SOS 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Mj& 3, 1889. 



THE CRUISE OF THE ORINDA. 



BY W. H.WINST.OW, Jl.D, 



[Continued from Paye ?fiiM 



EASTPORT is built upon the shores and gently undulating hills 

 of Moose Island, which is connected by a bridge. upou the 

 west side with the mainland. Its business is done upon a main 

 street running parallel with the shore and the lew short streets 

 running down to the wharves. There ore a few stores of consider- 

 able size and architectural style, but. many of them and most of 

 the dwellings are cheap, couiihon and cramped. Quite an exten- 

 sive business in done is furnishing vessels with supplies, outfitting 

 fishermen, and forwarding interior traffic, but the place has a 

 poor look. A man said to me, "We are all poor down here and 

 must work hard. No one can afford the time to sail a yacht, 

 much less to build one." 



We strolled over the city and were much pleased with the 

 pretty cottages and well cultivated gardens surrounding them. 

 In this climate so bleak and dismal six mont hs of the year, the 

 summer is made the most of, and every one, has his house sur- 

 rounded by the homelier flowers so dear to boyhood: the lilac, 

 sweet william, daisy, bachelor's button, geranium, hollyhock, 

 sno wball, tiger lily, morning glory and sunflower. How many 

 sweet reminiscences these awaken of careless years and happy 

 scenes now fading from memory and seeming like dreams in the 

 btisy minds of these hustling times. 



We thought of taking a six o'clock dinner ashore, but got some 

 steak, pies and fruit and voted unanimously to have it aboard 

 our little craft. It was dark when we had finished; we hoped to 

 go ashore, but the yacht had begun to pitch considerably, the 

 wind had increased from the N.E. and rain began to fall. Merin- 

 gue and I knew what these signs meant; a diagnosis of a north- 

 easter was made, and treatment ordered: Welch Pool behind 

 Deer Point, two anchors down with plenty of cable, topmast 

 boused and tarpaulin over the companion way. Wo made sail 

 and got out quickly; the tide was running swiftly in and we were 

 obliged to make several tacks before we reached the other shore. 

 Then it was very difficult to make out laud and vessels and the 

 proper place to anchor because of the darkness, but the water 

 was bold, we kept on as long as we dared and succeeding in drop- 

 ping anchor in a safe place near the shore, helped in the matter 

 by the bell of a little English church that was calling to evening 

 service. It was none too soon, as the wind was hard and the sea 

 rough outside the point. Everything was snugged down a,nd ton- 

 mast housed and we went to sleep early, but many times during 

 the night Meringue and 1 were out to survey the wildness and 

 gloom of an ugly night. 



The next day was Saturday and 1 let Meringue go to his home 

 at Pembroke, to return Monday morning. 



It was shocking weather, a dismal, rainy day. and after dinner, 

 when tired with reading and smoking in our cosy cabin, I chal- 

 lenged Jerry for a visit to the hotel. The sea was rather lumpy, 

 the wind blowing a mild gale, and we concluded we had better go 

 in our wrinkled, salty, well-worn sea togs, because of the likeli- 

 hood of swamping, or in finding only servants in charge at the 

 hotel, the glasses showing few persons ashore. So we had a hard 

 pull to the wharf, and tied up head and stern to keep the boat 

 from chafing. We went up the walk, looked into the windows of 

 the office and some of the lower rooms and saw no one; then we 

 walked down along the bluff and looked at the billiard room and 

 ten-pin alley, and came back past the windows of a sitting-room, 

 where a glimpse of pretty girls' heads and a dudish youth was 

 taken rapidly. The hotel was occupied. We rang the bell, a ser- 

 .vant ushered us into the spacioushall, and the landlady welcomed 

 us cordially. The landlord was away, but she showed us the 

 hotel, said we could correspond for terms and ottered us luncheon. 

 Then we spoke of guests, and learned there was over a dozen still 

 lingering, mostly hay fever patients and their friends. Who were 

 they? Two ladies from Pittsburgh and, alas, one was a patient 

 of mine. Would I see her? 1 glanced at my muddy shoes and 

 trowsers, my slept-in coat, my flannel shirt and uushaved face in 

 a hall mirrow, and hesitated. Then I looked at Jerry's trousers, 

 thin in legs and three inches short, his wrinkled coat, faded blue 

 flannel shirt, red tie and red peeling nose, and shuddered. 

