The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-15
OLD ERIN'S NAVY
OFF SANDY HOOK
Shamrock FIotilla Floats
at Anchor Just Outside
the Jersey Bay.
INVADER IS INSISTENT

yachting flannels and cap. It's Sir
Thomas Upton and his "navy"-six
craft strengthening the United
States to capture the Americans cup
in yachtsmen's battle off Sandy
Hook this month.
The man to whom large patch Of
water is an alien sight thinks of the
cup races as a few impromptu jousts
between couple of sailing SCOOPS
which cost mite more than the aver
age man can afford. He does not re-
alize that these yachts and their crews
have to go through a period of train
ing as long as that Of any football team
and thousand times more costly.
~.
By purchase or charter Sir Thomas
has amassed his fleet In addition to
the challenger, Shamrock ", and the
trial horse, the s23-meter Shamrock,
there is the steam yacht Victoria, the
flagship of the fleet, on which the
veteran yachtsman lives, anchored
each night in the Hudson.
Crews Live On Household.
Then there is the houseboat Kill
larney, tucked snugly away in the
shelter of the Hook. On the Killarney
reside the crews of the two racing
craft.
But this does not complete the fleet
There is the tug Governor Smith to
tow the sloops to the starting line and
a snappy speed boat TO run errands.
Numberless smaller launches and
dingys don't count in this yachting
armada.
The Irish baronet has his daily
schedule enjoyable enough, but just
at present business to which he ad-
heres as closely as the broker daily
watches his ticker.
Likes to Watch Ellis Sweetheart"
Each day he steams down to the
Hook from New York to watch the
ehallenger-his sweetheart, the alderly
batchelor calls her-match her speed
against the trial horse.
Each day, as dusk, approaches, he
holds conference with his band of
yachting experts, suggesting little
changes here, little changes there,
smoothing out ripple in club top
sail which to the landlubber fits exact
ly, or slipping a few inches from a
topmast with which to the initiated
there seems nothing wrong.
And each day he continues to deal
out dollars to the 100 members of his
armada. For it is an expensive sport.
this quest of a hundred guinea cup
and victor or loser. Sir Thomas will
have paid out more than million dol
lars for this years races alone.
Hoist the Shamrock.
At eight o'clock, except in most dis
tressing weather, raising of Sir
Thomas personal flag green sham
rock on field of gold betoken that
the vice-commodore of the Royal III
ster Yacht club is aboard. awake and
ready to receive guests. These invar-
iably include corps of newspaper
men. Most of them come for break
fast, stay for lunch and linger for
dinner, and as sea air breeds an ap-
petite, the yachts larder receives
blow which would make the ordinary
housewife culver in these days of high
orices.
Then the Victoria weighs anchor.
Recognized by all -harbor craft, she
receives salutes from sootiest tug to
most majestic battleship.
Sir Thomas stands on the bridge
the familiar, blue jacketed, beflannell-
ed figure who for years has crossed
the Atlantic to win the trophy on
which he has set his heart. He strokes
his gray goatee and his face wrinkles
into roguish grin as he swaps yarn
for yarn with his innumerable guests.
Royal Launch Decent Enough.
For Sir Thomas must have his joke.
One of which he is particularly fond
concerns a visit once paid him at
Cowles by former Mayor John Fitz-
gerald of Boston.
The baronet was entertaing a group
of Americans when suddenly it was
reported to him that the royal launch
was headed for his craft
"The King or the Queen" cried Sir
Thomas and at once began drilling his
guests in court etiquette.
But the royal launch, which rarely
carries any but royalty, arrived with
a lone Yankee
It seems that Mr.. Fitzgerald, wish
ing to pay visit to his friend the
Irish yachtsman, had been unable to
find craft which he deemed suffi-
GENTLY natty to bring him alongside
But finding the royal launch at the
royal landing stage, he pronounced it
"a decent enough boat" and ordered
it to the Upton yacht.
Meanwhile the King and Queen,
reaching the stage, beheld in amaze
nlent their launch dashing away from
them. And the master of the, small
craft, on his return. had this explain
alton TO make-the gentleman had in
troduced himself as "the Mayor of
Boston, United States of America"
which the royal yachtsman, impressed,
compressed into "the Mayor of AM
erica" And of course man who
would dare march onto the royal land
ing stage must have stepped onto it
with royal permission.
And SO, chatting Of kings and stow
Always, yachts and intrigues, he en-
tertains his guests until the Hook is
reached. And as Sir Thomas is never
SO well cast as when he is playing the
host, it is an enjoyable trip, this little