iOO FOREST AND STREAM. [M«ob «, i«w. 



plain unvarnished tales which we read every 

 day of the experiences of our fellow sportsmen, 

 no matter how ordinary and commonplace, seem 

 to hare the power to awake.r in the heart of the 

 reader a feeling of good will toward mankind. 

 A* we pvit the book or paper aside and dream of 

 past pleasures or those to come, when does life appear to hold 

 such happiuer-s. Dull care fades into obscurity and the world is a 

 paradise ,, . , . . 



We read some incident that recalls one in our own history at 

 some period of our lives, perhaps when we were hoys. It may be 

 serious or perhaps humorous; but as we sit and look back into the 

 past and live it over again in imagination, what a study is the 

 face of the dreamer. A far away look in his eye, entirely uncon- 

 scious of his surrounding?, he does not even hear the wintry- 

 storm beating viciously against the window panes; it is not winter 

 with him; he,"is perchance sailing over mirrored waters or luring 

 the warv fish from his haunts; mayhap shouldering his gun for a 

 dav in fields or woods. And now some humorous episode thrusts 



haw, ll>'- eXflniUlS, Weil, WCU, l> ™cac uovkjiou atwuma van 



arouse such pleasant memories in m«\ there, are others like me 

 and I will contribute my share toward the good work, at least 1 11 



tr ft was onlv a few years ago that my brother and I conceived the 

 idea of having a sail in a real sailboat, and that we must sail it 

 ourselves exclusively. We must command the craft, no hired 

 boatman should dictate to us where we should go or how we 

 should steer our course, and withhold all the delight of handling 

 the tiller and sheet. Having arrived at this conclusion, we con- 



We kept about a half mile off shore and had 

 to run in the trough, but the boat was light, 

 not having a pound of ballast in her besides 

 ourselves, and she mounted the peaks of the 

 waves like a cork. We know now that the 

 awful sea that was lashing Coney Island's 

 shores that day was the effect of heavy gales 

 at sea, but we did not know it then, nor did 

 we wonder at it or think that it was anything 

 unusual, strange as it, may seem, and the idea 

 of turning back never even suggested itself to 

 us. As we proceeded we became aware that 

 our main sheet was tooshort. It was simply a 

 single line made fast at the outer end of the 

 boom, and no blocks or other purchase than 

 what could be devised. In rising to the tops 

 of the waves the wind would strike the sail 

 with such force that we were in peril of being 

 capsized as each succeeding mass of foamy 

 water rolled beneath us. In order to lessen 

 the force of the pressure on the sail, the sheet 

 was let run to the end, but even then the wind could not spill out of 

 the sail, and we dare not be luffing toward the beach all the time, 

 or we would get into the breakers. After being nearly turned bot- 

 tom up a number of times, we got the youne- hawser off the 

 anchor and bent it on to the end of the sheet, and although it was 

 over an inch in diameter it served our purpose, and we continued 

 on our course. If I say we laughed, sang songs, and joked nearly 

 all the time, enjoying the situation immensely, the reader may 

 sav I am telling a "fairy story." Such, however, was the case, 

 believe it or not. Ignorance of our danger alone made us fearless, 

 though I have since gone over the same ground in a much larger 

 craft, and one more capable of combating with such conditions, 

 and heen half scared to death. 



I do not recollect how long it took us after rounding .Norton s 

 Point to reach Point Breeze Inlet, at the eastern end of theisland, 

 but I don't think it was much over an hour. Off Brighton Beach 

 and the iron pier the sea was the highest. When we fell between 

 the waves it seemed like a valley or gorge, with a fair-sized 

 mountain on each hand, and as one receded and the other ap- 

 proached and we ascended sidewise to its summit, we found our- 

 selves perched on a sharp edge over which, with the vigorous aid 

 of the wind, we tumbled and rushed headlong down the other 



As we approached the inlet, which is sheltered by Dry Bar, the 

 sea became less troublesome, but we also noticed that the wind 

 was changing; and we were forced to haul the sheet closer, in con- 

 seouence of which she labored hard, pounding and tumbling over 

 continually and shipping so much water that I was ordered to 

 hail unceasingly. We attempted to reduce sail by dropping the 

 peak, but no headway could be made thus against the strong tide, 

 which was still runniog out from the bay through the inlet; so we 



suited our pockets and found our wealth amounted to about §1.50 

 —enough to hire a boat for the afternoon, we considered— and off 

 we went, so impatient to be afloat that we did not even leave word 

 at home as to our grand project. 



