Nov. 12. 1885.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



313 



WELLINGTON, Mass., Nov. 7.— The Maiden Gun Club held its reg- 

 ular weekly shoot at Wellington to-day, and although the weather 

 was unfavorable for good shooting, there was more than an average 

 attendance. Following is a result of the several sweeps: 1. 5 black- 

 birds— Shumway first. 3, 10 clay-pigeons— Shumway first. 3. 5 black- 

 birds— Sanborn first. 4. 3 pairs blackbirds— Lawson first. 5. 5 elay- 

 pigeoDS— Shumway, Lawson and Sanbora divided first. 6. 5 black- 

 birds, straightaway— Adams and Sanborn divided first. 7. 5 black- 

 birds— Schaefer first. 8. 10 clay-pigeons, medal match— Lawson and 

 Schaefer divided fi^rst. Sanborn second, Wardwell and Stanton divided 

 third. La wson won the first medal with 9, Sanborn rhe second with 

 8, and WardweU the third with 7 out of 10 birds. 9. 5 blackbirds- 

 Shumway and Schaefer divided first. 10. 3 pairs clay-pigeons— Shum- 

 way first. 11. 5 clay-pigeons— Swift first. 12. 5 blackbirds— Wardwell 

 first. 



National Gxjn Association Toubnaments.— Special Notice.— Mem- 

 bers desirous of organizing tournaments in their vicinity, under the 

 auspices of the Association, are requested to notify the undersigned. 

 All the expenses of the same will be paid by us. Make your arrange- 

 ments for 1886. We propose to establish a circuit of tournaments 

 annually. Claim your dates now. General ofllce and headquarters, 

 Macon, Ga.— ]>LiTT R. Freeman, Vice-President and General Manager; 

 F. C. Ethpidge, Secretary, Macon, Ga. Send 10 cents for hand; book 

 containing iides, constitution, etc. "Faii-ly started and its future 

 depends entu-ely upon the manner in which the sportsmen throughout 

 the country respond."— C. M. Stark, April 18, 1885.— ^dw. 



Address all communications to the Forest and 8t7-eam Publish- 

 ing Co. 



A SHORT CRUISE IN THE BONITA. 



THIS season the four "boys" were again scattered, and our hopes 

 of last year bo again meet for another frohc were doomed todis 

 appointment. The Horse Marine had amused himself and had put in 

 many a monotonous winter day in having a boat built for sailing and 

 cruising purposes, hoping and intending to unite with the other hoys 

 in many a sail and perhaps in a cruise during the summer months, 

 and the Lawyer and Engineer had viewed the work and pronounced 

 it good; but just the last thing the Engineer was called away to South 

 America and the Wanderer was laid up with malaria, as well as tied 

 up with other engagements, so when the time came only the Lawyer 

 and the Horse Jlarine could muster on deck. 



The boat in which we were to sail and cruise was finished early in 

 the spring:, and given her trial trip and many other trips before the 

 time for ti.e cruise came around. She is an 18-foot, yawl-rieged boat, 

 that is. 18ft. waterline and 23f I. over all on deck, with 7ft. beam and 

 3ft. dratt, includiuK her keel of llin. With 600 pounds of lead in htr 

 keel and about 1,500 pounds of lead low down inside, she is as stiff as 

 a church, as had been proved in many a dusting in and out of New 

 London harbor; so the unknown quantities were reduced to the mini- 

 mum before we sailed, having nothing in the way of anxiety over an 

 untried boat to interfere with our pleasure. 



Those who have been there wiU know with what pleasure we got 

 our outfit ready, loaded and stowed the same, and saw that every- 

 thing needful for comfort and pleasure was on board. We pro- 

 posed to be not only safe but comfortable as well, and independent 

 of shore for either food, drink or a place to sleep ; and so we had 

 provided everything needful and seen it all suugly stowed, audit 

 was with only anticipalion of pleasure, mingled with regi-et at the 

 absence of the other boys, that we finally set sail. 



The last of the land breeze one fine day sent us bowling along for 

 Fisher's Island Sound. With topsail set and everything drawing, our 

 canvas cauoe trailing behind soon began to dance and cut around as 

 do all light tenders when towing rapidl.v, and the foam from our bow 

 wept dancing merrily astern. It was a'beautiful day, and one when 

 it is simply a dehght to live, and we could not fail to enjoy our 

 present situation and our fine proppeots. The sky was blue, the sun 

 was warm, the wind was kind and the sea leaping and dancing in the 

 sunlight, and our good boat was leaping and dancing too, kissed bv 

 tbe eager breeze and boommg along further and further toward oiir 

 destination. 



