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Metadata
Catalog Number |
1976.1.P059.03a-f |
Title |
Item 03 (1976.1.P059.03a-f) "Cruise of the Marjorie" small book "1896 Cruise of the Marjorie" "July 8th to 10th, 1896" |
Date |
1896 |
Description |
Box 1976.1.P059 Boating Ephemera Item 03 (1976.1.P059.03) "Cruise of the Marjorie, July 8th to 10th, 1896." This item includes six nearly identical small books titled, "Cruise of the Marjorie, July 8th to 10th, 1896." Item#Item Description a - f Copies of the "Cruise of the Marjorie", some copies are signed by the passengers, three have the burgees of the Van Wickles and the New York Yacht Club printed on the cover, three do not. The books are bound in brown leather with pages edged in gold, 17 pages, with a printed account of the trip to the West Indies. Below is a transcription of the book: CRUISE OF THE MARJORIE FROM BRISTOL, R.I. TO HARWICH PART, MASS. JULY 8TH TO 10TH, 1896 To my little friends, Marjorie and Dorothy, this record of a few very happy days is affectionately dedicated. It was agreed to leave Blithewold anchorage at ten o'clock sharp on the morning of Wednesday, July 8th. So, at eleven o'clock on that morning, only one hour late, we weighed anchor under a fair sky and over a fair sea, a very happy party with only one regret, namely, the absence of our Marjorie, who, after an affectionate farewell, was seen to disappear up the lane on the double quick. It was decided that we should go by the Sakonnett River route, and through the bridges, as some of the members of the Party had rather a taste for "inside cruising." The river trip was beautiful, and all were in fine spirits when Sakonnett Light was rounded and we started for the Hen and Chickens Lightship. Lunch was served as our bow was turned toward Cuttyhunk, on the opposite side of Buzzard's Bay, but, as the sea was rolling rather heavily, a few of the Party answered the call. When we say that the young ladies had a perfectly lovely sail across Buzzard's Bay, "you know what we mean." Through Quick's Hole, across Vineyard Sound, and into Vineyard Haven was pleasant sailing, and when the salute was fired for Cottage City all were ready for shore. At Cottage City we took a pleasant drive. One of the ladies seemed to think several of the cottages quite desirable, while another expressed the idea that a villa at Newport would be more to her liking. After an unequal distribution of popcorn and chewing candy, it was decided that we should go aboard and seek smoother waters in which to spend the night. This was for the benefit of those who had been sufficiently rocked to sleep in the morning on the turbulent bosom of Buzzard's Bay. After a short walk through Tysbury, and a few recitations by one of the young ladies, enjoyed by all, all hands turned in. At seven o'clock next morning the signal for bathing was sounded, and harness being adjusted to the ladies, they were dangled overboard, but owing to the strength of the dangling ropes, were not drowned. Breakfast over, the parting gun was fired and we steamed out of the harbor, past Succonesset Lightship and Hyannis Light to Harwich Port, which was our objective point. The water being shoal, we anchored about a mile off the shore and took the gig. At the landing we were met by Mr. and Mrs. Allison, Miss Allison, Douglas, and the dearest of all little babies who spoke a language unknown to us, but perfectly clear and intelligible to herself. After spending a few hours most pleasantly with Mrs. Allison, the party took passage in a dory, under Capt. Eldridge, as the water was already too low for the gig, and the tide fast going out. The ladies were all very anxious to make the entire homeward trip in the dory, but the men, desiring excitement, scorned the idea of such a tame voyage. Although outnumbered, they carried their point, and all were transferred to the gig, and were soon safely aboard. An extra loud salute was ordered to be fired, and we stood about for Vineyard Haven, having decided to spend the night at the same quiet anchorage. He harbor was reached after sunset, and so we let our anchor go quietly, and spent a pleasant evening on deck under the light of the moon, which happened to be hung fast to the flagstaff on our stern, by special dispensation for that night only. The bathing-bell was sounded at seven o'clock the next morning and the ladies had another dangling dip in the deep blue sea, their lives being saved several times by the skillful handling of the dangling lines by the officer on deck. After breakfast we again said farewell to Vineyard Haven, and steamed out into a fog which scaled just in time to show us Woods' Holl, which we decided was quite an attractive place, and the memory of which was still green in our minds when a heavy ground swell reminded us that there was a Buzzard's Bay, and, strictly speaking, we were "right in it." We understood from the Captain that one hour would bring us to Sakonnett Point and smooth water, but the fog was so dense that we were unable to find the proper buoy, and it was the unpleasant duty of the writer to break the sad news to the ladies that they must live for forty-three minutes longer on the bounding billows. The fog lifted just as we were off Brenton's Reef. The voyage past Newport and Hog Island Shoal Light brought us safely home again, and ended what the Log Roller is confident was one of the most pleasant cruises that will ever be had in the good yacht Marjorie. |
Associated with |
Van Wickle, Augustus Stout Bessie Pardee Van Wickle McKee Clements, Estelle McKee, William Leander |
Search Terms |
Boat Trip Book Marjorie I |
Number of images |
0 |
Object Name |
Diary |