376 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



tI>BC. 3, 1885. 



boards lia. thick, cleated together on the interior. A bolt inside 

 across the center jam secured the port entrance and a clasp, staple 

 &nd padlock the starboard side, the fastenings being coach bolts wilh 

 the mits screwed up on the inside. 



While the carpenter was busy with the foregoing, the old gravel 

 ballast v^as thrown overboard, the bilges and limbers cleanedout and 

 Uuslied time and again to render them wholesome. The floor boards 

 were sent ashore and the boat towed on tbe beach where she was left 

 dry at each tide. Her bottem was exceedingly foul, a mass of barna- 

 cles and grass which must have impeded speed and maneurering to a 

 marked degree. Yet every one seemed to have a good word for the 

 Coot, until my hopes rose that in improved condition she would turn 

 out quite a smart thing of hei- kind. It reciuired three tides to scrape 

 the growth oS underneath, and a fourth to apply a good coat of coo- 

 per paint. Cf this just one gallon was used, laid on thin \^ith a large 

 brush. In an hour the dressing was dry. and with the next flood the 

 Coot was again floated and towed out to Rex's buoy, which was 

 kmdly placed at my disposal by the club's measurer, Mr. E. P. Mow- 

 ton, who also tendered me the use of his skllf during my stay. While 

 on the beach the yacht had to be blocked up clear to reach" her keel. 

 This was nccomphshed by first sliding a board under her forefoot for 

 a sure basis m the soft mud. Then a block and long balk were 

 brought into requisition as a pry and lever, by means of which one 



hand lifted the bow while a second slid a block under the keel. 4. 

 fresh nip was taken with the pry and another lift permitted a second 

 block to be shoved in on top of the first. The operation was repeated 

 imder tlie stem. At every tide these rests would float out from 

 underntath and the proL-ess had to be gone through anew, as the 

 club's marine railway was being repaired at the time. After one side 

 had been scraped the peak halliards from the masthead were tak«n 

 out to a large sloop near by, and the Coot was hove over on the other 

 bilge, being eased down with care on a plank laid fore and aft on the 

 mud for the purpose. Painting was next in order, A hasty coat was 

 laid on, the nuishing touches bemg reserved for Southern latitudes. 

 For interior of house and centerboard trunk and exterior of house, 

 the ground coat took a little over one quart of white, the cockpit one 

 pint, the deck one quart and for the sides a pint and a half of black. 



The interior stowage of the Coot was one of her strong points. If 

 she lacked in other respects no one could flod fault with her room 

 for cramming away all the paraphernalia and stores of a long voyage, 

 Ah the space forward of the cabin was lightly floored over, and a 

 board Sin. deep, run across just forward of the centerboard, turned 

 the whole bow into a shelf-like locker. In this were stowed a port- 

 manteau containing long togs and fixings for shore use, and also a 

 waterproof canvas bag holding spare underclothing and a suit of 

 "store clothes." Besides the market basKet, a roll of oilcloth and a 

 rubber h.aversaok with sea clothing were packed in the same place. 

 Tiien there was still any quantity of room left. In tbe wings of the 

 boat, that is along the .sides under the deck, SOin. out frcm the center- 

 board trunk, a board lOin. deep was run fore and aft each side, turn- 

 ing the wings int-o long, gutter-like receptacles. On starboard side 

 the forward portion was devoted to cooking utensils, the center to 

 canued goods and provisions which would not spoil, while books and 

 papers were packed aft, the division bemg made by wooden parti- 

 tions. On poi-t side the forward half was given up to charts, draw- 

 ing and writing materials, and the after half reserved for shoes, oil 

 skins and general use. In the stern a large locker was reached by a 

 door in the cockpit. Here the boatswain' had his department. Tools, 

 paints, gear, swabs and kerosene, with scores of minor articles, 

 found plenty of space and to spare. This left the wings in the cock- 

 pit empty, to be drawn upon as the future might advise. As it w^as 

 the lockers were onlj half flUed. Bread, spices and perishable goods 

 were stored in two tin cake boxes, 18xi3in., kept on the cabin floor 

 near the gaUey. For cooking I obtained an oil stove with cast iron 

 bottom, and three wioks 5in. broad- This was set upon a low shelf 

 across the floor at forward end of the house. It is not advisable to 



have wicks broadej than 3i^ia., as they are under better contro 1 than 

 long ones in turning up or down, and an even flame is assured. In 

 place of trimming the broad wicks, they should be allowed to burn 

 to a crisp, which can then be scratched" off even with the top of the 

 burner. Tnere was some trouble before my stove was in good order. 

