YACHT MYSTERY

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 9

YACHT MYSTERY

IN PORT FOR THIRTY YEARS KEPT READY FOR SEA WITH FULL CREW OWNER REMAINS ABOARD TILL DEATH Br Telegraph.—Press Association. Copyright. London, April 8. In the year 1896 the palatial steam yacht Valfreyia, of 1800 tons, arrived on the Essex coast, and dropped anchor. That anchor was not weighed until nine years ago, when the vessel was dry-docked at Wivenohe, an oldworld village on the Essex coast. The owner, Bayard Brown, an American millionaire, a strikingly handsome, stalwart man, remained” aboard the vessel the whole thirty-six years until he died to-day, a white-haired old man of 7-1. The props with which the yacht was drj'-docked are aged and rotten, but the hull has been kept shiningly spic and span, with a complete crew of a dozen on board, together with ample provisions. The engines were always oiled and ready to start at an instant’s notice, but the order never came. An extraordinary mystery surrounds the owner, who was friendless. It is known that he came from California, where, it is believed, he belonged to a family of rich bankers.

The world first heard of him when the British Courts assessed his income at £lO,OOO a year, on which he was ordered to pay tax. He seldom had visitors, and when he had he talked of the strangest subjects incoherently. He always relapsed into silence when America was mentioned. He was known to give £5O when asked for help, but at other times he met the request with a shower of coal. He used to spend hours leaning on the rail of the vacht, his cap on the back of his head, gazing over the North Sea.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn CLOSE ACQUAINTANCE WITH WALL STREET STRANGE REVELATIONS (Rcc. April 9, 8.25 p.m.) London, April 9. It is stated that Bayard Brown, who died on board his yacht, the Valfreyia, when young was crossed in love, and consequently left America. It is stated that when his father died he was greatly distressed, and went on a world crliise. Finally he decided not to return. Brown, however, never confided the reason for his decision. Only once he slept away from the ship, and that was during repairs. He had a private secretary, but he came and went. Visitors were never allowed on board. Brown was generous in hfs own peculiar way. He sometimes threw five-pound and ten-pound notes to pretty girls boating around the yacht. It is known that he made many benefactions in the neighbourhood, mostly • anonymously. It is stated that he gave away a quarter of a million since he came here. Now it is disclosed that in spite of his eccentricities and the general supposition that he lived an aimless life, Brown was actively engaged in business till his death. Intimate friends say that finance was his hobby. It is believed that he trebled his fortune while here. Only a fortnight ago he sold a block of property in New York at a profit of several thousands, and was going to the American Consulate this week to sign the deeds. «. Another man who had known Brown for thirty-five years, says that Brown probably knew more about Wall Street than any man living. He visited London two or three times a week and dispatched '•ablegrams to America, but returned to the yacht the moment his business was done. His lawyers and secretary conferred on board yesterday. It is understood a proposal was discussed to convey the body to New York for burial in the tomb of his father. It is likely the Valfreyia will go at least a part.of the journey. ■ The yacht is in splendid condition, owing to Brown’s hobby for perfection in workmanship.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. >