The Detroit times., 1910-05-27
TINY MOTOR BOAT
Makes LONG TRIP
Daring Young Yachtsman and Mother
Cruise From Chicago To New York
Through Treacherous Gulf.

NEW YORK, May 25.-Tugging at
Der anchor like fractions horse UNI
er severe curb, the 35-foot cruis-
ng launch Catherine NJ. OF Chicago,
swinging restlessly with the tide
p the Hudson river. of Ninety-first-st.
from water line TO cabin top she
ears the scars Of wind and sea. but.
espite the buffeting she received In
tornado In the Gulf OF Mexico, she
as staunch and rides as high and
roudly as when she left Chicago for
Few York on May 3. 1909.
Her owner, Ralph NJ. Pearson, OF
chicago, and his mother. after whom
be boat is named. were the only pas
engers on this the longest trip by IN
Rnd waters a motor boat ever has
lade. She has logged more than H.
700 miles and will have covered about
200 by the time she again reaches
er home port, where Mr.. Pearson ex-
ects to arrive by July /, He plans
b return To Chicago by way or the
hudson river. Erie canal and thence
hrough the rest OF the chain OF In
md waterways to Chicago.
Until few years ago Mr.. Pearson,
no is % years old. tall and broad
houldered, with a mop OF coal black
air, sold newspapers on the streets
& Chicago He has been supporting
lis mother since he was IL years OF
2ke. Now he has three large station
~ stores and employs about nifty
pys TO sell papers. His hobby ~
rotor boats and he has owned mum
Ter OF racers. He built the Catherine
!, the work taking about a year Be
dies his love for boating he Is an
cher, water scenes being his special
He Is member OF the Society
/ Etchers.
After leaving Chicago the Catherine"
headed for the Mississippi river.
xbwn which Pearson and his mother
|urneyed to New Orleans, arriving
ere on June |. This part OF the trip
las uneventful but, ence In the Gulf
1 Mexico trouble began They ran
to q tornado of Cape Romano and
y but foundered. Sitting in the cock
IL OF his little marine home, Nj.
carson thus described the expert
bees OF his mother and himself
Pass a Night of Terrors.
I'VE had nothing but beautiful
leather until we headed across the
ilf from New Orleans TO the Florida
Past. That afternoon, about $3.50 p.
!, the wind began 10 come in out or
e south At first there was just q
ing rolling sea, but soon the wind
hoped this up and flung 1t all over
The sky suddenly darkened and
stunned a greenish-grey tint, the et
ct Of which was most peculiar. /
ID not know II then, but | realized
terward that 1t was the forerunnar
the tornado. l am not anxious ~
peat the experience.
"As darkness settled the wind in.
eased until | thought II would tear
e sea up by the roots. The boat
hs plunging into every comber and
e spray was driven aft with such
rec that II cut through the stanch.
ns OF the after canopy with a
reech that was terrifying. Mother
hs In the cabin, but she never muir
ured once, and was as cheerful as II
had been In a land-locked lagoon.
he heavens grew darker and darker
Though no clouds were visible at
st-only a general pail OF darkness.
"Glimmering flashes Of lightning
ayed In the east just above the hori-
IN, but not brilliant enough to show
the approaching storm cloud, At
ew Orleans had shipped a man 10
I as crew until We reached Miami;