April 1, 1886 ] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



195 



CRUISE OF THE COOT. 



xvni. 



THE contemplated run for the Coot this day was the short distance 

 of fifteen miles round Sandy Point, up the Severn to Annapolis, 

 the capital of Maryland. The day was fine for a wonder, with a 

 moderate wind from S. W. , which made it a comfortable full and by 

 down to the shoal, which makes out three-quarters of a mile from 

 Sandy Point. A new screw pile lighthouse, white light varied with red 

 flashes, has been erected on the extremity, the old tower still stand- 

 ing on shore as a landmark. The Coot passed inside the light and 

 found spots several feet shoaler than figured on the chart. Two miles 

 above this point vou pass the narrow mouth of the Magothy River, 

 an estuary in which oystering is carried on extensively. The entrance 

 Is buoyed. After passing in. Deep Creek, on the port hand, affords 

 anchorage, with the wind from E. round to W., while Dobbin's Island, 

 in a large bight on the starboard hand, acts a9 a bieak water for 

 everything from W.. N. and E. There are also many other coves and 

 creeks further up. The river itself is a large sheet of water, five miles 

 long and a mile wide, with two fathoms of water and nine feet on the 

 bar between buoys. The shores are bold bluffs, alternating with low 

 ground, and very attractive. This confluent itself, though but one 

 out of scores of similar stretches connecting with the Chesapeake, 

 will supply weeks of interesting cruising and sport to a catboat like 

 the Coot. In local vernacular the river's name is pronounced Mag- 

 goty, with the stress on the first syllable. 



From Sandy Point the coast line turns in almost at right angles 

 and trends away southwesterly to Hackett's Point, which you give a 

 tolerable berth if bound round into the cove, with Mill and White 

 Hall creeks at the head for snug anchorage. But if bound for An- 

 napolis, vou haul up to S.W. for Greenbury's Point across the cove. 

 On the headland, the northern extremity of the Severn River, there is 

 a small lighthouse, with building attached, and a clump of green 

 trees. Witii less than 7ft. draft, give the point a fair berth and cut 

 across to pick up the channel buoys, which will lead you up to the 

 city. If drawing 7ft. or more, keep well out coming from Hacketfs 

 and make the red can buoy off Greenbury to starboard, as it tnark9 

 the tongue of sand projecting to the S.E. from the Point. Leave it 

 on either hand, as there is 16ft. inside of it for some distance before it 

 shoals fast. 



The Coot having been knocked off bv the wind backing to the south- 

 ward, stretched well across to Kent Island from Sandy Point, then 

 flung round for the harbor, with the dome of the historic old State 

 Capitol towering majestically above the town clustered beneath and 

 radiant in the sun in the many-colored tints of its houses. Prominent 

 objects, familiar objects, met the gaze ahead. Right up the channel, 

 ia full view, the trim park of Uncle Sam's far-famed Naval Academy 

 caught the eye with pleasing effect. Broad lawns, handsome build- 

 ings and public edifices, piers, fort, armories and gunnery ships, 

 splendid in fresh paint, spoke of the care and solicitude bestowed by 

 a great nation upon this seat of nautical training and instruction. 

 To me the sight was one of utmost gratification. 1c was fifteen years 

 since, to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," we "broke ranks" 

 from the final dress parade on the sward facing the Admiral's quar- 

 ters. Amid cheers we rushed for our quarters to don full regimentals, 

 frock tad coats with gold lace and shoulder knots, gorgeous swords 

 and smart naval caps, each one of our grand old "class of '70" armed 

 with a parchment certifying our graduation and admission to "the 

 line" of Uncle Sam's bold navy. From the hands of General Grant 

 we had received these documents in person, with a few commenda- 

 tory words from the great chieftain, which made the day doubly 

 precious. From that hour we were ready to fight tooth and nail 

 through Uncle Sam's battles, but as the generous-minded soul had 

 no particular quarrels on hand, we drew our pay with utmost 

 promptitude instead. As the Coot approached and the ports of the 

 old Santee could be counted, the very muzzles of the guns which had 

 many a time sent volleys across the waters and shot and shell at tar- 

 gets in the bay at my command to my "division." peered from the 

 noble frigate's shining side like so many old friends welcoming back 

 tne wanderer to their fold. One by one' objects of great interest were 

 made out. A whole row of buildings was gradually opened, then a 

 particular dwelling, then a particular door, and last v a particular 

 window with which I had for years a most intimate acquaintance; 

