AN ADVENTUROUS CRUIRE.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 20 July 1901, Page 4

AN ADVENTUROUS CRUIRE.

A Year’s Trip in a 70-Foot Yawl,

It is now close on to a year ago, says a late issue of the “New York Herald” since three adventurous young lieutenants of the Austrian navy became weary of the restrictions of the quarterdeck, and, pining for freedom and adventure, sought leave of absence from their Government, and chartering a yacht, wandered far. Remarkable as has been the cruise, the vessel which bore the trip is more remarkable still. She is the Taormina, a seventyfoot yawl, which was built by Lieutenant Henn just previous to his attempt to “lift” the America’s Cup with his cutter Galates None who saw the tiny craft glide up the river and come to anchor off East Twentysixth street, would have ever imagined that she had traced a wake ten thousand miles in length, most of it over the waters of the turbulent North Atlantic. But that is what the little vessel has done, and, moreover, accomplished the long cruise without mishap of any kind, though for ten months she had been cruising about the evil-tempered Atlantic, flitting from island to island in the West Indies, exploring the quiet waters of the Orinoco, and scampering for shelter before the stern northers of the Bahamas.

There is no dignity in forty tons, but there may be plenty of room for comfort if one knows how to economise in space. These three Austrians apparently do, for the interior of their little craft is as cosy as can bo imagined. Ample space was found for storing sufficient quantities of provisions and water, and as the yacht has ten persons in all, the three lieutenants, five seamen, a cook and steward, considerable quantities of water and provisions had to bo carried, but the yachtsmen made shift to stow away all that was needed. Trophies of the Chase.

The men who engaged in this adven, ture are Count von Golleredo-Mansfeld-who holds the rank of lieutenant; and Lieutenants Pachner and Dolenc. On boarding their little craft I was invited into the tiny cabin, a ten by twelve compartment, which serves as a dining-room and library, and on the walls of which are hung curios collected during the trip, and trophies of thcchase, for in South America the yachtsmen did extensive hunting. “Tel you of our trip ?” said the C mat as ho found room for ihe reporter on - transom.

The Count is a bronze-faced, handsome .young nobleman, with an aristocratic bearing, and engaging manner. His companions are splendid-looking specimens of the Austrian naval officer.

“ To begin with,” said the Count, “wc sailed from Austria in August, skirted the coast to Gibraltar, called at Teneriffe, and then set out across the Atlantic, making Trinidad in twenty-six days. Had it not been for a cyclone, which we met half-way, we would have made the trip in much less time, but that kept us hove to for a matter of a week. Anything carry away ? Oh, no ! She is a staunch little thing, and as buoyant as a duck. What we did was to heave her to. and let her ride it out, and that she did in fine style. Months on the Orinoco. “Prom Trinidad we wont, to the mouth of the 1 Orinoco and ascended ihe river for a distance of 230 miles. We spent two months on the river and came verj r nearly spending six. The way that came about was this : The river, you know, rises to an abnormal height during the rainy season and then recedes so fast as to leave half of its shoals and bars above water. We had crossed one some two hundred miles from tide-water, when upon returning from a hunting excursion we noticed that the river had commenced to fall.

“We hastily got up anchor and wen down s'reatn, and were not an hour too soon. As it was we touched on the bar, and might have been high and dry by this time only for quick work in getting the boats out and lightening the yacht sufficiently to get her over. The high water does not make again until May, so it was rather a close cal].

“From the Orinoco we went buck to Trinidad, thence north to Martinique, then back to La Guayra, an 1 then to the Virgin Islands, where wo spent several weeks cruising about the haunts of the old pirates and filibusters, then to St Thomas and Puerto Rico, and a cruise among the Bahamas, where we caught three northers in succession.

On the run from Nassau to Jacksonville the Taormina showed what she was able to do what wanted to in the way of fast going. We slipped out of port with a spanking south-east wind at our heels and two days later wc had lot go our anchor off •I acksonville, a run of 430 miles, in 48 hours. Bather good, isn't it, for a little craft of this sort ?

Interested in Annapolis.

“From Jacksonville we went to Savannah ; thence to Charleston, Baltimore, and Annapolis, which was cur last port ■ At Annapolis we visited the Naval Acad - emy, and were of course very much interested in the institution. The superintendent Commandant Wainwright showed us every possible courtesy. We will remain here a few weeks, then cruise to the eastward and return in time to see the yacht races. Then we will go home by steamer, as our furloughs are up in September, and although the yacht is fast she does not travel on schedule time, and therefore might not get us back soon enough.”