Historic Firearms and Militaria: Live Salesroom Auction - Day 1

.42 cal., 6" octagonal barrel, S/N 4512. Top of barrel marked Merwin & Bray. Blued barrel and cylinder, silver-plated frame, rosewood grips. Original mahogany case with blue velvet lining. Top of case is painted Steam Yacht Halcyon -Of- New York. Halcyon was a 125ft yacht with a double expansion engine, and owned by the New York banker, Mr. Frederick Ames. This was the yacht pistol. A copy from a 1902 New York Times article is included. Quoted from an article in the New York Times published July 2,1902: "YACHT HALCYON HELPLESS, Steam Craft Broke Her Shaft in the Sound, with Her Owner, Frederick F. Ames, on Board. NORTHPORT, L.I. July 1.- 

The steam yacht Halcyon broke her shaft somewhere off Eaton's Neck Life Saving Station at 3 o'clock in the morning, while proceeding down the Sound from Shelter Island to New York with her owner, Fredrick F. Ames, a business associate in his banking house at 25 Broad street, New York, and another guest. The screw fell off and was lost in deep water. The yacht was without a launch, and Mr. Ames and his companions entered one of the small boats and were rowed to the life saving station through such a wind and sea that they were five hours in making the trip. Mr. Ames later came to this place, where he endeavored to charter a tug to go to the assistance of his crippled steamer, which was absolutely helpless, and when last seen was drifting at the mercy of the currents because, as he said, there was not enough cable on board to permit her to anchor. 

The Halcyon which flies the flag of the Atlantic Yacht Club, is one of the oldest steam yachts in these waters, having been launched from the yards of James Lenox in South Brooklyn, in 1875, her first name being the Lookout. Later she did service as the United States Fish Commission steamer Alycon and then rejoined the pleasure fleet. Her present dimensions are: Length 125.2 feet; on the water line, 106.3 6 feet 6 inches. She is propelled by a double expansion engine."