MILLIONAIRES VESSEL AND LADY SAILORS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 43

MILLIONAIRES VESSEL AND LADY SAILORS.

A great sensation was lately caused at Mari&pol by the arrival of. a 1500-ton #chooner, painted white, throughout, and entirely manned by lady sailors. On board was the body oi the owner, a young South Russian, millionaire (Stanislas Sukhotin by name), known throughout the Czar'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 knew 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 —the 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 bacome proficient eeawomen. Shortly before the vessel sailed M. Mohrenheim, a well-known Russian journalist, visited the yacht,' and, writing in the “Viedomooti," described his experiences as follows: “The decks are kept, spick and span by pretty lady sailors, attired in tasteful and suitable costumes of dark blue serge. They seemed perfectly at home, though the yacht was pitching heavily in the rough sea. One the' brasswork of a binnacle with deft hands. . . -B.low deck the yacht is a miracle of comfort. I expected to see the usual dingy and dirty fo'c's'le, but instead I found a splendidly-lighted room, fitted with luxurious bunks, spotlessly clean and dainty. ‘T interviewed one of the lady sailors, whom I found smoking a. cigarette in the captain's state-room. She received, ©he informed me, excellent pay, and did not see why women should not become sailors. 'The duties are no more exacting than house work,' she exclaimed. "I hinted that - such attractive ladies and skilful eeawomen would be likely to find husbands before the cruise was over, hut she replied with a pout, 'Not on this yacht! What are three men among 90 many?"'—Lloyd's Weekly News." ...