New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-12
MIKES YACHT SC0RNED.
Nary a Bid for the Graceful but
Troublesome Antietam.
MARKED DOWN IN VAIN
"Throng" Of Forty Just Gets
Up and Goes When Auc-
tioneer Cuts the Price.

The throng which invaded Pier A, North
River, to capture the steam yacht An
tetam from the Department OF Docks and
Ferries, behaved yesterday Just as the
Confederates did in the great encounter
from which the yacht took its name.
They advanced hopefully. thought batter
or the matter, and retreated In good or
der. Tactically. as the histories say, It
was drawn battle. But In reality the
Dock Department won. It kept the
Antietam.
The pretty metaphor unfortunately con-
tains one great discrepancy. 1t is this:
The North put forth all its strength to
save Antietam. while the Dock Depart
ment would have done anything to get
rid OF the troublesome namesake. II
even went so far as to lower It's lowest
figure $500 The reduction was met with
silence. Consequently. and likewise per-
force. the sale was cancelled
Commissioner Tomk,ns said he would
hold the yacht until spring. when he
hoped the yacht market would be more
active Just at present, he explained,
vessels were being put out of commission
instead OF into II, thereby causing slump
in prices. He forgot to mention why the
attempted sale was set for this unpro-
pitious time of the year.
However. the Commissioner asserted,
the departmea. mad a dock at West 57th
street where the yacht could tie up for
the winter without appreciate expense,
except for a night Waterman TO see that
II didn't blow out TO sea some windy
evening He was perfectly willing. he
said, TO wait until some connoisseur came
along who would give at least half Of
what the silk furnishings and oliver ser
vice OF the yacht were worth. for. as he
expressed 1t gracefully. the pretty thing
was not a responsibility--it was an in
heritance
'She would make such delightful fresh
water boat" remarked the Commissioner
gazing affectionately at her out Of the
window. AT one time we thought we
could use her for inspections of the har-
Dor Then some heartless wretch sug-
gested that she be made q scavenger, to
clear the Bay OF driftwood. But we
tHlnh OF NtlSHlH6 uoNH HoA
beautiful lines with such indlgnities. Be-
sides, II you put derrick on her, shed
turn over"
The Antietam has been a thorn In the
side OF the city--or perhaps II would be
more appropriate 10 say derelict on her
w8ters-ever since she was built for Colo
mel Mike" Padden, Water Register under
he Mcclellan administration. Her cost
has been varlously estimated anywhere
between $4,000 and 5000 When Connie
sioner Thompson took charge OF the Water
Department he advertised an auction sale
Of the luxurious craft In The City Rec
ord" When no one appeared TO buy her
he wished her on TO Commissioner Tom
kins.
The "throng'' which Hooked 20 yester-
days sale numbered nearly forty. After
being allowed to inspect tho yacht they
were led 10 the board room in the Dock
Department. Offices. Jim" Day acted az
auctioneer It being explained that Jo-
seph %. Day. head of the auction firm,
only attended "big sales"
The upset price for this luxurious
yacht" announced Mr.. Day, "is s. 100.
How much am bid above THAR"
His query was greeted with silence.
over 81 900 has been spent in overhaul
ing her since she was last offered for
SALE How much am I bid?'
More silence.
II the purchaser fails TO remove the
yacht within one week he forfeits the
purchase price and the city reserves tho
right to resell her Am offered N0,Go?'
Oppressive silence.
Il am directed 10 say that no bids
under 5000 VIII be considered Am I
offered S5.co?"
For answer the forty bidder. arose as
one man and filed silently out OF the door.