Coulter -- The Yachts Rounding the Cruiser Olympia -- March 22, 2023

San Francisco Call, 18-June-1895

WA Coulter did many maritime drawings for the San Francisco Call. This one shows the new protected cruiser Olympia, built by San Francisco's Union Iron Works, which went on to a distinguished career in the New Navy. Olympia served as Commodore Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila Bay. Olympia still survives, serving as a museum ship in Philadelphia.

THE PIONEERS AFLOAT.

A Yachting Excursion and a

Clambake on Angel

Island.

NAVAL RESERVE AT WORK.

The Young Mariners on the Olympla

Again

The Pioneer Yacht Club had an outing on the bay yesterday with a clambake and a picnic on Angel Island and a sail home in the afternoon. The Pioneers lay claim to having been the first yacht club on the bay when they sailed and sported under the title of the Bilgewater Yacht Club.

In the days long ago when one of the regular clubs held a regatta on the bay, the boats of the Bilgewaters were pressed into service to swell the number of sailing craft, and a fine showing they made.

A prettier scene than that which met the eye off Meiggs wharf yesterday morning at the start of the Pioneers' cruise has rarely been witnessed. The yachts, with the Volunteer in the lead, sailed down on either side of the big cruiser Olympia, darting between the shipping at anchor in the offing, catching the light puffs in the channel and heading out for the Presidio buoy. Grouped about the Volunteer were the Pride of the Bay, Plunger, Annie, Thelma, Ella, Magic, the launch Millie and several others. Out in the stream were the yacht Aggie and the ships Wasdale, Bothwell, Sierra Estella, St. Mungo, Royal George and several others.

The yachts of the club cruised about, along the seawall and down past fhe City front, with merry parties on board, and as they went by the sounds of music faintly came over the waters.

Angel Island was made shortly after noon. A clambake was the first thing in order and then followed games ashore and boat races on the bay, the hours being pleasantly beguiled until it was time to return to the City.

The Naval Reserve has determined to profit by its experience on the trip to and from Santa Cruz. The officers of the Olympia extended an invitation to the reserve to use the vessel while she is in the harbor and the invitation was taken advantage of yesterday. Almost fifty of the reserves, in command of Lieutenant-Commander Stahle, went on board in the morning and remained on the cruiser all day.

In the morning the young sailors were instructed in the boat drill. First, they were put through the exercise by the officers of the war vessel and then turned over to their own officers, who put them through their paces. The evolutions of the boys called forth the plaudits of the old salts. All hands showed an aptness for the work, and more than that, a desire to learn. In the afternoon they were taught the names of things marine and how to handle them.

Another visit will be made to the cruiser to-day, and to-morrow the Olympia will leave for Mare Island.