FOREST AND STREAM. 



|£eb. SS, 1886. 



reaches. Below Philadelphia the Delaware is as clearly marked by 

 all the aids to navigation as any one could wish. Range lights give 

 the course for every bend and turn in the channel clear out 10 sea. 



The approach to the great city was heralded many miles in advance. 

 Suburban towns grew' thicker and larger, manufactories multiplied 

 alone the shores, shipping on the river was met, and a huge peniten- 

 tiary spoke eloquently, if sadly, of the multitudes near by. Theskies 

 became murky with smoke, and tall stacks and towers could be made 

 out dimly in the distance, rearing their heads aloft like grim sentinels. 

 Suddenly, upon rounding Point No Point, the huge pile of brick and 

 mortar hurst npou the view, the city front stretching round a curve 

 in the river some twelve miles long;. Pier upon pier jutted out, a 

 forest of spars and steamers' stacks forming a gray fringe to the 

 reddish c&st of the warehouses and buildings. With the smoke rose 

 a dull roar from the teemiug streets, from forge and mills and a 

 thousand other sources. The scene upon the river was one of life and 

 busy hurry. Tugs puffed and snorteci short of breath as they tugged 

 at one ship, pushed at another or backed out with a third. Perry 

 boats plied from shore to shore with mathematical precision. 

 "Tramp" steamers, flying the British flag, were Ailing up with coal 

 at the docks in Richmond, so were countless other vessels. The 

 clang of hammers resounded from the ship yards and boiler shops of 

 KenstogtotJ, where little black objects were clustered about the iron 

 hulls of ships in embryo, like so many bees about a hive. Ships lay 

 to their anchors in the channel; schooners with deckloads of lumber 

 had taken up their berths off Camden previous to discharging. 

 Yawls, with pilots, police, junkmen and what not sped hither and 

 thither, and all of them had a look and a remark of some sort to 

 ftiake as Coot, now staggering before ayouuggale, drove through 

 the whole fleet. 



A large three-master with all sail set was hanging onto her an 

 chors in the strong flood now running. The Coot, passing under her 

 lee, -was totally becalmed and jibed several times, till the tide took 

 her astern clear of the clutch of the schooner, for a fresh attempt to 

 get through. The schooner was a long distance off, and the wind 

 had the strength of a gale. I never before saw such an absolute calm 

 created under the circumstances. It seemed ridiculous to see the 

 Coot jibing over and wholly unmanageable for want of steerage- 

 way, without apparent cause, while a gale was blowing. A few min- 

 ute's later she was rounded to under the lee of Windmill Island and 

 the anchor let go in 7ft. The rim for the day, from 9 A. M. to 4:30, 

 was twenty-hvemfles. There bad been Ave and a half boars of ebb 

 and two of flood. The run opened and closed in half a gale, but the 

 greater part of the day the wind was light and somewhat variable. 

 There was no ice to be seen;, while the upper reaches were still quite 

 full. This was a great consolation, as it promised a quiet night, free 

 from fighting the driveice. At dusk the temperature was 28°. Pulled 

 ashore to rauiden for some provisions. Next day paid a visit to 

 Philadelphia and despatched mail. Early the following morning the 

 anchor was lifted, with the wind fresh from N.W. and the thermom- 

 eter considerably below freezing. 



The river spreads out into broad reaches below the city and navi- 

 gation becomes an easy task. There is enough room to heat down 

 in long boards if required. The shoals and bars are well buoyed, and 

 range lights will serve to give the courses for each bend. With a 

 chart there can not he the slighest trouble in clear weather. The 

 Coot took a strong northwester down past Gloucester, League Island 

 and Fort Mifflin, then to the southward of Little Tinicum Island, 

 down to Chester and Marcus Hook, where the wind suddenly failed 

 a little afternoon. The boat was anchored near shore till 3 P.M., 

 when a light wind from N. struck in. This served to carry us down 

 to Wilmington, where harbor for the night was made in the dying 

 breaths of the breeze. Distance run from 8 to 7 P. M.. twenty-eight 

 ruile<. At Wilmington the Delaware is a mile and a half wide, and 

 in a northeaster the wind has a sweep of about eight miles. 