In Fisbei-'s Island Sound our wind hamed to the southwest, our 

 true sea breeze, and nothrn.g could have been better had it been 

 ma^e to order. As our course was eastward to Narragansett Bay. 

 this gave us a fine wind just abaft the beam and down came our fore- 

 sail and jib and up went our balloon jib in a twinkling. And how the 

 sails did draw! And how we did boom along; What enjoyment to 

 loll around and smoke and take comfortand "take it all in." Steering 

 was really a sinecure, for the boat about steered herself, and after the 

 sails were once trimmed neither tack nor sheet were disturbed for 

 hours, leaving nothing to do but boom along, and for us to gaze our 

 fill at the beauties of the deep, and breathe our fill of the delightful 

 air. 



Nor were we alone upon the waters. Here, there, and everywhere 

 were the white and gleammg sails of yachts, fishermen and coasters, 

 each on its course for Its destined haven, some close by and with 

 wnich the courtesies of yachting etiquette were exchanged, others 

 far, far away upon the horizon's rim, their topsails only showing, but 

 each and all lending vitality to the charming picture that surrounded 

 us ou every hand. 



How difilerent the aspect of the same place under different circum- 

 stances ! One day last spring the Lawyer and the Horse Marine were 

 in this same Fisher's Island Soimd, in the same boat, but with rather 

 more than the steady breeze that was now lifting us onward. Then 

 we had all the wind we wanted, and rather more too, and after bang- 

 ing into a head wind and a short nasty sea for a while we were glad 

 to go about, and flJl away for home, and had our hands full even then 

 to steer and sail our boat, with jib down and peak dropped at that. 

 Now we were riding almost on even keel, even though we had a good 

 topsail breeze, our only motion being the gentle roll and easy dip as 

 we slid along over the quartering sea, while pipe, song and story 

 made the time pass as pleasantly to us as we were speedily gaining 

 on our destiuatiou. 



Soon we were by Watch Hill, and out from imder the shelter of 

 Fisher's Island, feeling the full force of ocean's breath. How steady 

 it was, and, though fresher than when in tbe Sound, not too strong 

 for ad the sail we could pile upon our little ship. And it was all on 

 too: our balloon jib was as big as the space for it would aUow, set 

 on tbe outer stay from topmast head to bowsprit end; our topsail 

 had a 13tt. yard, carrying its peak away aloft of the truck, and ex- 

 cept we bad had a topsail for the mizz'en, or a mlzzen staysail, no 

 more canvas could have been carried. 



As before said there was meat and lirink on board, in plenty too; 

 and when lunch time came — time called by the erratic chronometer 

 of our appetite— how we did eat and how good it was. Crackers and 

 cheese and beer may not be very much in themselves, but when 

 seasoned with salt air, pleasant surroundings and ravenous hunger 

 then they become fit for the gods; not that our lunch was restricted 

 to tnree simple viands from any necessity, but because they were 

 bandy, and on our first day out we cared not to bother with a more 

 elaborate menu. 



Lunch over, a try for blueflsh was next In or^er. and the Lawyer 

 tried his skill with his Une trailing far astern. It is not often one gets 

 so big a catch, but our only one was a whole smack full of fish, said 

 smack crossing our lines and hooking herself as we swept by each 

 other in passing. AVe did not bring our catch on board, as neither 

 line nor hooks were up to the strain, so the Lawyer had to haul in and 

 repair damages, leaving his hooks and squid to ornament the smacks 



We found out later that the rough water around Pouit Judith is all 

 that its reputation calls for; but on this particular day we weathered 

 the Point with no more sea than we had had all day, the long easy 

 rollers of the ground swell, roughened by the summer breeze, and 

 with wind astern we rapillv left the point behind us. 



Our canoe, though a very light one. had still bothered us somewhat 

 during the day, and as a matter of course had held us back. With 

 wind and sea both dead astern ic bothered us more, and a happy 

 thought struck the Horse Marine, who felt like kicking himself when 

 it was successfully put Into execution at not having thought of it 

 before. Though our canoe was one of the folding kind, we did not 

 want the trouble of packing and unpacking it, so had concluded to 

 tow it. Now, however, at the Horse Marine's suggestion, it was 

 hauled up alongside, hoisted up and stem and stern were lashed to 

 main and mizzen rigging in lidu of davits, and there we were, an 

 18ft. boat with a 13ft. quarter boat, and everything snug as could be. 