 a window on the ground floor which served me well, from which you 

 could jump when bela'ed to slip unobserved into the rear rank of the 

 breakfast "formation" before the roll call had reached your name; 

 a window from which tbe*juicy lemon cakes— "snots" we then called 

 them for short— could be deftly purloined from "Frenchy." who had 

 the privilege from high quarters of wheedling us outof spare pennies 

 through his dainty sweets piled on top of his basket, which was, of 

 course, empty below, like shot m a pyramid; a window from which 

 our eagle eyes would catch the officer of the day on his rouuds and at 

 at sign still the noisy tumult within and send us flying to our books 

 to meet the stern official's "inspection" with the looks of innocent 

 babes, guileless as the angels above; a window from which the 

 "plebs" could be twitted, for it was in the good old days when hazing 

 was still a legitimate institution: from wnich fair damsels could be 

 cut up when passing to and fro: from wbich rose cheer upon cheer 

 from the spectators gathered within when one of "our class" brought 

 the pig down from the greased pole, or sent the big, puffy leather ball 

 through the goal by a dexterous kick, or made a home run round the 

 three bases; a window which, if it could speak, might many a tale of 

 youthful pranks and conspiracy unfold. And yet a window which 

 once played us shamefully false, as the cloud of smoke leaking 

 through its sashes betrayed' the sacrifice to the fragrant weed going 

 on within, and put us all on the "tobacco pledge" and brought us 

 down to smoking tea ! Fifteen years ago, but it all came back as if it 

 were but yesterday, and the inclination to dodge round the corner 

 and hide my cigar as the beardless, juvenile officer of the present day 

 sauntered down the brick-laid walk was an almost irresistible inclina- 

 tion on the part of the Coot's solitary crew 



Round the last black buoy the Coot swept with a rush, as sheet was 

 got in for a berth well up the harDor, in close company with a score 

 of swift, keen-nosed cauoes returning from their day's tonging. 

 These boats were all manned by our colored brethren, and most dex- 

 terously they managed their craft almost gunwale to with their 

 freight. They were racing to get alongside the piers first to unload 

 at the oyster houses and larger vessels awaiting the filling of tbeir 

 holds before casting off for more distant markets. As the colored 

 brother neared the aim of his day's ambition, he hurriedly took in 

 sail and set up a vigorous shouting and hailing and mouth-rtghtingin 

 his eagerness to maintaiu his right, of position, that the waters rang 

 far and near with his African patois, till a riot seemed imminent. Of 

 this nothing came, the colored citizen being happily given to fighting 

 it out with much objurgation and then accepting tne inevitable with 

 philosophic resignation. The Coot came in for a large share of their 

 objurgatory powers. She struck them most favorably, as any yacht 

 is likely to do, for paint and a large cabin go a great way by com- 

 parison with the rougher looks and more restricted conveniences of 

 working vessels. 1 ran the yacht close up to a shell beach below the 

 county bridge, crossing Spaw Creek, and dropped the hook in 9ft. 

 abreast the last market wharf, being familiar enough with the harbor 

 through former residence at the Academy. 



The port is easily entered night or day, and is snug and perfectly 

 protected. From 12 to 18ft at low water is found all over, unless vou 

 anchor close inshore. The Severn River extends 8 miles in a north- 

 westerly direction, ending in Round Bay. a mile and a half diameter. 