Arriving at the boat house which was located near Gowanus, 

 South Brooklyn, we interviewed the boatman, and in answer ti 

 his inquiries as to our ability to manage a sail boat, we assured 

 him that we were old hands at the business, in short had been 

 brought up on the element. He became convinced and we went 

 down for the necessary coin, and were checked at the outset by 

 his demand for two dollars deposit outside of the rental charge. 

 But we eventually compromised the matter by leaviDg our waist- 

 coats in his keeping until our return with the boat. He would 

 have preferred our coats, but as the air was none too warm as yet 

 we prevailed upon him to consider the exposure, and Anally em- 

 barked minus waistcoats. 



Our vessel was an open one with a short deck forward, forming 

 a cuddy in the how, and through this the mast was stepped. She 

 was rigged as a catboat with a medium-sized sail in which was 

 not a single reef point, a circumstance which did not trouble us 

 in the least at the time. A couple of thwarts and a seat in the 

 stern completed her interior. We had seen boats sailed and had 

 also been on board of them when under way, and really knew the 

 general principles of handling such craft. As to practical ex- 

 perience, we had none. Disdaining any assistance in getting up 

 sail we spread our canvas, cast off from the float and fell away 

 before a light N.W. breeze, and with a clear blue sky above us 

 glided proudly out toward the broad waters of New YorK. Bay. 

 As the breeze freshened and our speed increased, we looked with 

 contempt on the two oars that lay on the thwarts, and shortly 

 after indignantly stowed them in the bottom of the boat. 



The question now arose as to where we should go. "Is there 

 any fishing tackle on board?" asked my brother, who, being my 

 senior by two^years and consequently allowed to be more of a sea 

 dog than 1, had elected himself captain. 



1 produced the apparatus, which consisted of a heavy hand line 

 and several assorted hooks, also a sinker. The Captain gazed 

 around at the sky with a knowing squint, looked up at the sail 

 which was bellying to the breeze, and then at me. Evidently he 

 had an idea. In fact such was the case, and he immediately gave, 

 orders to the first mate to have sheets trimmed and the anchor 

 catted, after which, being well on our way to sea, he unfolded 

 his proposed destination. 



Sheepshead Bay was a favorite resort with us during the sum- 

 mer, and we had spent many a happy day on its waters, gathering 

 in the foolish flounder, the hlackflsh and chirping sea robin. 

 There was also to be lured at certain spots, fluke, kiugfish, sea 

 bass, blue and weakiish, of course all in their respective seasons. 

 It being the early part of May that we set sail on this occasion, 

 the captain proposed that we should run around to the ahove- 

 named place and gobble upjthe black fish, which were now swarm- 

 ing in that location, especially at the "stone pile" off Manhattan 

 Beach. 



I was agreeable, seconded the motion, and the proposal was car- 

 ried unanimously. I merely suggested that it might be too long 

 a trip to do in an afternoon, and that we might not be home in 

 time for supper, but he laughed at my fears, and reminded mo 

 that we were not in a Hut-bottomed rowboat now. "With a breeze 

 like this," said he, affecting a sea air and cocking his head to one 

 side, with one eye closed and the other looking skyward, "we can 

 make Point Breeze Inlet inside of two hours easy, have an hour's 

 fishine, and allowing three hours to run back— pooh, clear away 

 there and keep as harp lookout forward; back in time for supper, 

 indeed." 