 The slot for filUng was covered with an iron flap, working liorizon- 

 tallj- on a pin, and as the oil sloshed about it would escape through 

 the'craoks. A thin piece of rubber introduced underneath the flap 

 iiiade a tight joint, 



For a berth the space on port side between trunk and wing locker 

 \Tas utilised. The berth consisted of a platform 6ft. 6in. long and 

 S8in. wide, being hinged along the center to admit of foldiqg. The 



platform rested on legs fitting the cabin floor which brought it 18in. 

 above the floor at the trunk. Oilcloth was laid on top to preserve 

 the mattress from damp air rising from the bilge. 



This completes the chief alterations undertaken in the Coot. Her 

 old sail was discarded and a better one of less hoist and boom substi- 

 tuted for winter service. A new skiff was built for me by Mr. Mc- 

 Whirter and son, at Stephens's shop, Staten Island. This proved 

 such a nice and serviceable little tender that she deserves a more 

 detailed description later on. In the way of ground tackle the Coot 

 had a 25-pound anchor of the usual pattern, with 20 fathoms ?^-inch 

 manilla line, and a Chester folding anchor of 30 pounds, with 2.5 

 fathoms 5^-inch manilla; also, a small "sand anchor" of 10 pounds to 

 serve as a kedge. Iron pig weighing 650 pounds had been stowed over, 

 tbe frame heels in place of the gravel removed. By the time the 

 Coot was ready to sau she was a very different boat than when I first 

 set foot on board. From an empty huU sbe had been transformed 

 into a yacht, as far as opportimities permitted. 



Much inttrest was manifested in the Coot's proposed voyage, and 

 her skipper was favored with many kind words and actions from 

 friends and strangf-rs. Fitting out was much facilitated by the free 

 use of the club conveniences at Port Morris, for which thanks are 

 due from the chronicler of this log. One gentleman presented an 

 oilskin coat, another a pair of gloves. Some brother saflors trans- 

 ferred me a portion of their iron ballast, another contributed a bunch 

 of cigar,s, and binoculars, fishing gear and the folding anchor were 

 likewise proffered from wUling sources. From Mr. Morton Toulmin, 

 of Washington, I received a handy little bow pen and dividers. 



Constant travel up and down the Elevated Railroad was a serious 

 loss of time. A better plan would have been to collect all the outfit 

 at one spot and ship it up to the yacht in a single lot. As it was, two 

 weeks were consumed in getting everything on board. Day after 

 day r might have been seen in the capacity of a pack mule, climbing 

 the stairwa.ys which lead into the maw of the ticket vendor at the 

 City Hall station, The frequent apparition of a coaglomeration of 

 bundles and packages with a pair of legs sticking out beneath and a 

 bat bobbing over the top of the pile, did not fail to attract the eagle 

 eye of the official Cerberus who guards the approacnes to the plat- 

 form. No doubt owing to ray utter unapproachableness behind the 

 bulwarlcs in paper wrappings must be ascribed the indulgence granted 

 by the fimctionary in blue and brass buttons. Once he eyed me 

 askance and "sized up" what little there was to be seen of perambu- 

 lattng humanity inside the bundles. But he gave up the task as 

 hopeless, so I slipped through the portals while Cerberus turned all 

 his offlcial fire upon an old woman with a market basket from which 

 garlic and sausages protruded. On the platform conductors and 

 brakemen soon learned to receive me with a "here-he-comes-again" 

 air, stepping briskly aside to give the oscillating mass enough sea 

 room. 



