Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-11-22
CHAPTER /.
A Yacht Party.

tteAhS AhS 60 1SNAN @A
the newspapers, oftentimes distorted
and untrue, and resulting in letters of
inquiry from friends, induce me now
to write out the tale while the inci-
dents remain fresh in memory. In
deed, I owe the truth not only to my
self but even more to her who SO
bravely shared with me those days and
nights of peril.
The earlier passion of my life was |
the sea, and, when others of my age
were grinding away through their
courses in college, l was apprenticed
to the merchant service in a fleet
owned by my father, trading between
New York and northern European
ports. Loving the work, and, possibly,
fathers sons, I rose rapidly, until
licensed as captain Of steam, and as
signed to command the Vulcan, a
f%reighter of 5000 tons. At thirty, how
ever, the novelty and fascination of a
sea life ceased itsnttraction, and when
my father died sufficient property be-
came my share from the estate to en-
uDlC LILY lSSlSIillS lHlo SOlllllllllu, anu
retiring permanently from the service.
Circumstances, unnecessary noW to re-
late, caused me to make permanent
home in Chicago, where I soon became
e%ngrossed in business, finding my sole
recreation in yachting upon the Great
Lakes. Such were the rather com
monplace surroundings of my life,
,-J,,,, o+ +J;,t-. o-or oI-o,+,uo e,,I
denly called me out into the unknown.
Nothing could have been more mex
pected than the occasion which tool
me to New York. Garrington-Gerald
Darlington, the Copper King-had just
placed his new steam yacht, the Esme-
ralda, in commission, and was eager
to christen it by a run across to the
ports of Spain. He wrote urging me
to become n of the party. The temp.
tation was irresistible, for, as l knew
Mrs. Darlington was in Europe, the
guests on board would undoubtedly all
be men, and probably c%ongenial fell
lows. A bachelor myself, the long hours
at sea had left me unaccustomed to
the society of women, whose presence
L dNOlucu "lclcNS l DOSSlDlC. 11CilSC,
L accepted C~arrington's invitation i'm
mediately by wire, hastily packed the
few things necessary for the trip, and,
unaccompanied wen by a valet, caught
the Twentieth Century for New York.
Darlington lived on Long Island, and
I talked With him on the phone. There
were to be twelve in the party, the
,o,,n Of two who 1rono f,,,,,, Oh
quaintanccs, alone being mentioned in
our brief conversation. The yacht was
lying at Tompkinsville. provisioned,
and ready for the sea. I must be on
board by three o'clock the following
day, and he gave me quite explicit in
structions as to the best mode Of reach
ing the vessel.
An accident to the ferry caused mt
to miss the local train which I had an
ticipated taking the next morning, and
l was consequently the last of oul
yachting party to arrive at Tompkins
vile. The others were already safely
aboard when I hurried across the gang
plank, to receive the cordial welcome
of Darlington, who Immediately or
dered the vessel under way. The
guests must have been gathered on the
upper deck, enjoying the excitement OF
departure, for I caught no glimpse Of
anyone on board, excepting some mem
bers of the crew, as the steward lee
me to the cabin assigned to my use
during the voyage.
Even the brief view I had obtained
Of the boat impressed me strongly
both with its beauty and seagoins
qualities. I was sailor enough to ap
preciate all this at a glance. Thu
Esmeralda was a steam yacht, schoO
ner rugged aloft, of over fifteen hun
dred tons, constructed for deep-watel
cruising, well manned, and able to com
bat the storms Of any ocean.
I opened the door and emerged into
the main cabin. 1t was deserted, ex
cept for a waiter or two attired ii
white jackets. who had covered q Ions
table suspended by stanchions from thu
deck beams above, and were spreading
it with snowy linen in preparation fol
the six o'clock meal. Never had
seer a more cozy, homelike interior
Forward, an open passage, guarded
only by silently swinging doors, LEI
to the stewards pantry, and variou.
storerooms beyond, while beside thi.
opening a broad, brass-railed stairwa,
led easily to the upper deck. Sunlight
touched the edge of the companionway
and tlickered down through a half
opened skylight above, yielding cheer
fulness to the scene, yet inviting to thu
open air. I would meet those will
whom / was destined to companion OF
this voyage across summer seas.
No passengers were visible on the
deck, yet this mystery was soon ex
planned rs / stepped to one side ant
glanced aft. The cabin projection was
not high. yet sufficiently so to break
the force of the headwind. and besides
was far enough advanced to give ample
deck space Mt the stern. Here ar
awning Ind been erected. and benentI