The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-25

recounts with careless glee, Of lands he's been, of sights he's seen,
 so strange, so far away,
 But all dangers past. he's safe at last;
 our Jack Is home today
 
 For real pleasure and healthful enjoy ment there is nothing to equal a cruise on a trim little sailing vessel, one built for the purpose of pleasure and not for trade.
 voyage on one of the transatlantic monsters cannot be compared with a trip on a sailing vessel, for one merely races across the ocean without an oppor. tunity to witness anything but the trackless oceaf, while the throb and vibrations of the ponderous machinery is evef present, and one is kept in mind that however elegantly the vessel is equipped record is all that owners and officers are. striving for.
 How different the cruise of the sailing vessel. Its movements depends on the skill of the sailing master. Instead of the throb. and smoke and grlme of the steamer. the craft scuds along the sur face of the ocean like a thing of life. Its white wings never grow weary" and fill out to the ocean breeze; the short ened sail will respond to the hurricane. and the craft glides hither and thither propelled by clements controlled by the skill of the sailor. Then the cheery song of Jack as he goes about his duties gives a charm to the trip that all the conven- fences of the ocean liner cannot compen- sate
 'Ye ho, my lads the winds blow free
 Our home is on the bounding sea-
 And soon across the ocean drear
 Our gallant bark we'll safely steer"
 A few weeks ago number of proml- nent citizens of Birmingham were invited by the Mobile Bar Pilots association to take an initial trip on a seagolng schoon- CT built for and owned by them. a trin, two masted vessel of 150 tons, as grace ful in it's lines as a royal swan, and as elegant in it's appointments as a ladys boudoir It was christened the Ala bama.,' and by the way Judge O. M Semmes. son of Admiral semmes of the Alabama .of immortal fame was one of the guests on the trip.
 
 Mcqueen. Sterling A. Wood, Sterling A. Wood, Jr., James B. Smiley, W. R. Lind say, Ernest Redd, o. 7. Neal William Kettig and John Mcqueen. The other guests were distinguished citizens from various parts of the state. There were fD invited guests on board as well as the crew.
 The gallant little craft left Mobile on the 23rd instant with the guests aboard and in command of Capt Joe Novel, president of the Mobile Bar Pilots asso- citation, who was assisted by cspt. Curtis Johnson, Capt John Johnson and Capt. Peter Smith. It was lowed out to Fort Morgan where the anchor was cast and the day was spent in fishing. The fol- lowing day sail was set and tne boat left Mobile bay for Pensacola harbor. The trip was ideal, the sturdy little craft skinned over the blue waters of the bay Ike a thing of life and the destination was all too soon reached.
 Anchoring off Fort Pickens tho night was spent by the guests in viewing the beauties of the ocean vista, while the Bir- mingham party sang this refrain "A life on the ocean wave, home on
 the rolling deep
 While the scattered waters rave. and the
 winds their revels keep; Like an EdSlt tdStu l piifl pH liie uuil
 unchanging shore
 Then give. me the flashing brine, the
 spray and the tempest roar
 Next morning the anchor was hoisted and sail set for Bay Florida. a distance of about 15 miles. The wind was auspicu- ous and the bird-like Alabama" broke the record for speed, making the trip in faster time than ever was before known Two days was spent at St. Joseph's where the party indulged in surf bathing, swim ming reel and rod fishing. catching al- most every known variety of fish that inhabits the water of the gulf. Sail was set for Pensacola where the. party went. ashore and spent an enjoyable day.
 Next morning a 40 mile cruise was started and ended at the fanous Red Snapper banks where the greatest eaten of fish of the trip was had.
 On the following morning tho craft was