It so happened that when slowly drifting by the shipyards and 

 foundries and smelters of Chester, I fell in with a 30ft. sloop, bound 

 down to tend oyster floats in the lower bay. The two boats closed in 

 with one an oi her, and, after hailing, we swapped yarns in general. 

 Aboard the sloop were two young men from Chester, who proved 

 intelligent and agreeable acquaintances. They werefamiliar with the 

 river, and we proposed keeping each other company on the passage 

 down The t oot, being faster with sheet lifted, got quite a lead, and 

 I brought her by after dark to learn from the sloop where to make 

 harbor. When she could be hailed. I asked about going in the mouth 

 of Christiana Creek or coming to off shore above it. Tbey answered 

 to anchor below the creek, because there was a new breakwater 

 "there," referring, as I afterward learned, to the upper bank of the 

 river, but which I understood as jutting out from the lower bank and 

 forming a lee south of it. No breakwater was marked on my chart, 

 as it is of recent construction. Giving sheet, I made for the red light 

 on the end of the breakwater, keeping inshore of the light to make 

 the mouth of the creek, taking the light to be on the lower bank. It 

 was pitch dark when I rounded to, and anchored In what I thought 

 the mouth, the lights of Wilmington shining brightly a short distance 

 inland When my friends of the sloop fetched in there were explan- 

 ations I found 'mvself iD a bight above the breakwater, and the 

 latter jutting out from the upper or northern bank of the Christiana. 

 This cut US off from retreat into the creek, but as quite a brisk breeze 

 struck in from south just then, we concluded to remain where we 

 were for the i ight, as it looked like the right side. As a matter of 

 course the wind soon went clear round the compass and came out a 

 mild gale from N. E., the worst quarter in our situation. In the dark 

 we bad anchored close to a row of outlying piles and some ancient 

 cribbing, and the northeaster tailed i>s right on to these obstructions. 



During the night it came on quite heavy and a big sea rose. With 

 break of dav things had an ugly look as we made preparations to 

 clear out The sloop was inshore of the Coot and only a few lengths 

 away Both boa ts were dragging on to the piles and no delav could 

 be permitted. Knowing by experience the difficulty of casting a cat- 

 boat in close quarters, and the very small chance there was tor suc- 

 ceeding with the boat pitching nose under, the outlook was not very 

 rirotm'sing I got two-reefed sail on her, and quickly hauled m the 

 Anchor line, seeking to cast the boat by the last strain in breaking 

 out The deck-s were so slippery with ice that rapid work up m the 

 eves was impossible. As the anchor broke, a sea knocked the Coot 

 off the. wrong way. She paid inshore down upon the sloop. There 

 was no time to lose. The anchor had to be hastily left on deck with 

 the line in loose coils. I got aft as best I could on the slippery decks 

 with nothing to clutch hold of. Then took the stick and watched a 



chance to put the Coot around before collision. She would not stay 

 in the sea, but losing way drifted astern on to the piles. In the nick 

 of time I forced her around with the sweep. But she gathered head- 

 wav very slowly in the sea, drifting and jumping off broadside three 

 feet to every one ahead. Like, all light-weight boats, she was of no 

 account m critical moments. Fortunately the row of piles had 

 come to an end where the Coot drifted across the line of 

 their prolongation, otherwise she would have been badly 

 sE» She was now in danger of sagging down upon 

 the breakwater unless put around. This was accomplished 

 by vigorous use of the * sweep and it looked as though the 

 Coot would fetch out of the box after all. But this was not to be 

 She lost her way in an unaccountable manner. Perhaps the board 

 was in the mud. I triced it up wttti all possible speed, bhe still re- 

 fused to budge, but siowly came into the wind in spite of the helm. 