 "What do you say, Jerry ?" 



"We ought to leave our cards, at least. What would vour 

 pn f ; nt think if she knew you had been here and not called upon 

 her?" 



"1 only saw the lady once; probably she has forgotten me, and 

 will take us for a couple of tramps, but your mother is well known 

 by everybody in society, and that may help us out. Anyway, I'm 

 suffering to see some one from old Pittsburgh, and believe I 

 would call on the Duke of Allegheny, the Count of Monongahela, 

 or Penitentiary Convict No. 4293, if he hailed from that place, so 

 let's sail in." 



We approached Madame and handed our cards, which fortu- 

 nately we were able to write out from an office supply. Madame 

 knew me after a curious penetration of my disguise, and intro- 

 duced her niece; then I introduced Jerry, remarking sotto voce, 



"the son of Mrs. Judge J I felt like a steer; Jerry was as 



red as his necktie. It was very awkward for a moment; then the 

 ladies made us remember we were gciitleineu, and we spent a very 

 pleasant half hour talking over Pittsburgh news and our wild 

 cruise. We were glad to say adieu and to get out in the rain, 

 however, for Jerry kept rubbing his chin — he kept a razor aboard 

 —and looking at my stubbles, and I could hardly keep my eyes off 

 of his trousers. When we got far away from the hotel— we "dared 

 not stay to luncheon— we laughed aloud, and swore we would 

 never, no never, visit a good hotel again in sea togs and cruising 



The hotel did a large business in '88, and Mrs. L. said it was 

 never dull there in the season. She had been so occupied with 

 walks, drives, tennis and other pleasures that she was really glad 

 of a rainy day to get rested. Mrs. L. said many hay fever victims 

 found perfect relief there, and there had been numerous sufferers 

 from all parts of the country. I knew her to be a great sufferer 

 from this annual misery, and few of the usual resorts afforded her 

 relief. Here she had passed the season in perfect health, and she 

 was enthusiastic in her praise of the hotel and the climate. Taking 

 her experience, in connection with the statement of Lieut. Greely, 

 "that Eastport just opposite is as dry as Minnesota," I formed 'a 

 favorable opinion of the place, but I saw many points to criticise 

 in the locality, and shall present them at some future time. 



We Lad a hard pull aboard and got there just in time, as 1 had 

 let. Meringue go to his home at Pembroke for two days and the 

 yacht was left alone. It began to raiu heavily, the wind had been 

 hard from the southeast, but, sheltered by Deer Point, we had 

 laid to our two anchors comfortably in a fleet of a dozen vessels. 

 The wind hauled suddenly to the southwest, came with a cold 

 blast along shore, then burst into a furious gale, turned all the 

 vessels around, tripped their anchors and set nearly all of them 

 dragging toward I he rocky shore. In a moment we were across 

 one bow and barely escaped another vessel's stern, and with lots 

 of cable out, walking right away toward the rocks. Men half 

 dressed, dressed and in oilskins were running over the vessels, 

 shouting, pulling, veering, pushing and taking lines to moorings, 

 wharves and the few vessels that still held to the bottom. Some 

 narrow escapes from collision were made, some vessels got too 

 near the rocky shore for comfort, and 1 was terribly anxious, but 

 tortuuately the wind ceased as suddenly as it had begun, hauled 

 around into the northeast and all ceased dragging. Such a 

 tumult and snarl had rarely been seen in Welch's Pool, and this 

 was the best anchorage around there. If the blow had lasted live 

 minutes longer most of the craft would have been ashore and 

 badly battered. I got a fisherman to aid us, took in our fouled 

 anchors, had him put us in better holding ground nearer the 

 wharves, let go both anchors and took out a luie to a mooring as 

 an extra precaution. Then we had a "smoky sou'westei" of 

 Jerry's make, changed our wet clothes, cooked a square meal and 

 slept with one eye. open till nine o'clock the next morning. 



There was still a strong breeze and sullen sky next morning, 

 but the rain had ceased, nnd we spent the afternoon rambling 

 over the village of Welch Pool and along the adjacent shore roads. 

