Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14

true, and resulting
in letters of inquiry
from friends. induce me now to write out
the tale while the incidents remain fresh in
memory. Indeed, ! owe the truth not only
TO myself but even more to her who so
bravely shared with me those days and
nights of peril. In doing this. whic, now
conceive to be duty. / require no imagna-
tion. no knowledge of literary art for all
need tell is the simple truth in plain, direct
language, just as / might relate it to COM
pAnions at the club. The story, unusual as
II may appear to those whose lives have
ever been bounded by the commonplace.
was natural enough under the circum-
stances. and the telling of it should be
equally unarticial. l have nothing to con-
ceal. and my one desire is to record the
, truth.
The earlier passion of my life was the
sea, and. when others of my age were
grinding away through their courses i'm col
lege, | was apprentced to the merchant
service in fleet largely owned by my
: father, trading between New York and
northern European ports Loving the work.
and possibly assisted\by the fact that was
my fathers son. rose rapidly, until
licensed as captain of steam and assigned
10 command the Vulcan. a freighter of 5000
tons At thirty, however, the novelty and
fascination of life ceased it's attrac-
tion. and when my father died sufficient
property DSidflle lily SHARE lTOHl lnc eSldte
to enable my resgning this command, and
retiring permanently from the service. Cir
cumstances unnecessary now to relate
caused me to make permanent home in
Chicago. where / soon became engrossed in
business. finding my sole recreation in
yachting upon the Great Lakes. My in
terest in this sport, and my ownership of
steam yacht of unusual power, greatly
widened my circle of acquaintance. Such
were the rather commonplace surroundings
Of my life when, at thrty-seven, adventure
suddenly called me out into the unknown.
Nothing could have been more unexpected
than the occasion which took me to New
York. Carrington--Gerald Darlington, the
Copper King-had just placed his new
steam yacht, the Esmeralda. in commission,
and was eager to christen II by run across
to the ports Cf Spain. He wrote urging me
to become one of the party The temptation
was irresistible, for, as / knew Mrs. car
rington was in Europe, the guests on board
would undoubtedly all be men, and probably
eongenal fellows
A bachelor myself the long hours at sea
had left me unaccustomed to the society
Of women, whose presence / avoided wneh-
ever possible. Hence, l accepted CARING
tons invitation Immediately by wire, hastily
packed few things necessary for the trip,
and unaccompanied by even. valet caught
the Twentieth Century for New York. ar
rived there July %, 1914, registering at the
Biltmore, with no thought Of adventure in
my mind, but only anticipations of pleas
ant, uneventful outing amid men OF my
own class, and an opportunity to view a
land which l had never before visited.
YACHT READY FOR SEA
Darlington lived on Long Island. and
talked with him on the phone. There were
to be twelve in the party the names OF two
who were former acquaintances. alone be-
Ing mentioned in our brief conversation.
The yacht was lying at Tompkinsville, pro-
visioned, and ready for the sea- l must
be on board by o'clock the following day
and he gave me quite explicit instructions
as to the best mode of reaching the vessel
The remainder of the day was passed In
calling upon certain old acquaintances in
the city. and the reading of special newspa-
per editions, depicting the prospect OF war
IN Europe. AS Spain was in no way likely
70 become involved, merely perused these
reports with languid interest.
An accident to the ferry caused me to
miss the local train which had anticipated
.aking the next morning, and l was con-
sequently the last of our yachting party
10 arrive at Tompkinsville. The Others
were already safely aboard when hurried
across the gangplank, to receive the cor
cial welcome Of Darlington, who imme-
oiately ordered the vessel underway. The
guests must have been gathered on the
upper deck. enjoying the excitement of de-
pArture, for l caught no glimpse OF any
vne on board, excepting some members OF
tne crew, as the steward led me to the
caon assigned to my use during the voy-
ese' IL was a sea paror, evidently eX-
uusively mine. as no other luggage was
visible, containing a brass bed securely
shchored to the deck, and every imaginable
convenience. AS stood, gazing out through
sne open port at the Long Island shore
snppng swiftly past, 1 could not but con.
uast the comfort and luxury of the present
WIN my old quarters on the freighter. IL
was like leap into fairyland
Even the brief view i had obtained OF
ne boat impressed me strongly, both with
~ beauty, and seagoing Qualities. / was
shor enough to appreciate all this at a
9ance. The Esmeralda was quite evil
1entiy the last word in marine construc
pon-a plaything to a man to whom ex-
pcnse meant little. Il was aboard a steam
n yacht, schooner-rigged aloft. of over 1900
* .ons constructed for deep-water cruising
veu-manned, and able to combat the storms
u any ocean. Within, the furnishings were
nch and tasteful, while the manner in which
ne slipped through the waters evidenced
tne mighty power of the engines Within
Z my stateroom the vibrations Of the screw
& we're scarcely perceptible, yet already we
knots 7 '',es
CABIN DESERTED
4 opened the door and emerged into the
main cabin. 1t was deserted, except Tor
rsiter or two attired in white jackets who
nad covered long table suspended by
snpchions from the deck beams above. anc
we're spreading It with snowy linen II
eparation for the o'clock meal Never
4 s:q ! seen more COZ. homelike' interior
inished In Circassian walnut. the sldt
h .us. between staterpom doors, decorated
&<XHh original paintings. by artists Of reputa'
q. ornamented by numerous easy chair'
plstered In leather.
e staterooms ranged along either side
n two. evidently somewhat larger. wer'
~ SFoof:6ptt OF the minsen mast