Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-28
Along the Water Front
By Carol Klotzbach

TIGUREHEADS! Only few left,
X gsntlemeni See them now while
the seeing is good. There's a
beauty on the fine old Amanda
Lewis Of Coan, Va, that So
journs at the FISH wharves occasionally
these fine September days.
To see the Amanda's figurehead one
must look in place where they are
rarely expected or found-under her
stern. Full across her tranSom is spread
a deeply carved board of scrolls and
arabssques 1--WE would like t. know just
what their creator called th&m), sur
rounding carefully and artfslly made
image of what we fondly believe to be
the bust of the lady for whom the ship
IS named. We have an idea, fanciful
though 1t may seem. about the placing
of this head at her stern instead of al
the bows. The Amanda is fast. She
has shown her heels to nearly all with
temerity to race her. The figurehead is
IN Just the position where old Amanda
may keep an eternal eye on her adver-
saries.
Amanda is schooner rugged. Yet she
IS known as a pungy. Why? Well the
hull form determines the name. And
;he best way that might indicate that
difference In hull form is to sugg, st a
squint at one of the many pictures of
the old Cup yacht America that have
been so much IN the news lately; that
long, very long and accumulated run
ana oyerhang is the answer. The Bay
boat is bit beamier and carries a board,
otherwise the craft are much alike, even
including the rig-a rake of spars, sail
plan, etc.
But II you stop aboard the Amanda TO
see her head you will find much mofe
that is interesting. There's her skipper,
Cap'n Rice, of Coan. Stay for a gam
and hear of the days when Drum Point
sheltered dozens of these vessels waiting
a air wind for Baltimore, hear how the '
heaved anchors on the shift of wind
and stood by till all were ready, hea.'
OF the start of Cove Point and the rae.
ing up the Bay, the hard driving in a
creeze OF wind, the ignoring of meal
times. the side wagers on the would-be
winners, the crew standing by sheet and
halyard from the start until docking in
Baltimore. Sit in her heavy beamed
cabin and observe the carving about the
companionwsy and sniff at the odors of
forgotten cargoes and pine oil inter-
mixed. And then to cap it off, accept
the invitation to have bite with them
that is sure to be forthcoming and have
your fill OF sea food done in the old
Say manner, over wood fire in the gall
ley In the forepeak. served to you on
tin plate as you wedge between a giant
Snce and sturdy frame. Visit.
a ND speaking further of f1gureheads
"A Though these you may never seel
we recall the visit in 1922 10 the
old knockers yard in Charlotte Amalie-
ST. Thomas, in the Virgins, IL you will
have 1t that way, though we prefer the
old name as carrying a flavor of TO-
nance as 1t rolls off the tongue or pen
and our EARNING with the only relic
OF the days when the wreckers' yard
was In operation, the Waterman.
To this yard came many of the
famed vessels of old, Mckay ships.
Clyde ships. ships from the Humber and
Loire. Clippers. Wracked and out
moded by their smudgy successors many
OF them here found their last harbor.
Here they were stripped of their lofty
spars and fittings and either burned or
trimmed down into bsrges for the coal
trade.
AS benefitting such a graveyard, we
found in the grove of stubby palms
apaIL the Watcnman'S hOme-hiS home
a clippers deck house. by the Wayne
found in the shade of each tree. en-
bedded feet Gin the sana the figure
heads of the flying clippers. We cannot
recall the names, shame to us, but one
In particular seems to stick, and that
one were nearly enough. Thermopylae!
What lover Of the sea has missed hear
ing Of her.
Come of these were full figures, others
busts. One. we recall a beautiful wom-
an holding child to her breast: an
other martial figure In knee breeches,
sword and cooked hat. There they stood
In peaceful contemplation of better
days in q perfect and natural setting.
There they should have remained. Not
long ago we heard that shopping coll
lector with an eye to dollar gathering
investment had purchased the lot of
them and packed them off to New York,
where now they probably moulder in
some forgotten loft. for the best efforts
Of interested sportsmen cannot bring
them to light. The desecrator has dis.
appeared, and we like to fancy that old
Neptune. awakened by the invasion of
his domain, summoned his harpies and
visited upon him.