 There are about two dozen houses and stores clustered upou the 

 shore, near the two excellent wharves, which are just inside of 

 Deer Point and sheltered from easterly gales. The point sepa- 

 rates Dunn's Beach from Friar's Bay; it has high rocky shores, 

 but is nearly level and covered with grassy spots and a line giove, 

 in the midst of which is a modern wooden summer hotel, with 

 fine piazzas and most magnificent marine views east, west and 

 north. A porter's lodge at the, grand gateway toward the village— 

 tor the property belongs to the same company as Tyn-y-coed and 

 is feared in from common people— had the U.S. arms and "Ameri- 

 can Consul's Office" upon its front, but was closed. The hotel 

 was not opened in '88, we believe, because the other hotel was suf- 

 ficient for all comers and is generally preferred, but our guide 

 informed us that there was a stronger reason. A portion of the 

 point behind the building was laid off in grass for a tennis court 

 and play ground upon the very site of the cemetery, all the re- 

 mains possible being removed to a new one beyond the village. 

 To make a play ground in such a spot above the mouldering 

 remains of their ancestors excited indignation aud enmity among 

 the islanders, and it was common talk that summer visitors sym- 

 pathized with them, and were, also, a little afraid that ghosts 

 might scud among the trees and play tennis in the small hours of 

 the night. A keeper lived in a lattioed cottage near the gate, who 



gave us permission to enter the grounds, and we were glad to 

 avail ourselves of the opportunity. The hotel had the dilapidated 

 look of a, house in chancery, but with guests, furnishing and f ur- 

 bishing, would be preferred by me for a season's rest, ghosts or no 

 ghosts. 



The next morning I went to Eastport by the steamer for stores, 

 and returning with a box of edibles, I asked the captain if I would 

 have to pay any duty upon them. He answered: "You'd better 

 ask the Customs officer al; your elbow." I was fairly caught, but 

 the handsome representative of the Canadian Government smiled 

 and assured rae I could pass without inspection. He was a very 

 intelligent man about 85 years of age, and Had lived and traveled 

 much in the United States. He thought the common people of 

 Canada were in favor of commercial union with us, but that 

 while a political union had many points in its favor, it would be a 

 long time before it came. 



It was dead calm and we dried up everything, took, in ourmoor- 

 ing rope and one anchor, and began to think of moving. I had in- 

 tended to do considerable exploring around Quoddy Bav, but it 

 was the last week in September, "we had had almost a constant, 

 battle with cold, rainy weather and head wind-, and thought, 

 anxiously of t he run to the westward, the near approach of the 

 end of vacation, aud the necessity of getting into winter quarters. 

 Where should we go? Up the St. Croix to St. Andrews and Calais, 

 up Cob.soook Bay and tributaries, or into Johnson's Bay. The 

 OoaBt Pilot is very strong in its advice to strangers not, to venture 

 into the first two without a pilot or a tug boat. The fade Pises and 

 falls about 33ft. It is impossible, to sail against the full flood or 

 ebb. At certain points and channels it causes such whirls, eddies 

 and rushes as to render sailing vessels almost powerless. 

 Only an experienced pilot who knows how to take advantage 

 of these and to avoid the rocks and shoals upon which they tend 

 can guide a vessel with safel y. One must get anchored or aground 

 before the ebb or he will be swept down river again. The great 

 bluffs along the rivers often deprive a vessel of wind and she 

 must go where the current drives her. Circumstances were not 

 propitious for venturing up river, because there was not time 

 enough for us to get up on the afternoon flood to an anchorage 

 before dark, nor could we start long before daylight and begin 

 such difficult navigation, i have had a dread of tidil river 

 currents ever since the Pilgrim was turned completely around by 

 one off Pull-and-be-darnned Point in the Piseataqua below Ports- 

 mouth, and it makes me ugly to feel that my movements must be 

 retaliated by tides. It is bad enough to be the sport of the winds, 

 1 know now why the great flood waves of the Bay of Fuudy are 

 called bores. All the tides beyond Machias Bay are bores of the 

 most annoying and dangerous character, and I decline their 

 acquaintance forever. Never will I venture into their foggy, 

 rainy, windy, billowy, deceitful, treacherous, spiteful region 

 again . 



So we were content with a near view of the mouths of the St. 

