The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-29
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OSEvERN
Historic Yacht America" Com
ing Back to Annapolis After
48 Years Absence.


48 Years Absence.
BOSTON, Mass, May 2S.-After
an absence of forty-eight years, the
famous schooner yacht America,
which won the cup that now bears
her name in 1851, soon will make
her last voyage to wind up her career
as a Government-owned vessel at
tached to the Naval Academy at
Annapolis.
Forty-eight years have elapsed
since the America left the placid
waters of the Severn River, where
she was in more or less active serv-
ice for ten years. She was raised
from the bottom of the st. Johns
River in 1852 after she had been scut-
tied by the Confederates. who had
renamed her Memphis, and was sent
to Annapolis as a training ship for
the middies.
WILL MAKE STOPS.
On her trip to Annapolis, which
will begin within the next few
months. the America will stop at vir-
tually all the yachting centers on
the way. and thousands of sail en-
thusiasts will have opportunity to
tread her historic decks.
This opportunity Is made possible
through the courtesy of her owner.
Charles II. w. Foster. of Boston. who
through the Eastern Yacht Club. of
which he is one of tho oldest men,
bers. offered to restore the, boat to
the Government The offer has been
accepted by Secretary DENLY. with the
that instead of the Navy
Department accepting the boat as a
gift, II shall be permitted to buy the
yacht for the nominal sum OF 81.
The law prohibits the Government
from accepting personal service with
out remuneration or acquiring
property except by purchase or cap
ture.
Even in case Of capture. the prop
erty has to go through what Is known
as a prize court In order that the
claims under the admiralty law of
ipated in II. may be awarded. Singu-
larly enough the America has been
through a prize court. but in this case,
the crew OF the United States warship
Ottowa which captured and raised her
from the bottom of the st. Johns
river waived their claim for prize
money on condition that she should
be sent to Annapolis as q training
vessel
LAST SAILED IN 1901.
The America was last under sail in
1901. whea she appeared in the Sandy
Hook horseshoe and anchored between
Shamrock ii and Columbia while
those boats were participating In the
eleventh series for the cup. She was
inspected at the time by Sir Thomas
Upton and several members of the
New York Yacht Club. including $.
Kane. the chairman of the
regatta committee in charge of the
races who commanded the America
for a few months while he was
cadet at the Naval Academy.
Gen. Butler Ames placed her out OF
commission in the fall of 1910 and for
ten years she lay in the dark sluggish
waters OF Chelsea creek, in Boston.
In 1911 she was shifted across Boston
Harbor to a mooring close by the
South Station where thousands passed
her every day, without knowing any
thing of her historical interest.
In 1917 Mr.. Foster saved the yacht
from destruction by purchase. She
was taken over to Lawley's shipyard
at Neponset and stripped of her masts
and rigging and her lead keel was
removed.
DENBY's LETTER
In accepting the offer OF the Amer
lea. under the provisions already
stated, Secretary DENLY in his letter
tC Commodore Herbert NJ. Sears, said:
Il take great pleasure in telling
you on behalf of the Navy Depart
nent that the Navy appreciates very
greatly the generosity and fine spirit
Shown by Mr.. c. II. w. Foster, of
Boston. one of the Eastern Yacht
Club members, and I believe the pres
ent owner Of the boat, and also the
spirit of the Eastern Yacht Club in
profferins to the Navy this famous
schooner"
In renting the America in conform
ity with the wishes of Secretary Den
by. the masts will be given the same
rake as they presented when she won
the cup and during the first thirty
years or her career. The booms and
gsffs will be reslung. her single re-
naming suit of sails will be bent on.
and Jibboom will be rugged in place
of the pole bowsprit. The sails. how
ever, will be kept furled as the boat
will have only a few tons of ballast,
just sufficient to insure stability
while she Is being lowed.
In 1870. the America participated
In the first race here for the cup
which she had won nineteen years
before OFF the isle of Wight. England.
In the early races for the Americas
cup In American waters, the chal-
lenger was forced to sail against a
fleet of defenders, and the America
which had been fitted out as a yacht
by the navy Department at an ex4
pense of several thousand dollars, was
entered in the race by member Of
the New York Yacht Club. The
America was fourth at the finish line,
but the challenger Cambria was more
than thirteen minutes astern.
Three years later. the America
passed into private hands and from
1873 to 1917 she was owned by Gen.
Benjamin F. Butler, of Lowell. Mass,
and his heirs, being sailed in later
years by General Buffers son, Paul
Butler and by his grandson Gen. But
Ter Ames.
In 1880 by General Buffers direction
the. America was practically rebuilt.