Provisions were left to the last moment. They comprised an as- 

 sortment of canned meats, vegetables and preserves, with butter, 

 coffee, sugar and spices; also a tin of pilot bread, "mild cure" 



smoked beef, almost equal to fresh beef, and of which you do not 

 tire. Water was taken along in a ten- gallon breaker, and kerosene 

 in a gallon can. The Coot's outfit in detail may follow here with 

 propi'iety, the cost of many articles being mentioned as information 

 to others who may contemplate cruising in a small boat: 



To cover in the cabin called for an outlay of $18, including new 

 canvas on top. Lights for same 50 cents ; hinges, lock and fasten- 

 ings $1,80. Paints averaged 65 cents per quart and brushes 50 cents 

 each. 



1. SHORE CLOTHING AND TOILET. 



Suit of clothes. Thin socks. 



Pair of shoes. Underclothing. 



Felt hat. White shirts. 



■ Neckties. Collars. 



Umbrella. Cuffs. 



Gloves. Handkerchiefs. 



Soap, Collar and cuff buttons. 



Shaving soap. Tooth powder. 



Razor. Towels. 



Razor strop. Scissors. 



Shaving brush. Needles and silk. 



Looking glass. Buttons, etc. 



Blacking brush. Pins. 



Hair brush. Whigp broom. 

 Tooth brush. 



2. TACHTING TOCW. 



Two pair pantaloons. Rubber sea boots. 



Two jerseys. Insoles for same. 



Two neckerchiefs. Oilskin coat. 



Buckskin gloves. South wester. 



Pea jacket. Rubber gauntlets. 



Canvas shoes. Suit overalls. 



Leather slippers. Woollen drawers. 



Leggings, Woollen undershirts. 



Worsted cap. Thick socks. 



Cloth cap. Cheap handkerchiefs. 



Old vest. Jack-knife, 



3. COOKING GEAR. 



on Stove $4 00 Griddle $ 90 



Oil 50 Kettle 1 00 



Wick .30 Tm cans 25 



Stew pot 1 00 Dipper 10 



Pan 55 Market basket 100 



Ooft'e pot 25 Water breaker 1 00 



Ladle 10 Cake boxes 130 



Knife tray 20 



4. CABIN TABLE. 



3 cups 1 3 knives 00 



3 saucers | 3 forks 50 



3 plates i -J 0- 3 tablespoons ■1.') 



3 dishes ) 3 teaspoons 25 



3 tumblers I Can opener 25 



1 pitcher ,j Corkscrew 25 



Dish towels 80 



5. CABIN JPURNITCBE. 



Cabin lamp 3 50 Photos, pictures 



Clock 2 50 Chinz curtains 50 



Mattress 3 50 Camp chau- 1 25 



Pillow 75 Footstool 1 00 



Blanket 3 50 Oilcloth 1 50 



Brackets ■ 25 Screw hooks 85 



Wire baskets 50 Picture tacks 25 



Mats 2 00 Oilcloth covers 1 00 



"B. NAVIGATION, 



Compass (K) Charts, each 50 



Barometer 6 00 Frame 50 



Anchor light 2 (X) Parallel ruler 50 



Lantern 1 00 Dividers 50 



Thermometer , 25 Logbook , 25 



Binoculars Flare up 35 



Lead and line 60 Burgee 3 OO 



Foghorn 40 



7. boatswain's stores. 



Bucket 35 Manilla, 25 fms 150 



Scrub brush 10 Manilla, 20 fms 120 



Salt-water soap 25 Spare rope 



Swabs 30 Ballmarlin 25 



Broom 15 Palm and needles 30 



Anchor, 251hs 150 Twine and wax 25 



Anchor, SOlbs 180 Cotton 10 



Skiff 15 00 Old canvas 



Oars, 6ft 1 10 Leather 



Rowlocks 45 Shackle, slush 



Luff^jsekle 1 50 Eyeholes 



Sponge 10 Thimbles, etc . 



8, carpenter's ohest. 



