So energetic a nature soon tired of the London soldier’s life, and when war broke out with Abyssinia he applied to the proprietors of the “Daily Telegraph” to be allowed to act as 430 their special correspondent. His offer being accepted, he resigned his commission and started for North Africa. Colonel Phayre, who was Quartermaster-General, attached him to his staff, and so he obtained the earliest and most authentic information. Mr. H. M. Stanley, who was doing similar duty for the “New York Herald,” shared a tent with the amateur journalist, and was much struck with the workmanlike character of the despatches which he sent off on every available opportunity. At the close of the campaign he returned to England and fell in love with Lord Charles Lennox Kerr’s daughter, whom he shortly afterwards married. In 1869 he started with his wife for a tour in the United States, where he remained for some time and made many friends.
In journalistic circles he was well received, and particularly so by the late Mr. Louis Jennings, then editor of the “New York Times,” Mr. Hurlbert, who at that time had charge of the “New York World,” and the late “Sam” Ward. At the outbreak of war between France and Germany he went to Berlin for the “Daily Telegraph,” and followed the campaign right through. As a matter of course he carried his life in his hand, but though he had some narrow escapes he met with no accident, until just before the capitulation of Paris, when he broke his arm and was invalided home, with the result that he missed the days of the Commune.
For twelve years or more he crossed the Atlantic annually and travelled in the States, Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. He was the first private individual to investigate the Yellowstone region, and wrote a capital book on the expedition called “The Great Divide,” which met with a good reception both in America and England. He hunted and shot with Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack long before they ever went east of the Mississippi, and his name was well known among the Indians, who allowed him to travel about their territory without interruption. His articles in the “Nineteenth Century Review” on moose and caribou hunting, and his stories of animal life, drafted on the spot, were much appreciated in sporting circles. In Colorado he purchased a tract of land called Estes Park, which is about to be transferred to an English company. When the branch railway is made and the proposed irrigation works inaugurated, the estate should be a valuable property.
LADY DUNRAVEN.
Lord Dunraven’s yachting may be said to date from his college days, since he generally spent the long vacation with his friend Lord Romney, voyaging in a small sloop he purchased from a Cardiff pilot. In this craft, with a man and boy for a crew, he used to cruise in all sorts of weather round the coasts of Scotland and Ireland. Very funny indeed are some of the yarns about the dangers and difficulties which the “Cripple”—as the yacht was named—and those on board met with from time to time. In this way he picked up some knowledge of navigation, learned how to manage a boat, and became well acquainted with the discomforts of seafaring life. From the days of the “Cripple” until 1887 Lord Dunraven took but little interest in yachting or yacht racing. But in August of that year he chanced to be at Cowes, and went for a sail in the “Irex.” As usual with Mr. Jameson, the conversation turned on yacht building. In a very short time Lord Dunraven was persuaded to return to his old love, and before a month was over Mr. Richardson, of Liverpool, 431 who designed the “Irex,” had received instructions to build him a cutter. The result was the “Petronilla,” but, in spite of several alterations, the yacht was a failure, although she was steered by Gomes, who during the last two seasons has had charge of “Meteor” (née “Thistle”) for the German Emperor.
Disheartened, but not defeated, he gave a commission to Mr. Watson, of Glasgow, who designed the first “Valkyrie.” She was a signal success, and was sailed by Thomas Diaper, better known as Tommy Dutch, and afterwards by William Cranfield, who had been so fortunate with the “Yarana,” now the “Maid Marian,” for Mr. Ralli. Like the present ship, she was built for the express purpose of racing for the America Cup. The challenge sent by the Royal Yacht Squadron was accepted by the New York Yacht Club. But as conditions, considered distasteful by the Squadron, were imposed as to the future holding of the cup, and the New York Yacht Club declined to yield in any way, the match was reluctantly abandoned. The following year the Watson cutter came out again and did as well as before. In the winter of 1891-92 Lord Dunraven took her to the Mediterranean, where, after winning every race she sailed in, she was sold to the Archduke Carl Stephan, and delivered at Pola.