 The shores are bold, pretty bluffs and undulating country. You 

 carry from 3 to 5 fathoms clear up to the head, and 15ft. in the lateral 

 c reeks. In a ays gone by we used to work the. Dale, an old-time sloop- 

 of-war, square-rigged, all the way up to Round Bay for practice, so 

 an idea can be formed of the magnificent and imposing nature of the 

 Chesapeake's tributary arms, to which Long Island Sound pales by 

 comparison. There is no such cruising water as the Severn any- 

 where about New York or Boston short of the Maine coast, and that 

 is intricate, rock bound, blustering, uncongenial and foggy, except 

 for a few short months in midsummer. Yet in the Chesapeake, what 

 I have said concerning the Severn applies with equal force to hosts 

 of similar estuaries, bays, rivers and so-called creeks, cruising being, 

 moreover, enjoyable all year round, unless an exceptionally severe 

 winter, like the one just passed, should be experienced. O -casional 

 cold snaps may cause a few days' interruption, but the way is al ways 

 clear to escape in the south. Still these latitudes remain practically 

 unexplored, and strange to say. the sport has scarcely found a foot- 

 ing among the natives. One would suppose that a wealthy city like 

 Baltimore, the largest "fore-and-aft port." in the country, would 

 boast its yachts by the hundred, and that Norfolk would count hers 

 at fifty at least. With the exception of the Chesapeake Y. C., re- 

 cently organized by a few gentlemen of the eastern shore, there 

 seems no incfination whatever on the part of men to the manor born 

 to take, to the water, and ihey are ignorantof the splendid opportuni- 

 ties thrown in their way. Pe'rhaps with the fashion once set by the 

 more frequent appearance of yachts from the North, the discovery 

 of what has been so far missed will be made, so that the Chesapeake 

 towns may take their proper rank in a sport to which their location 

 especially invites them. 



Annapolis is a quaint little toy town, which appears to have been 

 dropped into the present age out of the basket of bygone limes. It 

 is still in the main a remnant of Wellington's era, and contiasts in 

 its small scale funnily with the huge planning we are accustomed to 

 in cities of modern descent. Evidently Annapolis grew and got ripe 

 before the age of steam. It represents labor by hand from cellar to 

 garret, from stone stoop to carved dormer window. It is neat, tidy 

 and tiny. Neat and tidy because nothing is going on to keep the 

 grass from growing between the identical stone pavements which 

 were laid in revolutionary period, when Annapolis was a central sun 

 to politics and society. Tiny, because you can almost reach to the 



cornice of its little but very complete buildings. They show by their 

 ornamentation in brick and wood that once a fashionable class ruled 

 from the streets converging at the capitol, and no doubt with all and 

 more of the imperiousness. cabals, vanities and competition 

 that characterize the nouveaux riches of New York's pet Murray 

 Hill. Once upon a time Annapolis had its "up town" and "down 

 town," its "west end" audits "city." But in these days of big dis- 

 tances and things, it does not even rank a mule-car line, and scarcely 

 rises to the dignity of more than a village. The old dwellings have 

 become stores, and small stores with a small assortment of goods. 

 Some have degenerated into boarding houses, though where the 

 people are expected from to join the festive hash is hard to say. The 

 legislative sessions bring a few stragglers from the country, and the 

 Naval Academy furnishes the basis of some support. The State 

 capitol, a fine structure even in the eyes of the present generation, 

 must have represented such an enormous effort and prodigal outlay 

 when first planned, that the handiwork of our worthy sires must 

 command respect, though the town itself fails to arouse admiration. 