 Croix and Cobscook and a sail around Johnson's Bay. We got 

 underway at 3 P. M. and ran down Friar's Bay; there was a large 

 Quoddy sloop ahead of us and a large schooner beyond her. A 

 light south wind was coming over the land and we ail had to heat 

 down. We overhauled both vessels rapidly, and had them fairly 

 outsailed, when the schooner set a large maintnpmast staysail 

 that caught much wind above the hills and she drew awav from 

 us. The sloop, our fairer game, put up helm, payed off sheets and 

 started for the Pool. I hailed the skipper and asked him to come 

 on and try it and uot give up so, but he growled he was not going 

 to lose his supper, and we put him down beaten. We anchored 

 far up I he bay near a half dozen lumber vessels, waiting for a 

 favorable, wind for getting out the narrows, and spent a pleasant 

 night; but the tide runs at the rate of three miles an hour even 

 here, and we gave plenty of scope to avoid dragging into the great 

 Cobscook, just north of us. 



The day dawned finely with the wind strong southwest, and we 

 ventured into Lubec Narrows at 11 o'clock, homeward bound. 

 The tide was ruimiug out gently, but the wind was ahead and we 

 had to beat all the way down. It was quick and exciting work in 

 so narrow a channel, but, Meringue was at home; he piloted, I 

 steered, and the sharp turns and close shaves we made caused tin- 

 gles along my spine. There was a shingle beach at one place on the 

 west side with some large boulders out in deep water. We ran 

 pretty close to them, and a family on shore yelled and gesticu- 

 lated wildly for us to go about, which we did promptly. A Quoddy 

 fisherman was behind us, and two others leading us by a mile. 

 When we passed West Qucddy we had gained considerably upon 

 the sloop astern. When we reached Grand Menanand went about, 

 one of the leading vessels was on our port beam a half mile to 

 leeward, and the other was a hundred yards ahead of us. We 

 kept steadily after her and would have caught her soon but she 

 dodged into Dark Harbor. 



"You see now what we can do with Quoddy fishermen," said I 

 to Meringue. "Yes, we have beaten them fairly, that's a fact," 

 he replied. We hugged the Grand Menan shore to get the full 

 force of the. ebb, struck across to the Maine shore, the wind fell, 

 mist began to gather, and we reached anchorage in Little Rivet- 

 by towing, about 8 P. M. This harbor is much like Camden, the 

 high hills kill the shore breezes and the tide has its own sweet 

 will of a craft. 



We were off at 6 A, M. next morning with a breeze from the 

 no t-t beast. We set the spinaker for the first time and ran rapidly 

 across Machias Bay, shaping our course, to go outside of Moos-a- 

 bec. When abreast of Mark Island, with the Mead Lighthouse 

 in sight, a wild squall came out of the bay and forced us to take 

 in the gaff topsail and spinaker in double quick time, and we had 

 only got them smothered and down below, when we were obliged 

 to haul down the staysail and come by the wind preparatory to 

 reefing. The squall was soon over, but a steady strong breeze set 

 in, the scud flew fast and furious, dashes of rain came, aud 1 de- 

 cided it would be dangerous to attempt unknown waters and the 

 course outside Great VVass and the. other island in such threat- 

 ening weather. So we hauled up for Mark Island ami managed 

 to run into the eastern end of Moos-a-bec Reach. Meringue said 

 it was going to be thick outside and we had better stop at Jones- 

 port, but 1 was so anxious to get to the westward, here was just 

 the breeze we had wished for, and we fairly flew through the 

 Reach, expecting to run into Capo Split. Once outside, the weather 

 was no worse, and I determined to try to pass Petit Menan Point 

 and make Winter Harbor that dav. Oh! fatal error of judgment. 

 Would 1 had taken my good sailor's advice. We had passed Nash 

 Island about two miles, running along rapidly under whole main- 

 sail aud jib, when the gale burst suddenly upon us in all its fury. 

 The sea rose in a few minutes as high as housetops and came 

 curling after us in huge volumes, causing the yacht to plunge 

 and roU and yaw threateningly, while the fierce blasts against 

 the mainsail threw the yacht around and upon her side every 

 few moments in spite of my great exertions with the tiller. 

 During one of these rolls my haudsome binnacle broke adrift 

 and went over the lee rail. 