With boom well off to port and an increasing N.W. wind we 

 flew down to the Narrows, past the fleet of yachts at anchor off 

 the Atlantic Y. C, then by Owl's Head and Port Hamilton, and 

 out into Graveseud Bay we sped, and bn-e away for Norton's 

 Point. The. water was smooth, tor the wind was blowing with the 

 tide, which was running ebb. But as we neared the point we 

 began to encounter long swells, though we paid no attention to 

 them further than to enjoy the sensation of rising and falling to 

 their undulations. As to the cause of the disturbed condition of 

 the water we did not trouble ourselves in the least. 



as quickly thrown out. It was here we became aware we were 

 carrying too much sail. The wind had been steadily increasing, 

 although running before it its force was not alarmingly apparent; 

 hut as we jibed and laid our course along the Coney Island 

 Bhore, we got the breeze almost abeam, and the little boat began 

 to lay over and show her heels at a great rate. The sea was roll- 

 ing in its large waves, that broke several hundred feet from the 

 beach. 



hoisted it up again, and held her at it for all she was worth in a 

 hard struggle to beat through against the current. 



Back and forth we rushed, making but little progress and get- 

 ting very wet. It had begun to blow fiercely from N.E. Suddenly 

 she struck bottom and rolled clear over on her beam ends, throw- 

 ing us both into the water. Quickly gaining our feet, we found 

 the water was about 12in. deep and we were on a sandbar on one 

 side of the channel, over which the waves were rolling in a mass 

 of foam. Our boat lay on her side, with the sail partly in the 

 water, while the waves broke against her bottom, throwing the 

 foam and spray high in the air, while she drifted further on to 

 the har at every blow. This would never do, and we immediately 

 set about saving ourselves and the boat. 



The first thing we did was to get the anchor out and firmly 

 hooked into the sand. We then got the sail down, by which time 

 the anchor had brought her head to the wind and she partly 

 righted of her own accord Getting into her, we proceeded to hail 

 out the water, which was up to the seats; receiving in the mean- 

 time a great shaking as the boat dropped on the sand between 

 everv wave, threatening to break the bottom in. After the water 

 was got out she rode much better, not touching so hard, and we 

 held a consultation as to our next move. 



We decided to hold on where we were until the tide rose a lit- 

 tle, so that wc could navigate into deep water, as it was impossi- 

 ble to do so while the boat was hammering on the bottom. For 

 an hour we sat there shivering as each successive wave sent its 

 spray in our faces. At last the tide turned and enabled us to es- 

 cape from our predicament. The sail was hoisted and the anchor 

 brought on board. We had little trouble in getting in the inlet 

 now, as the force of the cm-rent hurried us along in to the bay and 

 we were soon sailing merrily up toward the village. It was 

 strange that after coming all the way round here to fish, we 



thing with." "Oh, we'll catch some fish for supper." The result 

 was we concluded to make a night of it. Since our ducking the 

 sun had pretty well dried us out, and we had no misgivings about 

 putting in a comfortable night in an old shanty on Plum Beach, 



It was stll blowing hard and we flew along at a lively pace with 

 the lee gunwale constantly awash. Arriving at a favorite fishing 

 spot of ours we cast anchor, and proceeded to entice our supper 

 to come into the boat. We cut the only line we had in two parts, 

 so that we each had tackle. A piece of iron was improvised for 

 one sinker, and of hooks we had enough for both. In the course 

 of an hour we had a dozen small hlackflsh and several flounders. 

 By this time it was becoming dark, and we wound up our lines 

 and sailed around to the beach in front of our hotel, where we 

 landed and secured the boat by carrying the anchor up some dis- 

 tance from the water and hooking it firmly in the ground. 