 The capitol is situated on an elevation in an open circle, recently 

 marred by a stupid attempt at modernization, totally out of harmony 

 with the building itself. From it radiate the streets, avenues of the 

 olden time, and these are covered by sundry little back alleys, prob- 

 ably the Five Points, Minetta lanes and Baxter streets of a century 

 ago, the reveling hordes of which were also probably a source of 

 constant anxiety to the one town watchman, with his smoky oil lamp 

 and lame rattle. The capitol is replete with historic memorials and 

 relics. It is enough for me to remind the reader that Washington the 

 immortal resigned bis commission as General of the Revolutionary 

 Army in this same building. For further information let him come 

 and see himself, as it is not a guide book I am writing. In rear of 

 the capitol stands an ugly mansard-roofed "mansion" of modern 

 • tate. already out of date, flopped down among the remnants of an 

 interesting past, an uninteresting reminder of the insipid taste and 

 lack of conception characteristic of our own years. Then there are 

 some very respectable church edifices, one solitary dwelling of the 

 Americanized Queen-Anne-Swiss Chalet-Pagoda-Rhine Castle con- 

 glomerate red-painted order, a large Catholic college for priests of 

 some sort, a baby gas works, and a very few fairly commodious 

 modern residences of some of the old "first families," left behind. 

 There is also a railroad. If there had been no war there would have 

 been no railroad. Gen. Butler built the 20 mile connection with the 

 Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for the transport of troops. When hands 

 had been clasped across the chasm, it had to be sold. Somebody was 

 rash enough to buy it. As I knew the road, it still retained the old 

 U rails of aboriginal device, or what was left of them, and the con- 

 sumptive engine of the line ran at intervals on mud. The rolling 

 stock consisted of two cars tottering to the grave. A shanty or two 

 passed for depots, and one lonesome-looking side track of a few 

 yards length furnished the chance for imitating real roads and a rush 

 of business by furious backing up and shunting off the two lame cars, 

 the engine straining itself at whistling and bell clanging for an hour 

 before departure. I heard at the lime ugly rumors that this ghost of 

 a road was made the stalking horse for some of the wildest stock 

 manipulations and capital watering on the most approved Wall street 

 plans, but of course on a very tiny scale to correspond with the road's 

 oucolic surroundings. Time has done wonders, however. 



A general renovation has overcome the road and now the bold 

 engine, with a fierce headlight, sweeps into the new shed at a two- 

 mile rate, whistling loud and long for the crowds to make way, 

 whereupon the single small urchin within hearing walks off the track 

 with his hands in his pockets. A steamboat also makes daily connec- 

 t on with Baltimore. Industrially considered. Annapolis would be 

 only a small country store but for the trade in oysters, which has 

 assumed considerable magnirude. Socially considered, the place has 

 some attractions, and the outlying country is studded with fine farms, 

 some of them held by wealthy men from Northern cities. The country 

 is very healthy, and along the shores excellent and romantic sites for 

 dwellings are plentiful. I know several gentlemen from the North 

 who have settled here to escaDe the rigorous winters of higher lati- 

 tudes and to pass their age in quiet contentment and fresh supplies 

 reaped from a small patch of ground, chickens, cow and oyster beds. 

 Sport is good, birds and fish plentiful. From a purely yachting point 

 of view, few places can surpass or even equal the regions about An- 

 napolis. Sheltered or open water, with all the variations imaginable, 

 with depth enough for any type of boat, with shores clad in sylvan 

 beauty, with harbors in every direction, with stores and water at 

 hand and the route to the North or to the South open as you like, 

 with Baltimore and Washington within handy reach for metropolitan 

 excursions by land, combine to make the ancient colonial settlement 

 named in honor of Queen Anne a charming and inviting headquartei-s 

 for yachting purposes. I did gratify my longing eyes upon one nice 

 little black cabin sloop of about 80ft.. called the Elfin, belonging to a 

 gentleman owning a farm on Hackett's Bay. She is the sole repre- 

 sentative of the sport for many a mile around. 