 Lookiug over the stern for a solution of her queer behavior, the cause 

 was clear as the noonday sun. From over her lee quarter trailed the 

 Anchor Hue, and the anchor, which had slipped off the deck and had 

 taken a Arm grip m the cement-like bottom. The whole 25£ms. of 

 cable bad run out till the boat was fetched up by the "bitter end" 

 which had luckily been hitched round the mast. After coming round 

 on the other tack the Coot swept down on the breakwater in a large 

 chele with the anchor as the center. The line held her a few feet 

 clear of the bulkhead, against which the icy seas dashed in great 

 furv lashing their foaming crests over the obstruction in showers of 

 spray When the Coot had brought the wind astern she tugged with 

 might and main at the line as though intent upon butting her life out 

 against the heavy cribbing, The anchor had by this time become so 

 firmly embedded that the boat did not gain an inch. There were not 

 very "many inches to spare. All this happened m a few moments. I 

 clambered along to the mast to lower the sail. The halliards were 

 icy and frozen in the blocks. The sail refused to come down I was 

 m the verge of cutting it adrift, when the throat answered to pro- 

 longed efforts and was roused half way down the mast. Then balanc- 

 ing out on the boom, holding on by the lazy- jacks, the peak was 

 flnallv persuaded to follow, about when I was exhausted with fingers 

 £,T«en stiff Hastily snugging the sail I dove into the cabin to thaw 

 out. The tide fell, leaving the Coot aground. When the flood had 

 once more lifted her off she was hauled out clear and lay to 15f ms. of 

 line in lfm. of water all day long, while the gale lasted. 

 Thigh sea was pouring into the bight and tbe gale at times grew 

 vicious The anchor had such a hold however that there was no 

 immediate danger of dragging ashore. In the cabin , with the i stove 

 Mine it was comfortable enough. During tbe afternoon, the wind 

 got round more to the east and the temperature moderated. Hail, 

 sleet and rain followed. By sundown the force of t ; ie wind had been 

 broken- it then veered slowly round the south, which gave the boat 

 the protection of the breakwater. The following morning broke 

 with ram and mist and light northerly airs. These were utilized 

 with the early ebb to lift the Coot the remaining 10 miles down to 

 Delaware City, where she arrived at noon and hauled alongside the 

 bulkhead which runs out into the river forming a partial harbor. Off 

 the range lights below New Castle, the boat was tacked out mto the 

 river the variable wind having backed to southwest. This leg off 

 shore took her over the shoal known as the Bulkhead m the vicinity 

 of black buoy No. 21. Upon coming round agam tor Delaware City, 

 the boat lost ner way, the board evidently dragging through the mud, 



COMBINED YACHT WINDLASS AND PUMP. 



Sounding with the lead gave only 5fc, yet the chart showed nothing 

 less than 10ft. From this and similar experience on other occasions, 

 the conclusion is justified that shoal soundings on the chart are not 

 to be relied upon. The sands evidently shift and mud flats grow or 

 are washed away, just as we often hear of the beach at Coney Island 

 making in one locality and disappearing in another. Only where the 

 bottom is hyrd and permanent can reliance be placed upon the 

 soundiugs within buoyed channels. Small boats will do well to bear 

 this In ti ind, as they seek to identify their position in foggy weather 

 by a cast of the lead or count upon making small creeks and Inlets for 

 the nicbt. Many schooners were passed on the run, some at anchor 

 waiting for the flood, o'hers bound down In company. Few of the 

 local craft took any notice of the Coot. But one fine vessel was an 

 exception. The skipper came to the rail and asked all about tbe 

 yacht with apparent Interest in her movements. Passing under her 

 stem I read that she hailed from Providence, R. L, and that was 

 enough to account for the skipper's interest. He knew what a yacht 

 was and especially a catboat; possibly he may have owned one in 

 his home waters, where they are as plentiful as blackberries. 



There is a fine basin inside the first lock of the canal at Delaware 

 City, into which you should haul at once upon arrival, I thought the 

 Coot safe enough outside and proceeded to lay in fresh provisions, 

 not wishing to tow through until next day. At midnight the wind 

 came out heavy again from N.E. and kicked up Buch a disturbance, 

 that the boat was hauled up to the lock and the tenders roused out 

 of a doze around the comfortable fire in their watch house. They 

 are used to this sort o f thing, as boats pass in and out at all hours of 

 the night. Without grumbling they opened the gates, and at t A. M. 

 the yacht was snugly tied up in tbe city basin, where repose came 

 without fear of the whistling wind overhead. Next morning the 

 officials in the office were interviewed. A document was procured 

 which set forth that the Coot had paid $4 for canal fees and $3 for a 

 tow through. Considering that the canal is only 13 miles long with 

 but two locks, the fee was rather stiff, nearly twice the amout charged 

 for the Raritan canal of 43 miles In point of care and keep this Del- 

 aware and Chesapeake canal will not compare with the other It is 

 a private enterprise and the biggest dividends with the least expendi- 

 ture accounts for its more or less dilapidated state. 