Continuing up to the shanty, which stood at the top of a knoll, 

 surrounded by long grass and several stunted cedar trees, we 

 began to make preparations for passing the night. There were 

 two windows and a door in the front side of the huilding, but as 

 the glass had long since disappeared from t he sashes, slight drafts 

 might be expected. On account of the settling of the structure 

 at the back, the front door required the united strength of both 

 of us to close it. A door in the rear led to a small porch, and an 

 idea struck us that this article would do more good if unhinged 

 and placed afrainst one of the open windows, which was accord- 

 ingly done. As to blankets or covering we had none, nor did we 

 consider we would need any. A thick plank was moved to one 

 end of the apartment to be used as a pillow, for we concluded we 

 would like to have our heads elevated a little. 



Hungry as we had become, all these preparations were made 

 before we thought of cooking supper. The remains of a stove 

 lay half buried in the sand outside at the eastern end of the 

 building, and on investigation disclosed the fact that it was 

 minus several doors and lids, also grate, and was kept from 

 falling apart more from the banking of sand around it than from 

 rivets. 



We stood and viewed it thoughtfully and in silence until my 

 brother broke the stillness by exclaiming, "Well, here's the stove, 

 but how in thunder are we going to cook those fish?" 



Realizing the absence of kitchen utensils so forcibly, as we 

 looked about on the barren waste which lay before us, and on 

 which not even a tin cover or broken dish of any description was 

 visible, our hearts sank and our appetites increased. "I don't 

 know, I'm sure," said I faintly; "we've got no salt either." 



"Oh, Lord! say, do you think you can pull through until morn- 

 ing?" 



"1 can stand it as long as yon can." 



"Well, I tell you what we'll do. You get hold of the other end, 

 there, and we will just move this furnace where its heat will be 

 appreciated." 



I understood that the stove was to be taken in the house, and 

 laid hold. At the first lift the whole top rose from its resting 

 place, leaving the iron sides standing. Somewhat surprised, but 

 not discouraged, we carried it in, and after several more trips, 

 discovering other flaws in the construction at each lift, we at last 

 had all the pieces transferred, and with the aid of some broken 

 bricks erected a fireplace near the middle of the floor. Into this 

 we heaped wood and started her going. And she did go. 



"No danger of us freezing," said I. 



"Good draft there," remarked the captain. 



"Most too much, ain't there?" said I, as several flames touched 

 the ceiling and the smoke began pouring out through a small back 

 window so thick that one could slice it. 



"Rather more than is actually necessary," said he, extinguishing 

 a small blaze on the floor. 



We soon realized that our fire was liable to make things too 

 warm for comfort, as each gust of wind sent the sparks and coals 

 flying all about the room, and when blazes began to spring up in 

 various quarters of the apartment, I was dispatched for the bailer 

 and water. In the meantime my companion threw sand on the 

 crackling mass. The fire was soon extinguished, and when we 

 could lay violent hands upon the stove it went unceremoniously 

 through the open window, piece by piece. 



After we had thoroughly satisfied ourselves that no stray coals 

 were lingering around, we retired to our downy bed and lay chat- 

 ting for some time until nature asserted its rights and we dozed 

 off. Some time during the early part of the night I awoke with a 

 shiver arid found my limbs as stiff as though made of wood. The 

 old hut was groaning and creaking, and the wind fairly howled 

 without. My brother was sleeping like a log. As I found it im- 

 possible to get to sleep again on account of my chilled condition, 

 1 at last awoke the captain, who also became aware that he was 

 not smothered in blankets. He looked out of the window as 

 though he expected to see it snowing. We held a consultation to 

 devise some means of finishing the night in comfort. Suddenly a 

 brilliant idea dawned upon me. "The sail," said I. 



I received a slap on the back that sent the chills clean out of 

 my body, and we both leaped to our feet and rushed down to the 

 boat, removed the mast, unrove the halliards and slipped the 

 hoops off the spar. Bringing sail, boom and gaff with us, we re- 

 turned to the house, and, spreading it on the floor, lay down on it 

 and lapped the gaff over to where the boom lay, and then we were 

 "as snug as a bug in a rug." 



The remainder of the night was passed in unconciousness. 

