Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1901 — THE AMERICA'S CVP. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE AMERICA'S CVP.

The noticeable feature that is associated with the historic America's cup, and which at first glance speaks vo.umes in favor of the temperance yachtsman, is the fact that never since the bit of silver* was fashioned into the Royal Squadron One Hundred Guinea Cup—by which name It was first known —has it held intoxicating liquors of any sort. Candor compels the admission that the reason for this is that the cup has no bottom, it was more than a generation after the old schooner “America’’ won the cup, before this fact became known to the club members. It was during a banquet sometime in the early seventies, and when a toast was proposed to the “blue ribbon of the seas,” it was suggested that the cup be brought, filled with sparkling champagne, and quaffed in fitting style from that receptacle. Nels Olsen, the big goodnatured superintendent of the club, was despatched for the cup, which was

iuly brought forth from its niche and placed in , front of the toastmaster. Several bottles of wine were brought, bjit just before pouring the fizzing fluid into the silvery depths, it occur-

red to some one to look inside the cup. It was found to be minus a bottom, and the wine was drunk in the ordinary manner. Other Valuable Caps. The America’s Cup, although the most rioted of any prize in the world, is not.the only one that has attracted attention in yachting circles. Two other famous cups, presented by the New York Yacht Club —the Cape May Cup and the Brenton Reef Cup—have been won in international contests by the British cutter “Genesta.” The ‘Genesta” crossed the ocean in quest of the America’s Cup, but the “Puritan,’’ designed by BurgesS, of Boston, proved superior. Before leaving, the “Genesta” was. entered in the race for the Cape May Cup off the Jersey coast, and in the Brenton’s Reef Cup was sailed off Newport. She won them both, and it was not until Royal Phelps Carroll’s “Navahoe” crossed the ocean that an American yacht again comjfeted for these trophies. She brought back the Brenton’s Reef Cup. but the Cape May Cup still adorns the handsome club house of the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. ffeto &orK ilacht Club. Three races across the ocean have been held by yachts of the New York Yacht Club, one between the “Dauntless” and “Coronet,” and the other between the “Vesta,” “Fleetwing,” and “Henrietta”; the latter was sailed during Decerhber, and proved the seaworthiness of the American craft The yachts enrolled in the club, both sail and steam, are the fastest in the world, and the magnificence in fitting

them out Is notable. J. Pierpont Morgan’s “Corsair 11J.," which ib a representative boat of the' fleet, cost its owner about $75,000 a year while she is in commission, and even then, he Is not noted as a lavish entertainer. The club has recently built a new home ou West Forty-fourth street. New York city, which is the finest of its kind In the world. In design, it is of modern Italian rennaissance. It is equipped with a library of great value; chart room, with charts around the world, a quaint grill room built like ‘‘between decks” on an old man-of-war. The model room, which is the most pretentious apartment of all, contains models and half models of all the noted yachts in the club fleet, and others of importance that fly the flag of other nations. A pretty custom of the club is to make the owner of the challenger for the America’s Cup an honorary member of the organization, and all those who are living today,

with the single exception of the- Earl of Dunraven, are members of tbe elub. The Irish earl was at one time a member, but was requested to resign after his memorable charge against the owner of the “Defender" in 1895, which were absolutely without foundation in fact.

Fifty years Ago.

More than fifty years ago, before the nineteenth century grew old, a few enthusiastic yaohtsmen met on, hoard Commodore Stevens’ schooner “Glmcrack,” and organized the New York Yacht Club. There were about a dozen men in the cabin of the old yacht, young fellows who toved the sea in all its varied moods, and who banded together for pure sport. Success- of the new organization was drunk in the Simpler beverages of the time, for in

those days when the sport of yachting was scarcely in its teens, yachtsmfeu were not the luxurious set who,

in these days of splendid steam yachts, recline under awnlng3 and sip champagne from cut glasses, while the soft zephyrs waft the blue smoke from their perfectos to leeward, and the song of the sea gurgles soothingly past the shapely hull. Many years ago the “Gimerack” joined her prototypes in “Davy Jones’ locker,’’ but just how New York Yacht club has prospered is a matter of history. Its growth was healthy. Many young fellows joined the little coterie, and the squadron swelled from half a dozen modest sailing yachts to the greatest fleet of pleasure craft In the wide world. Today the blue burgee, with its red cross and white star is known and respected on all the seven seas. The founders of the club did not grow old, but drifted into eternity at intervals. None of them is alive to-day. The Princess Frederick-August of Saxony, daughter of the grand duke and duchess of Tuscany, who some day will be queen of Saxony, is taking a regular course of training as trained nurse at the Lutheran hospital in Dresden. The princess is particularly

interested in ambulance work and “first aid to the injured.” An oil tank, balding 1 260 000 gallons, has been built in San Francisco torstoring oil fuel for the use of the street railway companies.

SIR THMOAS LIPTON’S SHAMROCK II.

COLUMBIA.

THE AMERICA’S CUP.

INDEPENDTNCE.

NEW YORK YACHT CLUB’S CUP DEFENDER CONSTITUTION.