Hatchet 50 Saw 75 



Scraper 3 J Vise 60 



Sandpaper 10 Brace and bits 1 15 



Rasp 20 Compass saw 30 



Drawknife 40 Putty 



Screwdriver 30 Nails 



Chisel 35 Screws 



Gimlets 10 Tacks 



9. MEDICINE CHEST. 



Quim'ne. Sticking plaster. 



Cathartic pUls. Glycerine. 

 Opium pills. Liniment. 



10. SKETCHING .VND WRITING MATERIALS. 

 11, LIBRARY. 12. STORES. 13. PHOTOGRAPHY. 



As it is next to impossible to keep a small boat dry inside, such 

 articles as would be damaged by water were enveloped in pliable 

 oilcloth, such as is used to coyer tables in cheap dining houses. The 

 qbarts weve cut up into sections and the one in use inserted for the 

 time being m a conjmon glass-covered picture frame. This enabled 

 jt to be set up in the cockpit and preserved it from the wet. Pre- 

 sumably weapons of some sort are not out of place aboard a small 

 yaoht. But the crew of the Coot had taken chances all the world 

 over— in the pathless heart of South America's primeval forests, in 

 the by-ways of Honduras, among the Rockies of the West and the 

 "back counties" of the Alleghany Mountains, The crew had been a 

 hostage among untamed Indian tribes, had "slummed it" in London, 

 Paris, Berlin and the Bowery— and never yet required a more dan- 

 geroiis weapon than his lihysiognomy, which has hitherto sufllced to 

 make the evilly-disposed quail. 



THE LAUNCH OF THE EUREKA.— The mystery surrounding 

 the curious vessel that has been on the keel blocks all summer at 

 Poillon's yard is now dispelled, as the nature of her propelling mech- 

 anism is generally understood. The power developed is in the form 

 of a gas which explodes in a cylinder opening through the bottom of 

 the boat, the force of the explosion acting directly on the water 

 without, to drive the boat forward or astern. The cylinder or rather 

 globe, of steel is placed well aft, at the commencement of the run, 

 and below it are four rectangular ports— two opening forward, one on 

 each side of tbe keel, and two opening aft. Each of these may be 

 opened or closed at will. Beside the steel globe there is a small 

 steam engine with a vertical boiler, an air condenser and a tank for 

 petroleum, and a small dynamo. In operation the globe is filled 

 with condensed air from the condenser, into which a spray of 

 petroleum is injected and ignited by an electric spark, exploding 

 with great violence against the water in the opening. With forty or 

 more explosions per minute it is expected to drive the vessel at a 

 very high speed. The vespel itself, which was launched on Nov. 25, 

 is ibOf t. long, lift, wide and 7ft. 6in. depth of hold, drawing 4rt. bin. 

 The new propeller was invented by John Secor, whose father, Samuel 

 Secor, is so well known in connection with the --ecor Iron Works. A 

 company has been formed to test it and to build the new motors. 



DETROIT YACHTING.— The honors in the .second class have gone 

 to the Jennie J., a keel sloop, who won the Ives cup, the Westcott 

 cup and the champion pennant. Another prize winner has been the 

 new third class cutler Nona, 24ft. over all, 19ft. waterhne. Oft. beam, 

 4ft. 3in. draft and 4}^ tons displacement, with IJ^ tons of iron on keel 

 and the same amount inside. Launched this spring, she has not been 

 beaten this season, and now holds the championship flag. Both 

 Jennie J. and Nona were designed by Mr. E B. Wendell, of Detroit, 



THE DEATH OF MR. WHITE.— Mr. S. Nelson White, one of the 

 oldest members of the Seawanhaka C. Y. C, died lately after an ill- 

 ness of two weeks, from typhoid fever. Mr. White has long been 

 identifled with the Saihng Committee of the club, and to his personal 

 efforts much of the success of the regattas is due. Personally he was 

 known and hked by all of his fellow members and his death will be 

 a serious loss to the club. 



GALATEA.— Lieut. Henn's cutter is now at Payne's, Southhamp- 

 ton, where her inside ballast has been removed. ianrZ mid Water 

 says: "This vessel will undergo considerable alterations of trim, 

 and it is beheved that next year she will make a bid for the America 

 Cup. 