The locks are 220ft. long and 24ft. wide. Vessels of 9ft. draft can 

 pass, though I saw many shoal spots and lumps, so that a pilot is 

 advisable for deep draft boats. From Philadelphia to Delaware City 

 the distance is 42 miles. From Chesapeake City, at the western end 

 of the canal, to Havre de Grace is 25 miles, and to Baltimore is 5fi 

 miles. Regular steam towing is carried on from Baltimore to Phila- 

 delphia, so that, if desired, you may tow the entire distance down 

 from New York, a total of 215 miles. But that would not be yacht- 

 ing, though it would appeal to the tastes of those who see in yachting 

 nothing but the means to some other end. such as "getting there." 

 Yachts under 20 tons Custom House pay $8 for towing by a team of 

 three mules. From 20 to 30 tons the charge is $3-25. From 30 to 40 

 tons. $3 50, and so on. For 100 tons the charge is $5. No sailing is 

 permitted, but steaming through is allowed. The canal company has 

 also control of the navigation of Back Creek, the river leading from 

 Chesapeake City into the Elk, one of the upper arms of thegreat bay. 

 The regulation applying t<> the creek are similar to those of the U. S, 

 Government, and relate to anchoring clear of the fairway, lights, 

 etc. Steamers are restricted to a speed of three miles and must keep 

 mid channel, The States of Maryland and Delaware have passed acts 

 legalizing the rules aud penalties of the canal company. 



A bright boy with a bright half-dollar in his palm, bitched up his 

 mules at 8 A. M., and took the Coot along spinning at full trot of the 

 motive power. In less than four hours we had passed out of the 

 western lock and tied up to a staging in the pool forming the harbor 

 of Chesapeake City. The canal, for tbe greater part of its length is 

 wide, many basins for the storage of water being formed by the over- 

 flow of adjacent field". The channel, however, is close to the tow- 

 path and no wider than usual. Nearing the western end, the canal 

 contracts through the "deep cut," the banks of which are in some 

 places 7Bft high. To dig through this "divide" between the waters 

 flowing east and west was quite an undertaking. You may have to 

 lav hy in some turn out to let tows pass through, as there is scant 

 room for two boats abreast and danger of colliding round the bends. 

 The canal is kept open all winter by tugs with long sharp plows at- 

 tached to their bows, and traffic by steam continues throughout the 

 year. Chesapeake City has the air of a southern country settlement. 

 The streets are slovenly, the houses and shanties scattered about, 

 pigs and chickens are on familiar terms with the inhabitants, and a 

 general raggedness prevails. There is a good store m the same build- 

 ing with the post office at the head of the bridge. Newspapers can be 

 found at the principal druggist's, over which an estimable lady with 

 two attractive daughters presides. The post office is an ill smelling 

 little den, with a war-worn cripple in dilapidated habiliments to 

 maintain the dignity of Uncle Sam 



When the Coot had made fast, the northerly wind of the day had 

 blown itself out and the fresh calm waters of Back Creek speedily 

 froze over solid. That same day the towing steamer had been obliged 

 to out back with her barges owing to tbe accumulation of ice in the 



'' : -e , , . ,1, C?,,.w. ,,..(, o tits n hlrtolrinf* thft TiAKH.IfJ-e 



A COMBINATION PUMP AND WINDLASS. 



