The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-16
ENDSL0NGBOAT
TRIP WITH ONLY
10 CENTS LEFT
CAPTAIN vITOUs AND HIS MOTOR.
BOAT VENUS COMPLETE $500
MILE VOYAGE PRONE cLEvE.
LANo-WILL GET $1,000 PURSE.

With but fifteen cents left from an
even $500 with which he left Cleve.
land, Ohio, on July 16 last for voy-
age of $500 miles in a 28-foot boat,
Captain Joseph F. Vitous locked at
the boat repair plant Of j. l.. Bulson
on the south side of the St. Johns
river shortly before o'clock Thurs
day afternoon, says the Jacksonville
Metropolis.
Today Captain vitous is studying
seriously the question of how to make
that small amount Of money provide
for seven people until the necessary
details are completed for the payment
Of the $1,000 prize money which he
will receive as a reward for the
strenuous voyage just completed.
Formerly . Surf Boat.
The Venus left Cleveland July 16,
going through Lake Erie, PIP miles;
through the Erie canal. 387 miles, into
the Hudson river. thence to New
York. The little 2S-foot craft, form
erly q government surf boat, was
nearly wrecked during the recent
hurricane off Hatteras, having drifted
helplessly for several days as the re-
suit Of trouble with the propeller
| oA0AI 0AO INC AOSo VI ASA duCuoA
chain.
Capt. vitous will be given $4,000
and his expenses for making the voy
age from Cleveland to Jacksonville
successfully, having made wager
with friends in Cleveland, where he
IL a retired civil engineer.
Thlrty-FIve and Half Running Days
The completion of the trip means
1 IN a tot h~~ q O
miles in the small boat in exactly
thirty-fve and a half running days
although a much longer time has
been consumed since he left the Ohio
city.
The Venus covered $500 miles In
thirty running days with single
cylinder. only half a gallon of gaso
line an hour AS the displacement
Of the Venus is five tons, this record
will be readily appreciated The fire
quent delays were caused by sickness
aboard, and rough weather which ne
cessitated waits.
Proud Of Engineer.
Capt. Vitous is particularly prout
Of the record made by the enginee,
he personally selected after consider
ing number of others. His wife
md child. and his assistant. Andrew
Hruska. wife and two children. i've
aboard the little voyager, their quar-
tiers being quite comforta BILE consid
er'n- the size Of the craft
After wintering in Florida, Can't
Vitous expects to secure a large
craft and return to Cleveland. II.
was particularly unfortunate on tn,
voyage down, having met with un
favorable weather much Of the time
Where possible he took the insid
waterway, the experiences shortly al
ter beginning the voyage from New
York having demonstrated the wisdom
of this course.
| Will Sell Post Cards.
Today Capt. Vitous allowed Wrigh
& White, the two American Pres
Association photographers, to maxi
photographs of his boat and party an
will sell these on post cards to thos
who care to visit the boat on tn
South Side. The plucky little GREY
and their staunch craft may be seeI
by taking ferry voyage to the Sout]
Side and asking the man. at the feI
ry dock to give directions to fin
the plant Of J. L. Budson, which i
not far from the ferry landing.
Later the boat may be placed O.
exhibition, II a suitable location ca
be found, and the proceeds from thi
will be used by Capt Vitous in PRE-
viding place for his family an
that Of his assistant to come ashor
for the winter.