DISMASTING OF A SCHOONER YACHT.-On Nov. 3 the schooner 

 tortuna, Mr. Adrian Hope, bound from England to the Mediter- 

 ranean, was dismasted in a gale off Gozo. The foremast carried 

 away, crushing the life boat. The bowsprit was cut away and both 

 anchor.s dropped. A telegram was sent to Malta and the steam 

 criuser Hellespont came to her aid, towing her to Malta for repairs 



STOVES FOR SMALL BOATS. -Nei^ijort News, Ya . Nov 14-' 

 Editor Forest and Stream: Can you tell me what is the best stove 

 for a 14ft. sneakbox, and where to get it? I see "Seneca'* uses an oil 

 stove, but I find it dirty.— Fred'k G. Warburton. 



YACHT FOR SALE.— Yachtsmen wUl find on another page an ad- 

 vertisement of a schooner yacht for sale, suited for cruising and 

 sporting purposes. ' 



^mwer^ to §armfiandmt^. 



No Notice Taken ol Anonymous CoTrespondenta. 



S. O. G.— The lead and powder were 1 to 1 in weight. 

 M. L. v., Savannah, Ga,— Try the article advertised as such in this 

 paper. 



S. X,. Newark,— Mr. Stoddard, of Glens Falls, N. Y., has a number 

 of views of the last canoe meet. 



G. C. E.— The pedigree of Jule is: Jule (A. 1042), by St. John (Snap- 

 shot-Belle) out of Folly (Rock— Whisper). 



H. H. B.— The moment when the recoil commences coincides 

 exactly with the moment of the initial movement of the projectile. 



C. W, C— We cannot just now refer pou to any kennel of the breed 

 you require. The dogs are occasionally advertised in our cohimns. 



R, W., Canton, N Y.— It would depend on relative area and posi- 

 tion of sails. Ordinarily a .sloop would require the jib to pay her off. 



H, B., Barrytown, K. Y.— For information about Florida see the 

 Florida Annual, which we can send you (price .50 cents), or consult 

 Dr. Henshail's "Camping and Cruising in Florida," price' $1.50. 



W. M. C, Coming, N. Y.— Wet the canvas and coat with boiled oil, 

 with a little terebin dryer mixed in. When it is thoroughly dry u,se 

 white lead and boiled oil paint; lO ounce duck is heavy enough for 

 ordinary use. 



F- N., New York,— 1. Having designed the boat to outside of the 

 plank, you can "cake off" the plank in your drawing and give the 

 builder the moulded breadths to lay off from. In some eases the 

 builder would prefer to take off the plank himself from your draw- 

 ings, 2. There is no set price per foot. Give your specifications to 

 the builder and let him estimate on them. 3. We have been promised 

 the lines, but have not yet received them. 



ON A THAMES STEAMER. 



A SHORT time ago I went for a trip down the Thames on one 

 of the compauy's steamers, and during the journey found 

 considerable amusement in v^atching the cliaracters on board. 

 Two persons in pai-ticular attracted my notice. One was a 

 middle-aged gentleman, stout, rather sm-ly and taciturn, who 

 paid no attention to any living Ijeing on board, except a huge 

 Newfoundland dog that sat panting and lolling out his tongue, 

 or roaming among the passengers, pushing thiem out of the 

 way, frightening ciiildi-en, and convincing nei-vous ladies that 

 he was going mad by the vigor with ryhich he struck out his 

 legs while rolhug on his back upon the deck. His master 

 eyed these ijranks with a sly smile, and seemed to enjoy the 

 terror occasioned by the antics of his burly friend. 