To the attractions of the town itself the Naval Academy of course 

 lends the lion's share. Within the high walls of the Government 

 grounds is a city by itself, half military, half civic in characer: a 

 city in which dwells refinement and intellect of the highest degree 

 All that is agreeable in the amenities of social life, all that is attrac- 

 tive to the student of the art of warfare or of the sciences of peace is 

 within easy reach through the iron gateway granting admisson. 

 Fine buildings situated in a well preserved park, engineering and gun- 

 nery establishments, museums, libraries, laboratories, observatory, 

 model rooms, collections of great historic value, armories, monu- 

 ments, churches, hospitals, public music by the most proficient band 

 in America, the fine arts— all are well represented and accessible in 

 one form or another, with scholars and experts and specialists pre- 

 siding. Practice ships for drills, including frigates, a monitor, tor- 

 pedoes and steamers, a steam fire engine, gas works, and all the 

 addenda of a community upon the highest plane of civilization go to 

 make up the institution which has long been a pattern to all other 

 nations The flash of nobby uniforms, the parade of the smart 

 cadets, the soldierly marine corps, the fashionable fair sex, form an 

 ever-changing kaleidoscope of brilliant color and delightful form, 



upon which the amateur mariner, fresh from a great city, can feast 

 his eyes without stmt as a relief to his rough roaming at sea. 



The Co it swung round her anchor for three days, during balmy 

 weather and light southerly winds, which were an nnnnatural but 

 welcome break in the monotony of winter gales for which she subse- 

 quently paid dearly. Provisions for two weeks were laid in, a masf 

 coat was tacked about the « edges to keep the water from penetrating 

 below, and sundry odd jobs performed. New oars for the. skiff were 

 purchased and the water breaker refilled, To a light northwester she 

 got under way the morning of ihe fourth day and sailed oat past the 

 Herreshoff steamer Gleam and the gunb jat Gov. McLane, of the 

 Maryland oyster police. The Coot was bound south for a harbor as 

 far as wind and weather would permit. C. P. K. 



NEW JERSEY Y. C— The annual meeting of tne New Jersey 

 Yacht Club was held at their club nouse foot of 10th street, Hoboken, 

 N. J., on March 25, Commodore John H. Longstreet presiding, forty 

 members being present. The reports of the various officers were 

 read, that of the Treasurer being the most important, showing the 

 club to have a large surplus on hand. Mr. Charles I. Rogers, in his 

 annual report stated the amount of cash on hand at the beginning of 

 the past year, and the amount at the present time, and said that ihe 

 club was in better financial condition now than at auy previous 

 time, since its organization in 1873. The trustees in their report 

 through their chairman Com Dilworth. spoke of their improvements 

 made in the past year and of those contemplated, and said that on or 

 about May 1 the ferry from 14th street. New York, to 14th street, 

 Hoboken, will be in operation, aud wdl be a great convenience to 

 members hvingin New York city. The time it will take to get to the 

 club house being about seven and a half minutes. He also spoke of 

 tne electric light that bad been placed at the entrance to tne club 

 grounds, at the request of one of the trustees. After concluding his 

 report, on a motion to that effect, the trustees were c .nstituted a 

 committee cf the whole to procure plans and specifications for a new- 

 ways. The present ways are rather ancient, and by them yachts are 

 hauled out over rollers. The proposed ways will have a truck and 

 cradle, and by the cradle a boat may be moved anywhere on the 

 grounds. It is calculated that the ways will cost less that $500. 

