anchor off the old steamboat landing at six o'clock, thus ending twelve hours of tough fighting, in triumph. The Chispa arrived at a quarter to eight o'clock that evening. The rest of the fleet reached port in straggling order the next day. The Athlon thus had the credit of beating the whole squadron, including several vessels treble her size. The Cavalier, of course, could easily have made the passage, but Commodore Hogan felt it his duty to stick to the bulk of the fleet, and for this he was justly commended. So thus it came to pass that Athlon made the record heavy-weather run in her history, covered herself with glory, and made a convert of me.
I have had some experience of yachtsmen, but I feel bound to say that I never saw a vessel handled better in a blow than Athlon was by Commodore Havens on that occasion.
This must be added. If the Athlon had not been well-built, well-rigged, and her sails good, in addition to being handled most capably, it is not likely that she would have made such a splendid record.
The popularity of the catboat as a racing craft will never die out in this country. The horseless carriage may supersede the hansom-cab in our city streets, and the electric launch may usurp the place of the Venetian gondolas, and drive the gay gondoliers to adopt some other means of livelihood.