"Shall we go after it?" asked Meringue. 



"No," I shouted, looking at him with astonishment, and getting 

 one glimpse of the brass and glass as it sank beneath the waves. 



We were in a desperate strait just theu, and it required 

 prompt and courageous action to get out safely. Cape Split was 

 far behind us; the islands to port, were surrounded by reef's, shel- 

 terless and dangerous; Petit Monan's long reef stretched clear 

 across our bow, lashed by mad seas and shrouded in foam and 

 mist; Bois Bubert Harbor, or Pigeon Hill Bay, was upon the 

 weather bow, its entrar.ee dangerous to approach on aoeouut of 

 the Petit Menan Bars and the ledges and shoals which obstruct 

 the passage from the eastward; Narragiiagus Bay was upon the 

 starboard beam— too broad and unsheltered for any small vessel 

 to ride out a gale in— but leading to a little, narrow, flats-bordered 

 river of the same nanie and the town of Mill bridge, about eight 

 miles "away; Harrington Uiver and Pleasant Bay east of this to 

 wiudward, and so thickly crowded with shoals and unbuoyed 

 ledges as to be out of the question. The wind would permit us a 

 good close hauled full upon the starboard tack into Narraguagus, 

 and it promised a safe retreat if we could once get in. Meringue 

 had never been there. We had no time to study the Coast Pilot; 

 a good chart wet and torn lay under my feet, in the cockpit, and 

 we made out Ship Stern Island dead to windward and Pond 

 Island and its lighthouse ahead. The yacht was brought to the 

 wind aud sheets trimmed in, not too tlat, and we began to plunge 

 through the water, throw the spray all over us, and point just to 

 wiudward of Trafton Island, It was now blowing a hoavy gale, 

 we could not reduce sail, because we needed every foot of it to 

 drive us against the sea, to make the weather of the island, aud 

 we did not dare to lose the time and our weatherly position in 

 reeling. It would have been a difficult, undertaking, because 

 Jerry was shivering, frightened and useless in the companion- 

 way, and my man and 1 would have had everything to 

 do. So we kept on, Meringue held the main sheet and 

 eased a little during fierce puffs, when we heeled till the water 

 was nearly up to the steering well, and I held the jib sheet by a, 

 single turn, steering with the other hand and legs, watching the 

 chart and the shore anxiously. It was a question for a while 

 whether Trafton island was au island or the western shore, there 

 were so many islands to look after; theu, as we passed Ship Stern 

 and Dyer's island, a small island appeared not on the chart — an 

 island surrounded by foamiug breakers, with rocky shores and 

 trees— represented by only a few dots upon the chart, but block- 

 ing our way. Horrors! What should we do? Whioh side of it 

 should we go when every side looked frightful? Give it a good 



berth to windward aud look out for breakers ahead. After a while 

 we came to a red buoy off its northern side, and knew we could 

 pass between it, and Trafton, which we were now sure of by its 

 northern spindle. Theu we opened up the river and the human 

 habitations far up its banks, and began lo breathe easier, though 

 the gale was wilder and the rain was cut ting like hail. It was 

 fortunate for us that the tide was nearly up aud still flood, as it 

 helped us on and enabled us to ruu across the fiats and pay little 

 attention to the narrow river channel. On we. sped like a gull 

 before the gale, easing the staunch and beautiful craft into the 

 eye of the wind by tiller and sheets during wilder gusts, and 

 giving a good full as soon as the wind was steadier. Up the little 

 river, past the warehouses and the wharves, into the narrow 

 stream as far as the chart showed a channel, we shot like an 

 arrow, came head to wind, hauled down the jib and dropped the 

 heavy anchor and mainsail. Saved! Again a cutter had saved 

 us. 



We went below as soon as all was snug on deck, put on dry 

 togs and began to feel comfortable, keeping an eye upon the 

 shore marks to see if the yacht was drifting. The gale had 

 steadily increased in violence and hauled to the southeast, con- 

 siderable sea had risen even in this sheltered place, and, during 

 a strong blast, we started shoreward. We had to go up in the 

 pelting rain and let. go the other anchor, but even this did not 

 hold us against the terrific wind. The yacht drifted still and was 

 soon out of the channel, over the flats, where she would thump 

 and be high and dry at low tide. There was no rest for the weary 

 and wet. The workers at the sardine factory shouted and pointed 

 out our danger, but we heard uot a word. What Could we do? 