 On a motion to that effect, a ballot for officers was taken, and the 

 following gentlemen elected for the ensuing year. Commodore, 

 William H. Dilwwth, of yacht Dare Devil; Vice Commodore, Henry 

 F. Ogden, Duplex (catamaran); Recording Secretary, William S. 

 Dilworth; Corresponding Secretary, George E. Gartlahd: Treasurer, 

 Charles I. Rogers; Financial Secretary, John D. Goetsehius; Measurer, 

 Arnold Jeanneret; Regatta Committee, Ed ward W, Ketcham, chair- 

 man, John Curtin and Martin V. B. Evesson. Trustees, Theophilus 

 Butts, chairman, Edwin A. Stevens, Edward W. Ketcham, James A/ 

 Reed and William Stone. Commodore Dilworth assumes the reins 

 after an absence of three years from the chair, and being hearlily in- 

 terested in yachting, and all that pertains to it, will infuse new blood 

 into the club. The fifteenth annual regatta will be sailed on Mon- 

 day, June 14, over the club course, startiug from Bedlot-'s Island, to 

 buoy, 13 and 18 (red can off Coney Island ), leaving both to part, passing 

 to the westward of buoy on Uobbins Reef going and coming to place 

 of starting. The committee talk of chartering one ot the Iron boats, 

 for the guests of the club. The fall open race will probably be 

 sailed the latter part of September or first part of Octobtr, but the 

 date will depend in a great measure on the cup races. The resigna- 

 tion of Mr. Abram Heunim was lendered and accepted. On motion of 

 Commodore Dilworth, Mr. Heanim was unanimously elected an 

 honorary member. Mr. Hennim was one of the charter members, 

 and is at present in Florida recuperating lost health. He was 

 formerly the owner of the sloop yacht Estetle. He is the first 

 honorary member that has been elected in about ten years, and it i s 

 only on rare occasions that one is elected. 



NEW YORK Y. C— A meeting of the club was held on Mar. .25, 

 with Com Gerry in the chair. The annual reports of the officers were 

 red and accepted. A telegram was received from the Hon. Perry 

 Belmont, announcing that the Sub-Committee on Commerce and 

 Navigation had reported favorably on the bill relating to steam yachts 

 and pilotage. The Regatta Committee reported that a letter had 

 been sent to Lieut. Henn, giving the same terms and conditions to 

 the Galatea as were accorded to Genesta last year, namely, three 

 races ovet the same courses. The following members were elected- 

 F. A. Schermerhorn, George L. Ingraham, Richard Henderson, J.' 

 Hyslop. D. A. Levy, George Lawrence. Leroy King. Ranson Underhill, 

 Edward Winslow, George M. Hand, Wright Duryea, J. S. Tappan, 

 J. Seward Webb, G. Farley, Jr., J. D. Grant, Edward Annan, C. C 

 Marsh, W. K. Vanderbilt. John F. Lovejoy, Charles W. Chapiu, 

 Thomas A. Young, Jr., Effingham Lawrence. The list of yachts now 

 includes 60 schooners, 50 sloops and cutters, 35 steam yachts and 10 

 launches. 



BURLINGTON ICE Y. C— The third regatta of the Burlington Ice 

 Y. C. took place Saturday, March 27, and the prize was a year's sub- 

 scription to the Forest and Stream, offered by W. B, McKillip a 

 prominent member of the club. The pennant was sailed for on the 

 23d, and as no cash prizes are allowed the club, the Forest and 

 stream seems very appropriate. The Mudjekeewis, owned by T. P. 

 W. Rogers, took the prize, covering the course in 14min. The course 

 was miles to windward. Distance sailed about y}4 miles Wind 

 W. by N. and rather light. 



A HANDY YACHT BUCKb'T.-A new and convenient style of 

 bucket has lately been devised by a yachtsman for use about yachts. 

 It is made entirely of rubber, the outside being protected by three 

 stout hoops Mm. square in sectious. The bnil is also of rubber, very 

 strongly made, and is fitted with a galvanized thimble. The makers 

 are the Goodyear Rubber Co., 503 and 205 Broadway, New York. 



A NEW IRON SCHOONER -The little Whim, designed last year 

 by Mr. A. Cary Smith, has proved so successful that Mr. Smith has 

 now an order for a large schooner of similar design, 80ft, on water- 

 line and not over 6ft. draft. She will be built of iron and will be used 

 about Florida, her owner being a Massachusetts yachtsman. 



