intense

Related to this article, perhaps? query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=950CE5D81331E233A...

The New York Times had a pictorial page on the building of Weller's boat, and plans for the trip, on June 18, 1911. A later story reported that Weller launched on July 16, 1911. (NYT, 7-17-11.) After that, NYT evidently lost interest in the Weller saga. Did he make it across? Did he make it back?

I believe Captain John Weller was my great grandfather. I am working on my family tree. Any information you have would be wonderful. I am fascinated about the motor boat to Europe article. klklein72107@yahoo.com

Thanks to all of you for the information. Here's what I learned from the New York Times archive about Captain John Weller, and the fate of his journey: He was a boat builder in Paterson NJ and a member of the Little Falls Rod and Gun Club. His plan was to take his 50 foot motorboat, Romania, from New York up to Newfoundland and then across the Atlantic to Galway Bay in Ireland. His son, Robert Weller was among those on board. They took off mid July, but the boat ran ashore in Halifax July 25. All aboard survived. A model of the Romania was on view at a Motor Boat Show at Madison Square Garden Feb. 21 to Mar. 4, 1911. Please share any other information you learn about Capt. Weller and the Romania.

Capt Weller made a boat called the Pan-American which made excursions of approx 100 people to Coney Island, but not sure if from Carlstadt Marina to Coney Island or not. Don't know for how long. ALso learned that he had a brother who was a symphony orchestra conductor in Prague. Still trying to find out about him. He and his family are on the 1910 census and the 1930 census but not on 1920 census, trying to find out where he was at that time. I have located my mother's cousin in PA, Capt Weller's granddaughter. Am trying to get more information. If you find anything else out would appreciate the info. As soon as I learn more, will do the same. Thank you.

Ha! The expression a million middle age men make in a mirror! Tough guy!

It seems he was the managing director of the People's Institute in New Your City. Here is a book he wrote: books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=xZcXAAAAYAAJ&dq=C...

Charles Sprague Smith (1853-1910?) founded the People's Institute of New York City in 1897. The Institute presented public forums on current issues, and the consequent "forum movement" it inspired eventually expanded to more than 100 locations, mostly in the northeastern United States. Later, the Institute was also involved in opening social centers, usually at public schools, and it organized a school for community workers. The People's Institute closed in 1934. Smith had been a professor at Columbia University, and was the author of several books, including a 1908 volume of poetry. For a Progressive activist, his verse was remarkably old fashioned. In addition to the book of poetry and the book linked by cecilacase above, his 1903 volume on four Barbizon school painters is available from Google Books, as is his anthologized essay on the Spanish legend of El Cid.

Looks like he's fixin' to whoop somebody's butt!

I'm Charles Sprague Smith, and these are my nipples.

William Sulzer (1863-1941), governor of New York, briefly--he was impeached before he'd even served a year: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sulzer Might also be his brother Charles August Sulzer, who was also in politics, if the men had similar faces?

Here is the LOC's Flickr file on Sulzer: www.flickr.com/search/?q=Sulzer&w=8623220@N02

pennylrichardsca and Wystan: Thanks! We'll add Sulzer's full name and the date to the description next time we update.