THIRTY YEARS IDLE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, 10 April 1926, Page 4

THIRTY YEARS IDLE

RICH AMERICAN’S YACHT OWNER HAD BEEN CROSSED IN LOVE . * ■ LIVED ON BOARD SHIP By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z Cable Association. "V. LONDON, April 8. In the year 1896 the palatial steam vacht Valfr§UA. of 1800 tons, arrived on the Essex boast, and dropped anchor. That anchor was mot 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, stalwaTt man, remained aboard the vessel the whole 30 years until lie died to-day, a white-haired old man of 74. The props with which the yacht was dryi-docked are aged and rotten, hut . the hull has boeti kept shiningly spic "and span, with a complete crew of a dbeen aboard, and ample provisions. 'Fite, engines were always oiled and ready -to start at an instant s notice, hut the order never came. SILENT ABOUT AMERICA 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 hi 9 income at £IO,OOO a year, on which he was ordered to pay tax. fie seldom had visitors, and when he had be talked of the strangest subjects incoherently. He always relapsed into silence when America was mentioned. He was known to give £SO when asked for help, hut at other times he met

the request with a show.er of coal. He used to spend hours leaning on the rail of the yacht, his cap on the back of his head, gazitia over the North Boa. * NO VISITORS ALLOWED (Received April 9, 8.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 9. It in stated that Bayard Brown,' who died aboard his yacht, Valfreyia, was when young crossed in love, and consequently he left America. When his father died 'he was greatly distressed, went oq a world’s cruise, and finally decided not to return. Brown himself never confided his reasons to anybody • Only once' did he sleep away from'‘the ship, and ' that was when it was undergoing repairs. Ho had a private secretary, but he came and went. Visitors were never allowed aboard. Brown was generous in w his own peculiar way. He sometimes threw £5 or £lO notes to pretty girls boating around the yachit. It is known that he nuade many i benefactions in the neighbourhood* mostly v anonymously, and it is stated that he had given away £250,000 since he came to England. FINANCE HIS HOBBY It is now disclosed that in spite of his eccentricities, and the general supposition that he jived an aimless life, Brown was actively engaged in business till his death. His intimate friends say finance was his hobby, and it is believed that he trebled his fortune while he was in England. Only a fortnight ago he sold a block of' property in New York at a profit of several thousands, and he was going to the American Consulate this week to sign the deeds. , Another friend, who had known Broifn far 35 years, says ho probably know more about Wall street than any man living. He visited London two or three tim€6 a week, and dispatched cables to America, but returned to his yacht the moment his business was done. . The dead man’s lawyers and his secretary conferred aboard the yacht yesterday, and it is understood that a proposal to convey the body to New York for burial in the tomb of his father was discussed. It is likely that the Valfreyia will go at least part of the journey. She is in splendid condition, as it was Brown’s hobby to secure perfection in her workmanship.