The other person whom I especially noticed, was a pretty 

 and well dressed lady, and she had with her a little girl about 

 7 yeai-s old, who called her "mamma." The lady was 

 evidently possessed of nerve. Indeed she seemed to be 

 possessed by them, and their name was legion. Endless were 

 the petty annoyances to which they subjected her: infinite the 

 dilemmas in which they involved tier. But her keenest suffer- 

 ings in this smaU way vvere caused by the unwieldy gambols 

 of Tiger, the Newfoundland dog, and her.ineessant and puerile 

 exclamations of terror, indignation and spite against the 

 good-natured brute kejjt up the sly, maUcious smile upon the 

 Hps of his apparently unnoticing master. The little girl, on 

 the contrary, had , to the increased alarm of the weak mother, 

 made fiiends with the monster, and for a long time amused 

 herself with thi-owing bits of biscuit for liim to catch, which 

 feat, notwithstanding 1:he incorrectness of her aim, he managed 

 to accomplish, by making a boisterous plunge to one side or 

 the other; and when at last she timidly offered him a piece out 

 of her hand, and he aclmowledged the compliment by licking 

 her face, the little darling f au-ly screamed with delight. Her 

 mother screamed, too, but it was one of the hysterical screams 

 in which she was fond of indulging, and was followed by an 

 outburst of anger at Tiger's familiarities. 



"Good gracious!" she exclaimed. "If that horrid creature 

 should be mad he'll ha.ve killed my child! And hqw dirty he 

 iSj too! Look at your dress, Mabel; see what a state it is in! 

 How dare you play with that animal?'! 



This transition from hydrophobia to a soiled dress was too 

 much for Tiger's master, and he burst in to a long, loud laugh, 

 "I wish, sir," said the lady snappishly, "that you would 

 call away that dog, instead of setting him on to annoy every- 

 body wlio is not accustomed to have such dirty animaJs about 

 thein-'' 



The gentleman said nothing, but bowed and walked for- 

 ward; and I soon after saw him smoking a cigar, while Tiger 

 played the agreeable in his own rough fashion to people who 

 knew how to read the expression of his honest and inteUigont 

 physiognomy. 



Little Mabel, deprived of the attraction which had fixed 

 her attention to the interior of the boat, be^an to seek amuse- 

 ment in watching the foaming -water as it inshed from the 

 paddle wheels and danced in long lines lazily behind them. 

 She knelt on an overcoat which a feUow passenger had kindly 

 lent as a cushion for her little knees and leaned quietly over 

 the side, watching the roaring water; so her mother was for a 

 time I'eheved from the thousand-and-one vexations which 

 had hitherto beset her. 



"We were now within a few miles of Gravesend. The tide 

 was jast at the full and the broad expanse of the river lay 

 around us in all its majesty ; and to those who have never 

 beheld blae Hudson or the Mississippi, old "Father Thames" 

 is majestic, aye, and if we place in the balance the historic, 

 political and commercial importance of the ti'ansactions of 

 which his broad breast is and has been the highway, our 

 "time honored ' river will not lose its diginty even when com- 

 pared with those giant floods of the West. 



Such thoughts as these, however, did not trouble Mabel's 

 httle head, which began, I could sec, to grow giddy with the 

 continual whirl beneath her. A large seaweed that was 

 dashed up by the paddle caught her attention. It sank, then 

 rose, whh-led round in a short eddy and then darted out in 

 the long eddy and was left behind the steamer. She leaned 

 forwai-d to watch its progress; further, further, till her httle 

 neck was stretched ; presently she lost her balance and toppled 

 over into the roaring flood. In a moment all was confusion 

 on board. Men were shouting for ropes and boats; to stop 

 the steam; cries of "A child overboard 1" "Who can swim?" 

 and a thousand other cries and questionings. But above all 

 arose the poor mother's heai-t-rendtng shrieks, too painfully^ in 

 earnest now; and she alone, forgetting in the fond, instinctive 

 devotion of maternal love that even could she reach her child 

 she could only sink with her, endeavored to leap into the 

 water to save her. 



Suddenly Tiger, followed closley by his master, came tear- 

 ing aloug the deck, knocking tlie people to right and left ; 

 they sprang into the boat that hung at the stern, everybody 



fiving way before the determined energy of both man and 

 og. Tiger looked anxiously in his master's face and uttered 

 a short low bark, 

 '•TV ait," said the latter in reply, "where was she seen last?" 

 "There, su-," replied a sailor promptly, "tliere, beside that 

 piece of plank." 