AVERY compact and serviceable combination of two essentials on 

 every vessel is shown in tbe accompanying cuts of a pump and 

 windlass in one. One casting carries a hollow vertical pillar, the top 

 of which forms two bitts. A bracket arm on one side of this pillar 

 serves as a bearing for a short shaft, on which is a pump brake of the 

 ordinary construction. A larger shaft passing through the pillar in 

 a transverse direction carries two revolving heads, either gipsy or 

 wildcat, as desired. Within the pillar is fitted a suction and force 

 pump of strong and simple construction, piped to take water from the 

 bilge or from outboard, and fitted with two nozzles for hose. Beside 

 the ordinary purposes of a bilge pump it can be used for washing 

 down decks, fire, etc. 



The pump is connected bv a rod to an arm on the short shaft which 

 carries the pump brake. When tbe windlass only is in use the brake, 

 which operates in the usual manner, turns freely on the shaft, but 

 when it is desired to use the pump a pm is inserted in a hole through 

 the brake and the shaft, as shown in the cross section, rigidly con- 

 necting them. 



A special feature of the arrangement is that in heaving in a chain 

 the pump may be kept at work, throwing a steady stream of water 

 over tbe cable and anchor until they are clean. 



The Manton Windlass and Steam Steerer Company, of Providence, 

 are the makers. 



REPAIRING AN OLD BOAT — Just when it Is worth while to repair 

 an old boat or when it is better to dispose of her entirely ami build 

 anew, la a question that vachtmen are often called on to consider. If 

 the boat is old or weak It is seldom worth while to undertake more 

 than painting and small repairs, but one* in it tbe fate of most men 

 is like that of a correspondent of the Model Yachtsman, who tells his 

 story as follows: "Last summer I toon up an old boat I had a great 

 affection for, to put new decks on her. When arranging that I 

 thought 'This boat has been deficient in rreeboard, so I will give her 

 six inches more.' That necessitated a new sternpost, which in any 

 case it was well to renew, as the old one was shaken. Material was 

 obtained, work commenced by two carpenters, when I thought I had 

 better give her a new keel and put all the ballast thereon, giving it 

 plenty of siding, and accordingly the keel was prepared. I intended 

 backing the old floors, but on cousiJeration I thought this would be 

 but a clumsy joo. so I resolved to give her steel angle floors; when 

 making the patterns for these I remembered there had always been 

 too much hollow in the floor, now is the time to take it out, and there- 

 fore the new floors had a good deal less hollow than the old ones. 

 This necessitated new floor planking, and I had only thought of new 

 garboards when I determined to give her a new keel— the old planking 

 was as sound as the dav she was built, with the exception of a couple 

 of planks on each bilge. With the new floor planking of course the 

 bilge was renewed, and then I thought tbe bow too hollow above 

 the waterline, so I filled it out and ended by planking her up with the 

 new stuff to the cowering board, then the new deck— which alone I 

 had intended doing— was laid, and bow much of the old boat re- 

 mained? Just a few feet of the forefoot, no more, not even the 

 model, as floor, bow, and run aft were all altered. You will say after 

 this I had a failure, but. strange to say, I had not. She is faster and 

 a much better sea boat than ever." The writer was more fortunate 

 than most men who try such experiments, as the Ar al result was 

 satisfactory; but in most cases a large sum is expended with very 

 unsatisfactory results, and the new-old boat can never be disposed 

 of at a figure near the cost of the alterations. 



upherefor the winter," a dock hand remarked. Not much, I thought, 

 if I have to put skates under her and play arctic expedition, we are 

 bound to get through to warm latitudes by hook or by crook. The 

 third day a thaw set in. The towing steamer started out and cut a 

 wake through the glassy covering of Back Creek. This was my op- 

 nortunltv The Coot cast off her lines and for lack of a breath, 

 started to scull the ten miles down into Elk River, scorning a tow. as 

 not being legitimate to the programme. C. f. K. 



QUAKER CITY Y. C— Editor Forest and Stream: At the eleventh 

 annual meethig of the Q. C. ST. O, held on Feb 10, the foUowmgoffl- 

 cers were elected: Commodore, Charles E. Ellis, yacht OlgafVice- 

 Commodore. Thos. S. Manning, Sunbeam; Rear-Commodore, Chas. H. 

