YACHTS AND YACHTSMEN

From present indications, John Jacob Astor's large steam yacht, the Nourmahal, will not be put in commission this year, at least not during the early Summer months. No orders have yet been received for her refitting, and as Mr. Astor is expected shortly to rejoin his family abroad, sailing by one of the liners, the Nourmahal, which lies at present in Tebo's basin, appears destined for a season of inactivity. Another one of the larger steam yachts which will probably remain out of commission this Summer is Mrs. Charlotte D. M. Cardeza's Eleanor, which recently returned from a lengthy cruise abroad. Although the Eleanor's sides have been chipped preparatory to repainting, and some members of her crew have been retained to make the repairs necessitated by her recent hard service, it is understood that Mrs. Cardeza does not intend to use the yacht for several months. Her entrance into service this Summer will therefore depend upon a charter, and it is unlikely that any applicant for the brief charter of so large a yacht will appear. The Sagamore, John M. Hanan's large steam yacht, it is understood, will also remain out of commission this Summer, unless sold or chartered, on account of her owner's contemplated trip abroad.

[Note: This paragraph was part of a longer article, the balance of which is not relevant for present purposes.]