MILLIONAIRES VESSEL AND LADY SAILORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

MILLIONAIRES VESSEL AND LADY SAILORS.

A great sensation has been caused at Mariapol by the arrival of a 300-ton schooner painted white throughout, and entirely manned by lady sailors. Ou board was the body of the owner, a young South Russian millionaire (Stanislas Sukhotin by name), known throughout the Tsar's dominions as one of the most reckless spendthrifts Russia has ever seen. Sukhotin died of consumption a week ago while cruising in the romantic waters of the Levant. His schooner left Odessa early in December on a six months' pleasure trip. Sukhotin know that he had not long to live, and before sailing he bade farewell to his many friends. With the exception of a master and mate— both personal friends of the young millionaire— whole crew was composed of ladies. \ In order to gratify his passion for eccentricity Sukhotin spent nearly three months last autumn taking short cruises in the Black Sea in order that his lady sailors might study navigation and become proficient seawomen. Shortly before the vessel sailed M. Mohrenheim, a well-known Russian journalist, visited the yacht, and, writing in the Viedomosti, described his experiences as follows: the decks are kept spick and span bv pretty lady sailors, attired in tasteful and suitable costumes of dark blue serge, lhey seemed perfectly at home, though the yacht was pitching heavily in the rough sea Una was polishing the brasswork of a binnacle with deft hands. . . Below deck the yacht is a miracle of comfort. I expected to see the usual dingy and dirty fo'c's'le, but instead 1 found a splendidly lighted room, fitted with luxurious bunks, spotlessly clean and dainty. J "I interviewed one of the lack sailors whom I iound smoking a cigarette in the captain stateroom. She received, she informed me, excellent pay, and did not sec why women should not become sailors the duties arc no more exacting than House work,' she exclaimed. " 1 hinted that such attractive ladies and •skilful seawomep would be likely to find husbands before the cruise was over, but she replied with a pout, 'Not on this yacht! [What are three men among so many'/' '■'