain hail
ed. but refused 10 train the yachts gun
on the launch. Brown started 10 do II
himself Whether he would have actual
~ fired at the launch, no one knows. but
at this junCtUre, the men on board de-
cided that they had carried their joke
far enough, and put back 10 Brightling-
sea. But week passed before the Val
treya returned 10 her mOorings
When the Falfreya first dropped anchor
of BrlghtlinEsea. 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 10 fetcn a local skipper Capt.
Smith. and having ascertained from his
credentials. that he was a good pilot and
yacht, engaged him at once He told him
that he would have TO keep steam I'D on
the yacht. and hold himself in readiness
20 put 10 sea at short notice, but that
IN all probability the Valfreya would
never leave her moOTings as long as he
Brown lived
Smith has found his billet a very profit
able one. Out Of his salary, Perquisites.
and generous tips. he has saved money
enough 10 become the owner Of three
tugs. and several houses. and has 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 Es-
sex and at some station on the Great
Eastern Railway, caught a train for Lon
don. On his return a few days later. he
began those strange proceedings which
have made him famous in BrightIingsea
and the neighborhood round about. He
announced that on certain days he would
receive applicants To- assistance on board
his yacht. On those days small boats
swarm about the Falfreya. filed with
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
al them and sends them away empty
handed save for the things that chance
70 hit their mark. He distributes his
gifts IN gold, never IN checks or bank
notes He has contributed generously to
school funds and other local enterprises
During the twenty years that his yacht
has been moored at Brightlingsea he has
discussed over 81 10000 So Brightlingsea
blesses the day when he first selected
that spot as his haven Of refuge from
the world
lie is now apparently about sixty-sev-
en- years old; short, and sturdy OF figure,
with gray hair and beard, and rudy
cheeks. Three or four times a year he
goes to London, but is never absent for
more than a few days, and apparently
his sole reason for these visits is to 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