 How it looked we did not know, neither did we care; we had solved 

 that problem to our ovra satisfaction, and were rid of the nuisance of 

 the tow. Nor was It any trouble but once; sometimes we hoisted it 

 up and lashed it before getting under way, and sometimes after 

 being under way for a w^hile, and that was when we came near losing 

 it. We were beating down through Bristol Channel with a fresh 

 breeze, with the canoe in tow and towiug all right, and through over- 

 sight had not hauled it up. As we filled away on our course after 



weathering the shoal south of Hog Island we shot ahead so fast with 

 the strong free wind that before the Horse Marine could cast off the 

 pamter and haul it alongside the canoe was pulled imder, flUed, and 

 partially capsized, nearly lo.'jing the oars which were on board. Per- 

 haps it wasn't a job then to haul her up! It took all the beef we 

 both had to get her alongside and keep her there, keeping on our 

 course the meanwhile, and then to hoist her up, tipping out the water 

 as we did so. After that she was hoisted up and lashed before we 

 made sail to avoid any further chance of such trouble. 



Without our 12ft. quarter boat we boomed along much faster.and the 

 shadow of night, with the falling of the sea breeze, closed in around 

 us between Point Judith and Beaver Tail light. A head tide was also 

 met, and so we rolled around for awhile, making no headway. Our 

 side lights were up, however, and though in the track of "the New 

 York steamers we had no fear. And soon, too, we had the land 

 breeze, which, though a head wind, was better than none, and so it 

 was dovra with balloon jib and up with our double head sails, and, 

 close-hauled, we began a tedious beat against wind and tide. 



Ahead of us gleamed the lights on Whale Rock, at Dutch Island, and 

 Beaver Tail, and the twin lights on the BartlettReef lightship swayed 

 and rolled on our stai-board bow as we made our leg toward the 

 West channel, while close aboard on our port bow were the lights of 

 Nan-agansett Pier. Our long beat was greatly enlivened, too, by a 

 most brilliant display of Qreworks from the latter place. Red fire, 

 candles, flrepots, rockets and bombs all played their part, and long 

 after we had passed the place were the rockets to be seen rising in 

 the distance. 



Though the day had been pleasant and full of variety, still nature 

 must be restored by sleep on occasions, and one hand on deck being 

 all the boat needed, the Lawyer turned in, he having found his neck 

 in danger of dislocation from the many and severe jerks it had sus- 

 tained in trying to keep awake, and the Horse Marine, with pipe in 

 mouth, coiled himself up alongside the tiller, with night glass close 

 at hand, and his weather eye open, to take his trick at the wheel. 

 And we sailed, and we sailed, and we sailed ; it seemed as though we 

 never would pass the Beavertail. Now on one tack, now on the other. 

 We gained slowly and surely of course, but night sailing, particularly 

 by the wind, is so deceptive that we were by the light before we 

 really thought we had reached it. 



Once by the light and into the channel of the eastern passage, we 

 caught a slant of wind from tlie eastward that freshened quickly, 

 and with lee rail awash we went booming along, and the Horse 

 Marine wa« no longer coiled up alongside the tiller, but standing up 

 and holding her to it, hoping that the topsail halliard would not part 

 or the wind get any fresher for awhile, as it was just a good topsail 

 breeze, and he wanted to get on and not have to call all hands to 

 shorten sail. But it soon came too strong, and in heavy squalls, so 

 there was nothing to do but caU the Lawyer and strike tie topsail. 



With topsail .struck we made better weather and fully as much 

 speed, as we could hold our course no matter how hard the puffs 

 came, mstead of shaking the puff out of the topsail by luffing, as had 

 been the case before. It was yet early in the evening, and. though 

 our intention had been to run into Newport harbor for the niglit, we 

 concluded to hold on for our ^al destination. Mount Hope Bay. 



Could we have held our wind, a couple of hours more would have 

 found us at anchor at the Narrows; but though we went booming 

 rapidl.y along, leaving a silver wake of foam and phosphorescence be 

 hmd us until past Ro.'^e Island Light and up to Gould Island, the wind 

 gradually left us, and by the time we were near Sand Point Light on 

 Prudence Island we were becalmed, and stayed becalmed uuSl late 

 the next morning. 



In the mean time the Horse Marine took his watch below, leaving 

 the Lawyer to the solitude of liie night and to keep a lookout for the 

 incoming New York steamer to Fall River, concluding not to anchor, 

 as we were still slowly making up wdth the tide, and so gradtially 

 gaining ground. Besides, it was not good anchorage ground, and an 

 anchor watch would have been needed even had we anchored; so it 

 was just as well to keep our anchor on board and gain all we could. 



