SCHOONER OF ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1918, Page 2

SCHOONER OF ROMANCE.

R. L. STEVENSON'S OLD VESSEL. I

News received from Vancouver, 8.C., dated November 5, .states tiiat the Casco, ! the famous little schooner immortalised in the romances of 'Robert Louis Stevenson, mid which for year? lay at anchor in Victoria lharbor, has again changed Hands Announcement is made in Seat- ! tie that Captain Harry Crosby, the wellknown Sound navigator, who recently bought an interest in the Ha Hard Marine Railway, ha.: purchased the vessel. For several yexrs the Casco has been operated among British Columbia ports about Vancouver Island, and -reeently she was offered for sole. Since the European war was inaugurated three years ago the demand for .pleasure- yachts- has shown a decided falling off, and the size of the vessel rendered her practically useless for transportation service. Realising that tl# little vessel, which is only 120 ft long, might be utilised as a coasting, vessel if power were installed.. Captain Crosby went to Vancouver and •closed the deal whereby-he became owner of the craft. She will be hauled on the ways at the Ballard shipbuilding plant, «nd there given a thorough overhauling, after which she will be fitted out with an auxiliary power engine. Captain Crostated that he purchased the little craft without having any definite plans in view regarding her, but feels that he secured/ a bargain.

The Casco- is a wooden vessel built as a pleasure yacht, possessing lofty masts for a wide spread of canvas. She is a trim-appearing craft, and is decked over fore- and aft. Her cabins were formerlyelegantly fitted, but time, and bard usage have told on the furnishings.

In. 1890, when Robert Louis Stevenson came to 'San Francisco in search, of health, he spied the yacht Casco lying In. the ba-rbotv and immediately took a fancy tot her. Shortly afterwards she became his property, and he and bis bride, whoi was Fanny Osborne, sailed on their honeymoon tour, which eventually extended over a period of two years among the many island groups of the South Pacific. Aboard the craft Stevenson is believed to have- found tlhe inspiration of many of his sea tales.