 We must move into the channel. We were used up and almost 

 disheartened. I felt I had had scrapes enough for one season 

 and longed for all night in. While we were discussing the poor 

 anchors and poor, soft holding ground, the, schooner Honest Abe, 

 Capt. (.'. D. Strout, lumber loaded, came in from sea and anchored 

 just outside of us. Meringue went in the tender to get permission 

 to tie to her, which was readily granted. Then I got the sardine 

 boat to put us alongside, and we made fast— line after line and 

 fenders galore. They were necessary, the sea threw us against 

 the schooner as if to crack us like an eggshell, but Meriugue was 

 vigilant, and only a. little paint was rubbed off. About dark the 

 schooner began to drag with two heavy anchors down, and the 

 captain said we would have to cast off and had better get along- 

 side the wharf just twenty feet away at her stern. Just think of 

 it, a schooner with two extra heavy anchors and cables, away up 

 in the land in this narrow river dragging from the force of the 

 wind across the river— the chop did not affect her much. We 

 could not have reached and secured the yacht to lie aground 

 agaiust that wharf without seriously damaging her. I was com- 

 pletely fagged out and in despair, and now wet through for the 

 third time. 1 weut below in no enviable frame of miod and told 

 Jerry what must be done, while Meringue went aboard the 

 schooner and had a long talk with the captain. I stuck my hand 

 in the wind and raiu occasionally to observe things, and pretty 

 soon Meriugue shouted the glad tidings that the captain said we 

 could hold on a little longer, as he thought the worst of the gale 

 was over. The lulls were longer than the puffs now, and by l'j 

 o'clock the wind had diminished to a moderate gale and we 

 turned in happy. 



MiLlbridge once had a mill upon the river and still has a bridge 

 above navigation. It is a viBage of pretty, weU-kept cottages, 

 straggling along both sides of the river for a mile or two, aud, as 

 every one has plenty of lawn and garden, these homes of many 

 active and retired sea captains are fair to look upou. Seafaring 

 and sardine packing are the industries of the place, and distance 

 from the railroad insures quiet, peace and monotony. A sardine 

 factory is a slimy, dirty, unmitigated nuisance to the attractive- 

 ness of a pretty seac-oast settlement, aud, as they are found in 

 most places from Schoodic Peninsula to the. Bav of Fuudy, I've no 

 further use for that part of the coast. 



The next day was blowy and foggy, and a steamer came in aud 

 reported the wreck and abandonment of the schooner Herald upon 

 Petit Menan, and great disasters to the shipping. This gale of 

 Sept. 26 took the Signal Service unawares, and did a heap of mis- 

 chief from New York to Cape Race. 



The small anchors supplied to yachts are of the worst possible 

 shape. There is too much iron iu the stock and shank and not 

 enough in the flukes; the flukes are not long enough, their radius 

 of curvature is too short, and the palms are too small, thick and 

 blunt. I compared my anchors with those used by fishermen 

 which never drag, and I had the opinions of many seafaring men 

 upon them, and their defects wore apparent; yet, mine represent 

 the stock kept by most ship chandlers in New England. Softoozy 

 mud, sand and hard bottoms require straighter and longer flukes 

 and broader, sharper palms. These elements are seen in most 

 fishermen's anchors, and such are just as vaiuable for other kinds 

 of holding ground. We dragged several times when it was very 

 unfortunate, if uot dangerous. I hope yachtsmen will force 

 anchor makers to do better, by refusing to buy those showing 

 radical defects in shape. It, would be interesting and profitable 

 if some one would give us a table of proper dimensions for ail 

 weights of anchors to guide amateurs in selection. 