All things have an end and so did the sleep of the Horse Marine at 

 early dayhght, and soon it was all hands on deck, as with topsail set 

 we caught tbe first breath of the morning breeze, a wind from the 

 southwest that sent us hurrying through Bristol Channel and run- 

 ning up Mount Hope Bay. It wa3 a breeze and no mistake, it fresh- 

 ened even,^ moment, so that we finally gave up the idea of cooking on 

 our oil stove, concluding to breakfast after coming to anchor at the 

 Narrows. 



Our colors had been rmi down at sunset, and now they were bent 

 on again to let the Wanderer know who we were, and not take us for 

 pirates, for we expected to find said Wanderer at the Narrows and 

 .give him a call. Soon we had the Narrows ahead, and the glass 

 brought to bear on the shore, and sure enough there he was with 

 glass to his eyes trying to make us out. 



Although he never had seen the boat he still knew the rig. and said 

 afterward he was only bothered by that quarter Isoat, for he could 

 not make out now we could have got that up on davits on our boat. 

 But we soon drew near enough for a clear view with naked eye, and 

 then oiT he came in his skiff to meet us and Und us a safe anchorage. 



Soon our anchor was down, and our craft riding and pitching with 

 bead to wind in the fast freshening breeze, while, we were off for shore 

 in our canoe. It was quite rough, as an ugly sea gets up in Mount 

 Hope Bay with even a little wind, and it was'now blowing quite half 

 a gale. But our liite canoe rode it like a cork, short and ugly as the 

 sea was, and we were welcomed on shore and soon were seated to a 

 liot breakfast. 



Besides the Wanderer, we found some of his famdy at the Nar- 

 rows, and after our all night sail and drift we found it very pleasant 

 to be so warmly welcomed and so hospitably treated. Nothing 

 would do but that we stay to make a visit, and right glad we were 

 to loaf around and lie in hammocks, and smoke and read and talk 

 away the time. 



In the afternoon we went on board, and under reefed canvas took 

 the Wandei-er for a sail around the Bay. By this time it was a regu- 

 lar blow, with the Bay white with foam, but our httle craft behaved 

 herself nicely and was as dry as a chip and fairly flew through the 

 water, even though we had a heavy sharpie in tow. our canoe having 

 been left on shore. 



Returning from our sail we put up the boat in the cove above the 

 Narrows for a safe and quiet harbor for the night. And here let me 

 caution strangers about coming into the said Narrows, if they want to 

 keep from going aground. 



A broad bar makes out from the Narrows and the deep water is 

 close in shore and close to the western sideof tbe entrance to theNar- 

 rows. Many a man who has been in and out frequently gets hung up 



on the bar from a falling tide from keeping too far out, and when we 

 went in it looked as though we must ground from being so near shore. 

 But we ran in without a scrape and foimd plenty of water, land- 

 locked on all sides, for our night's anchorage. 



Here at the Narrows we stayed for three days. The Lawyer fished , 

 while the Horse Marine lay and groaned under the agoay of sick- 

 ness resulting from too many good things to eat; besides, we had no 

 wmd. and so perforce were laid up anyway, the blow of the day of 

 our arrival having apparently blowi» all tbe wind away for a while. 



But finally a breeze came and we were up and away for Providence. 

 A dead beat down the Bristol Channel and a free run to Providence 

 were om- experience, and that it blew some may be inferred ^hen I 

 say we made about fifteen miles in less than two hours. Eyerytbmg- 

 in'the catboat fine was under reefed canvas, while we had only our 

 topsail struck and stood up under the puffs and gusts as stiff as you 

 please. It was a lively run, particularly through the squalls by 

 Field's Point, a very squally place at best, and we were not sorry to 

 finally tie up to some plies in Providence Harbor and again take a 

 rest. 



But we were destined to work first before we could rest. First 

 our anchor dragged, for we anchored first on coming into harbor, 

 and a lively time we had to make our anchorage groimd again among 

 the passing steamers and vessels, with only mizzen and jib, for we 

 had t he mainsail stowed before we dragged, and did not want to again 

 uncover and set it. Then our anchor began to drag again in the 

 beastly slimy mud of the harbor's bottom, when we began to put up 

 our deck tent and so expose some surface of canvas to the heavy 

 wind blowing, and so we had to get out a warp and warp up to some 

 spiles and tie up. By this time a heav.y thunder shower was at hand, 

 and we had to work lively to get everything snug and our tent deck 

 secure before it burst upon us. 