 Wilson, Ariel; President, Dr. W. H. Vallette; Secretary, Wm.S Hoff- 

 man ; Treasurer, Samuel P. Wright; Measurer , RufugG - W 'kn>s; 

 Trustee*— Hpnrv D Walls. R. P. Thompson, S. A. Wood. Thomas 

 Manning; Regatta Commi tee-Wm. J. Walker, E. A. Hildebrandt, 

 Henry C Funic, Oswald McAllister, R. M. Fitch, Jr The name of the 

 yacht M. H. Thomas, of the third class, was changed by ber owner to 

 Agile, and R. R. Whitehead, of Trenton, entered the new sloop yacht 

 Anita on the yacht roll of the club. A committee was appointed to 

 felect a new club house. Mr. Albert Box will enter bis new steam 

 yacht-length. 85ft.; beam, 12ft.-at the next meeting The yacht 

 Consort is to be rebuilt and lengthened.— Samuel B. 8. Bakth. 



A NEW YACHT FOR THE SOFT. CLASS.— Last week the lines o 

 anew yacht were laid down by Mr. Henry Piepgrass, of Greenpoint, 

 who will build her as rapidly as possible. The design is by Mr. A. 

 Carv Smith, for Mr. Adrian Iselin, 8. C. Y. C.. former owner of the 

 Rover. The new boat is a centerboard craft of modern fashion, 52ft. 

 oiu waterline, about 62ft, over all, 16ft. beam, 6ft. 6m. draft, and of 

 41 tons displacement, with 12 tons of lead on her keel, hhe has a long 

 overhang aft. with a shorter one at the bow. The keel is wide on the 

 bottom, and both lead and wood are shaped to the lines of the bull, 

 as is now the universal fashion. The rig will be a modified cutter. 



{^anoeing. 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Go. 



Canoeists are invited to send us notes and full reports of cruisea, 

 club meets, information about canoeable waters, and other commu- 

 nications of interest. 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Forest ano 

 Stream their addresses, with name, membership, signals, etc , of 

 their clubs, and also notices in advance of meetings and races, and 

 reports of the same. Canoeists and all interested in canoeing are 

 requested to forward to Forest and Stream their addresses, with 

 togs of cruises, reaps, and information concerning their local waters, 

 drawings or descriptions of boats and fittings, and all items relating 

 to the sport. 



AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION. 



O ECRFTARY— Dr. C. A. Neid6. Schuylerville, N. Y. Candidates for 

 O membership must forward their names, accompanied by the re- 

 commendation of an active member of the A. C. A., together with 

 the sum of $3 for initiation fee and first year's dues, to the secretary, 

 who will present the names to the commodore. Money should be 

 sent by registered letter, or money order oh Saratoga Springs, N. Y. 



THE A. C A. TROPHY. 



WE have received the following letter from Vice-Commodore 

 Wilkin, A. C. A., concerning the prize to be offered next 

 August on tbe occasion of tbe visit of the English canoeists to the 

 meet at Grindstone. The wording of tbe first clause of the resolu- 

 tion was: "In view of the approaching visit of the EDghsh canoeists 

 be it resolved that a trophy be offered for competition at the next 

 A. C. A. meet, under A. C. A. rules, open to all A C. A. men and 

 members of any recognized foreign canoe club, the trophy to be the 

 property of the winner." . , 



Since the attention of canoeists has been drawn more closely to the 

 matter, the idea has been expressed by many that a challenge cup 

 would be more appropriate and would conduce more to the interests 

 of canoeing than one prize to be given outright. The presentation of 

 a prize valued at two or three hundred dollars is in direct opposition 

 to the principles laid down and closely followed by the Association, 

 and though the special occasion which it is intended to commemor- 

 ate may justify It, there seems to be no good reason why a challenge 

 cup would not better answer the proposed end. It is highly probable 

 that the senior class, as proposed by Mr. Gibson, wil be created next 

 Z r In which case some of the leading sailors will be retired from 

 the programme races of the meet, and as yet no prizes are provided 

 for them Doubtless some will be forthcoming, but an Association 

 Challenge Cup will offer more Bporfc and ensure a livelier competition 

 a^onsr these experts than any minor prize. Tbe cup may be made 

 a perpetual challenge trophy to be raced for 'at the meet each year 

 if held In this country, or to be raced for abroad if won by a for- 