Jerry went hunting for grouse, but did not get any after travel- 

 ing half a dozen miles. They are scarce along the seacoast be- 

 cause every boy has a gun. II; was not until the fourth day that 

 the wind came out W.N. W., and we started out at 5 A. M„ near 

 the top of the flood, in company with the Honest Abe and some 

 other schooners, which we soon distanced. We ran out west of 

 Trafton Island, left Pond's Island aud Jordan's Delight to star- 

 hoard, and got a survey of the rough ledges and dangerous ap- 

 proaches to Bois Bubert Harbor, which we would have tried 10 

 make in the gale had we not got into MiUbridgc. 1 was glad 

 there was no necessity, for a mote forbidding entrance is notseen 

 upon the coast. We found the wind fresh outside and were soon 

 close-hauled under jib ana mainsail for the buoy, which marks 

 the passage across the reef inside Pel it Meuau Island, There was 

 a heavy sea and rough, noisy tide upon tho bar, and the sea was 

 breaking heavily upon the gap, making us feel a little fearful of 

 consequences, but we had been assured it was safe to cross, and 

 the 0. P. said so. so aero -s we went just north of the buoy without 

 mishap, and were glad to leave it behind us. Away we went, 

 dashing the spray in our faces aud heading more and more in 

 shore until we were obliged to go about, the wind hauled until it 

 was southwest, and we had a hard beat and rongh sea all the way 

 to Southwest Harbor, Mt. Desert, where we dtopped anchor at 

 5 P. M. It was cold, but glorious pleasure. 



Southwest Harbor is continuous with Somes' Sound, a beautiful 

 sea lake, which stretches north several miles between lovely 

 mountains that dip their feet in its waters and are covered with 

 most exquisitely tinted shrubs and forest trees, andwitb the 

 broad bay that extends between Cranberry Island and the bold 

 foothiUs, dark ravines and magnificent south shore of Mt. Desert. 

 These fine reaches of protected water, surrounded by some of 

 the finest scenery in the world, are admirable for boating and 

 sailing and would be perfect were it not for the calms, fitful winds 

 and squalls consequent upou their proximity to the mountains. 

 However, many pleasure craft are found there in the season, and 

 pleasure, health aud comfort are found by multitudes of people, 

 who reside in the cute cottages and tasty villas around the 

 shores. 



We made all sail at 5 A. M. with a fine north wind, ran quickly 

 out of 1 he harbor, past Bass Harbor, across Union Hill Bay and 

 into Eggemoggiu Reach. The bteeze lessened, the sun became 

 warmer and our hearts lighter as we proceeded. Many vessels 

 were seeu in misty mirage apparently seeking aerial ports, loons 

 sported around us at tantalizing distances, long strings and com- 

 pact flocks of black ducks kept just out of our gun shot, and we 

 kept up a fusilade with our rides without hitting anything. We 

 nearly enught a smart little sloop that had been before us all day, 

 as we came out of the western end of the Reach, but, as she made 

 very long tacks off shore, and we kept closer in, I concluded she 

 was bound south. Somehow, we did not get ahead fast, and, aa 

 we approached Cape Rosier, I noticed a heavy tide setting east. 

 Then the little craft had gone about away off shore, and was 

 heading up the bay. They had cleared the tide, and flew across 

 our bow as we started for a long leg off to escape the tide of the 

 cape. It was mortifying to have victory thus snatched from our 

 grasp, but superior knowledge must have its reward. We got 

 around after a while, and kept off for Belfast, and had the satis- 

 faction of getting our opponent abeam as she passed into Castine. 

 Dr. Davis gave us a guu as we dipped our colors in the shadows of 

 Turtle Head, Steel's Ledge Beacon loomed warningly through 

 the darkness, the lights of Belfast came out one by one like be- 

 lated stars to guide us home, and we dropped anchor at last upon 

 familiar flats, where, in youth 1 had lured the shadowy flounder 

 and the sportive tommycod. Our great cruise was ended safely, 

 and we celebrated with a gun, a bottle, aud aU the fireworks in 

 the Ordnance Department. 



ST. LAWRENCE Y. C.-The St. Lawrence Y. C, of Montreal, 

 has lately elected the following officers: Com., G. H. Duggan; 

 Vice-Oom., C. H. Let-in; Rear-Coni., T. L. Paton; Meas., F. Scott, 

 J. F. Gibson; Sec'y, W. J. Wallace; Treas., John Aird. Commit- 

 tee, J. G. Monk, Geo. Gabler, M. Perrault, W. S. Clouston, J. Irv. 

 ing, J. Simmons. The headquarters of the club have been 

 changed from Valois to Point Claire. 