And how it did rain I It came down in sheets, but we were snug 

 and dry before this in our cosy tent, and busy with our grub, and so 

 concluded we were pretty well off. and let it rain and be Islessed, 

 while we cooked our dinner and took comfort in knowing that the 

 rain could not reach us. 



And then after dinner we loafed and smoked and looked out upon 

 tbe face of the deep, and verily it looked something like the dehige. 

 No^-hing to be seen but water, the air was thick with rain, and there 

 appeared as much water over us as under us, but we were in out of 

 the wet anyway, and could take it easy and rather enjoy the war of 

 the elements, as with pipe and yarn we sped the hours. And when 

 bed time came why to bed we went. We had the whole cockpit to 

 sleep U3, so arranged as to give a long wide bed for us under the tent, 

 and it was not long before we were both in the land of dreams, with 

 mind free from all anxiety as to wind or weather as we lay snugly 

 moored out of all harm's way. 



As this was the Lawyer's "home, as well as the residence of the 

 Horse Marine's parents, of course wecotUddo no less than make them 

 a visit, so the nest day. after breakfast on board, we landed and 

 made our way, through the still heavy rain, homeward. It rained aH 

 day and we were made so comfortable at home that we left our boat 

 to her own devices for that day and night, and passed it with the 

 Lawyer's family. 



The next day dawned clear and bright, however, with a fresh N. E. 

 wind, just what we wanted for our run out. and we were speedily 

 under way again, dusting dosvn the harbor under all lower sail, while 

 accompanying catboats had single reefs turned in. It came up 

 breezy and strong, but we bowled along rapidly and easily, and made 

 the run to Bristol Harbor, our de.stination, in short order. 



Rounding into the harbor we met the wind ahead, and a regular 

 white squall came booming down on us. But by sailing her close, 

 just on the edge of a shake, we wallowed through as dry as a bone, 

 without taking in any reefs, and were soon tied up to a vacant moor- 

 ing near the Herreshoffs' establishment, and after making all snug, 

 ashore we went in our canoe to greet our friends and look around 

 a bit. 



Througn the courtesy of one of the attaches of the establishment 

 we were snown all over the Herreshoffs'. and looked our fill at the 

 Stiletto, both inside and out, through the shops where other boats 

 were in process of construction, and over the dock where others were 

 lying up. passing a most agreeable and instructive afternoon; and 

 our evening was also delightfully passed with our friends under their 

 own vine and fig tree. 



In the morning we filled away to Wickford, having at the start a 

 heavy blow from the northward, to change and change dm-ing the 

 day until the wind bad boxed the compass completely. Now it was 

 a single reef breeze and we reefed, now it was a cat's paw and we 

 shook the reefs out, and with the baffling wind and heavy tide flow- 

 it seemed as though we never would get there. 



But get there we finally did, just in time to do up the boat, don our 

 store togs and catch the last tram for New London, where we finally, 

 just at ihe last, concluded to go to attend a German to be given that 

 night. What was our disgust, however, to learn on our arrival that 

 the German had been put off. So we had our journey for nothing, 

 except the pleasure of being at the Horse Maiine's home for the 

 evening. 



Going back by the morning train we found no wind, and so put in 

 our time in visits to friends who were here spending ttie summer, and 

 late in the afternoon, as the wind came up, we filled away for Dutch 

 Island Harbor, m.ai;in.g so quick a run, how^ever, when Vve once got 

 started, that we concluded to try it on and make around Point Judith, 

 and again try an all-night sail for home. We had a fair wind down 

 till we passed Dutch Island, and then it hauled to the southward and 

 began to pipe up tresb, so down came our topsail and we began to 

 beat down, hopmg to get by the Point in good season and then have 

 a beam w^od westward on our course. But the tide was against us, 

 too, and soon the wind was howling and shrieking thi-ough our 

 rigging and we were banging our bowsprit under at every dip we 

 made, and after almost making it wo finally concluded that discretion 

 was the better part of valor, so we wore around and made for the 

 shelter of Durch Island. 



With wind and tide how we did go! We fairly leaped along from 

 wave to wave, and in just three-quarters of an hour were safely an- 

 chored and snugged down in the hartior, 



Coming into the harbor one of three things happened which so fre- 

 quently bring about disaster, but luckOy did not in our case. We were 

 sailing free and saw a big catboat beating out of the harbor, which 

 catboat, of course, had the right of way; but instead of keeping her 

 course the catboat dodged about, now bearing off as though to clear 

 us. and again lufilng up on to her course again, leaving us uncertain 

 what to do; and when we finally bore ott to get out of her way, she 

 bore off too to keep out of ours, hailing us at the same time with no 



