Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-28
CRY OF TAXI SPURRED ELENA'S|
GREEN CREW TO SWIFT ACTION
Chauffeurs, Picked Up on
Gotham Water Front, Sail
Yacht to Victory.
Spanish King and Premier
Join in Festivities at
Port of Santander.
BY LANSING WARREN.

BY Wireless to The Star and the New York
Times.
SANTANDER, Spain. July 25.-That
Spanish American good will has been
stimulated by the transocean sailing
race was the theme of the first day of
official festivities attending the arrival
of the American yachtsmen. who were
received with gorgeous ceremonies yes
terday afternoon at O'Clock at the
ayuntamiento. or city hall, by the
municipal dignitaries of Santander, the
alcalde. military and naval officials and
governmental authorities attending.
Spain receives the American yachts
men as emiSsaries of friendship from
America. where so many residents in
this district have strongest, warmest
associations" said the mayor and this
sentiment was re-echoed by Spanish
and American speakers.
The huli fights. which were inaugu-
rated yesterday in the presence of Gen.
Primo de Rivera. will be daily spec
tacle TO which yaehtsmen are invited
as guests.
Royalty Greets Mariners.
The King and Gen. de Rivera have
been fraternizing with the American
and Spanish yachtsmen in the most
democratic manner and are the most
popular figures at the yacht clubs, polo
grounds. bull ring and tennis club.
around which center the chief festiv-
tiles
Ambassador Hammond returned to-
day from Gijon aboard the cruiser De-
troit, where he went to dedicate a
monument
After his address of welcome to the
yacftSmen gathered at the city hall
Gen. de Rivera personally presented all
ladies in the party with bouquets of
flowers and afterward presided at
collation. of tea. cakes. sandwiches and
champagne.
Il don't believe" said the dictator,
that the dry regime in America extends
to the citizens of America. particularly
to Marines when they are beyond the
I2-mile limit" He offered personal fell
citations to the crews of the Nina and
Elena with whom he was photographed
and filmed.
Won With Green Grew.
"Avast. all hands on main sheet"
What did you say. sir?"
Get hold of that rope and trim, you
swab."
I'm sorry. don't get YOU"
This isn't a musical comedy skit, but
a true story of how the Elena won the
King of SPANS Cup in the transocean
yacht race-dialogues between the ships
officer and one of the IS members of the
green crew signed after the regular
crew had been put ashore because OF the
eleventh-hour Sean1en'S strike aboard
the yacht All the ships officers and
nine men of the crew had sailing ex-
perience. but the other members OF the
crew were steamboat men, taxi drivers.
,ongshoremen. stevedores. stokers and
ANYTHING but fore-the-inast sailors. They
came aboard absolutely ignorant OF maui
teal terms. names of sails and ropes.
most of them thinking the main boom
was the noise maid by the ships can
non when firing saiutes. that aloft
meant something like hay barn or attic
room, that sheets were something spread
over hunks in owners stateroons and
those of his guests. For them officers
commands meant something untranslat-
able, yet the Elena sailed well, sailed
fast and won the yacht race.
How this was done today was de-
scribed by the E1ena's officers, who
never succeeded in thoroughly trans
hitting orders without the service
boslIn. who served as official inter-
prefer for the nine experienced sailors.
divided into three groups, with differ
eTt watches.
Followed the Leader.
In this way responses to orders were
made into a game and they followed
the leader. When an order was given
TO one experienced man, he would I'M
n1ediateIy rush on the job, with troop
of greenhorns following him, and by
motions. cursing and patience every
thing was accomplished in good time.
Each new sail required formal intro
duction. the bosun proceeding in this
manner:
Forward there. men. and hoist the
spinnaker Crew. allow me 10 present
the Spinnaker Spinnaker, this Is the
crew. That pole is the spinnaker boom.
That rope Is the spinnaker halyard.
Crew. get hold of that rope and pull"
This sort of thing went on for days
with every new operation in the sail
ing Of the ship until the men began TO-
learn something Of the art OF navigat-
ing. but to the very last the majority
Of the crew found difficulty IN under
standing the seafaring targon
The men got TO know how 10 hoist
halyardg. how to trim and slacken
sheets after a fashion and almost I'M
rnediateiy recognized the dinner signal.
But I'D 10 the day the Elena sailed over
the line the captain swears the quick
est way to get action from the crew
was for the first mate to rush out on
deck ard below al the top OF his lungs.
"Tazii"2~