Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07
KING EDWARDS STATE BARGE
CURIOUS Vessel BUILT FOR
KING WILLIAM III IN 1885.
As Sound Today rs When Launched.
The Royal Bargemaster
and the Rowers.

From London TitBiis.
One of the most interesting vessels
afioat today is the kings stale barge.
now resting at anchor on the placid
Thames at Virginia Water Very few
people are aware that this barge is still
i'm existence, and would be surprised To
hear that his majesty hopes one of these
days to take another trip In il along the
Royal river.
II is impossible to say how many years
il is since first an English king MAN
tanned his state barge on the Thames.
but since both his majesty and the Primo
of Wales are great admirers OF this OLD
custom IL does not seem likely TO die "ut
yet awhile The present barge was built
in 1885, for William III. and is today as
sound when il was built Its frame *
OF British oak. and II is lavishiN eilded
and decorated with royal arms prominent
Is displayed The barge was built 10y
Messrs. Salter g. Co. OF oxford. nrm
that is in existence today.
Chestnut Avenue at Bushey.
William III was very fond OF the river.
and his iayorite residence was Hampton
Court. Ii was he who created Bushey
Park and commissioned Sir Christopher
Wren to carry out the famous avenue or
chestnut trees. Living on the banks or
the Thames he made frequent use of has
barge. both on his visits 10 London ana
for pleasure trips to Windsor.
When Prince of Wales. the present king
that II was kept in proper repair. When
he came to the throne he decided that the
royal barge should play a prominent part
in his coronation festivities. When he
inspected Elton College, therefore, shortly
took great interest in this barge and saw
after his accession. he embarked upon the
barge in company with the queen and
other members of the royal family. in
Guiding the elder children of the Prince
and Princess OF Wales. and Travelled down
the river as far as Datchet. escorted by
the Elton boys in their boats as used on
the Fourth of June celebrations. This.
by the way, was the last occasion upon
which the barge was utilized.
The Kings Bargemaster.
The barge was originally built for ten
rowers. but only eight are now employed.
together with the kings bargemaster,
who steers the craft This number of wa
termen has been adopted in order to al
low more room for the royal party. AZ
might be imagined. the position of kings
waterman is one that Is eagerly sought
after. At the present time there are thir
ty of these watermen. and it is improba-
BILE In the extreme that any more will be
appointed for some years to come For
generations these watermen numbered
forty, but with the barge little used it
was decided some time ago to reduce
them to their present number.
Ultimately not more than twelve or
these are to be maintained. and as the
present holders of the office die off
retire through advancing age others are
not appointed in their places. The
nouncement. however, of vacancy
brings an immediate shoai of applications
to the bargemaster. with whom the APP
pointment rests and there is very eager
competition for the coveted billet.
Qualifications Necessary.
The conditions are. however. rather Sc
we're. A candidate for the position Of
kings waterman must be one who has
finished his time with a recognized firm
on the river, and he must have been adj
mitted 10 the freedom of the river. while
there are other qualifications that are
likewise insisted upon. The pay of these
watermen is little more than nominal.
f3 los a year paid quarterly, but their
duties are extremely light. In addition
to manning the barge whenever the SOW
ereign desires to take trip along the
river. they are on duty at Buckingham
Palace Virginia Water whenever a
royal garden party Is held. in order To
take the guests for a row should they
SO desire. In addition to their pay they
receive a handsome livery, that is re-
by the way. though undoubtedly pictur-
esque. is very heavy in which to pull an
oar on a hot day.
The long. full-buttoned coat is of royal
scarlet. while they wear peaked caps of
black velvet of similar pattern to those
of the state bandsmen of the Life
Guards. Across the coat is embroidered
the royal arms In gold. while a large
watermans number. The state costume
of the kings bargemaster Is altogether
of a more ornate character. and he wears
a tabard richly embroidered in something
of the same fashion as those worn by
the royal heralds.
Unique Privileges.
Another very interesting duty that the
kings watermen are called upon to per-
form. and one of which the outside world
knows nothing. Is to provide an escort
for the crown whenever it is moved from
its resting place at the tower of London.
Thus. when the king opens parliament
in state, two watermen in their quaint
livery, each carrying maces follow the
crown, together with the bargemaster.
and similar service was performed al
the coronation and is undertaken upon
all such ceremonies. The origin OF this
duty is now forgotten. but the custom Is
still maintained.
The kings bargemaster is an office OF
the lord chamberlain's department, and
is always given to one who has dis
t!nguished himself along the river. The
present holder is Mr.. w. G.. East, one
of the best watermen that have yet been
produced, and the winner of more cups
and championships than il is possible 10
recall He succeeded to his present APP
pointment nearly eight years ago. follow
ing Mr. Messenger of Teddngton. vino
held the post for half century. lie
barge is in his :ole care, and he Is re-
sponsible for seeing that il is ready for
service at any moment its use may be
demanded. He has also other duties TO
perform in connection with the barge
and its crew, so his position is by no
means the sinecure that il might be i'm
agined.
The cost of maintaining the royal
barge and its crew is provided for every
year in the civil service estimates for the
maintenance OF the court. under the head
ing of the lord chamberlains depart
ment.