 When we arose the sun was struggling up through a. mass of oily 

 looking clouds, but .the wind had moderated a little. Our first 

 thoughts were confined to our stomachs, and after a short run on 

 the beach to get the blood in circulation we got several of the 

 small flounders and prepared them for cooking. We must eat 

 something, salt or no salt. A fire was built and a piece of iron 

 laid on it to receive the fish, which were soon frizzling away at a 

 great rate. But alas! when we endeavored to turn them over they 

 stuck fast, and so they remained until we removed the iron slab 

 and proceeded to eat what was not burned to a crisp. A highly 

 unsatisfactory meal was partaken of, and in disgust we gathered 

 up the sail and returned to our boat. 



Stepping the mast we set sail and started up the bay without 

 any definite object in view. Captain E.'s warning had impressed 

 us more than either of us would admit, especially after our un- 

 pleasant night, and in our shaky condition our courage and deter- 

 mination was last oozing away, and the roaring of the surf on the 

 beach did not tend to banish our gloomy spirits. No doubt our 

 hungry and faint condition was the cause of our depression more 

 than aught else. As we neared Captain E.'s place he hailed us 



should neglect to do so after having arrived safely. However, 

 an idea took possession of us, that it would he a good thing to sail 

 up to Capt. E.'s boat-letting establishment, where we had been 

 accustomed to hire a rowboat for fishing purposes, and exhibit 

 ourselves as being in command of a sailing craft. We decided 

 that his astonishment and wonder at the spectacle would be a 

 greater satisfaction to us, than all the blacktish we could carry 

 home. Accordingly we headed for his dock and prepared to wit- 

 ness his confusion. But confused he was not, strange as it seemed, 

 surprised he was to some extent. 



"How long are you down for?" he asked. 



"Oh just for the afternoon," we answered lightly. 



"And do you expect to get home to-night in that boat?" he ex- 

 claimed. 



"Certainly we did, why not?" 



"Take my advice," said he, "and stay where you are to-night, 

 perhaps by to-morrow the sea will be down. As it is, T would not 

 go around to-night in my boat fa 27ft. deck cabin sloop), I am sur- 

 prised that you got down here in that shell at all." 



As we believed he was trying to frighten us, wc put but little 

 stock in his warning arid started down the bay with the intention 

 of returning home. Unnoticed by either of us the time had flown 

 bj T , until it was now nearly sunset. As we perceived this fact, 

 some misgivings as to our prospects of making the voyage home 

 before dark began to asBail us and my brother was the first to 

 suggest that we wait until morning. 



"I think it will be best anyhow," said he. "We can fish until 

 dark, and then bunk up in the old shanty on Plum Island," 

 "But we have nothing to eat," said I; "and no money to bay anyr 



and inquired how we had fared, and asked us to come up to his 

 hou?e and have a cup of hot coffee. 



Oh what a temptation, what an opportunity. But no, while our 

 stomachs were crying in anguish for the stimulant, our foolish 

 pride forbade us admitting that we were unavoidably fasting, or 

 that we required any refreshment. Thankfully declining we 

 turned the subject by asking him what he thought of our proB- 

 pects for a run around the island, which he emphatically said 

 were slim. 



"There is more sea out there this morning than there was yes- 

 terday, but I'll tell you what you can do if your boat is not too 

 beamy." 



"What ?" 



"Pull her through Coney Island Creek to Gravesend Bay." 



"Why so we can," said I, looking at the captain. 



"Is there water enough?" we asked of our adviser. 



"You may have to get out and push in some places, but most of 

 the way I think you will float all right. Just haul in here and 

 lower your mast, for that won't go under the bridges." 



We were not too proud to comply with his instructions now, 

 and in a very few moments we had pulled the despised oars out of 

 the bottom of the boat and were rowing away toward the entrance 

 to the stream of water which divides Coney Island from the main- 

 land. 



Our first adventure on reaching this creek was to stick in the 

 mud, and we got out and pushed and pulled. In one spot a log 

 lay directly across the channel, and we had to drag her over it 

 bodily, which was a severe test of our strength. After this we 

 went, along all right nntil we came to the trestle work of the rail. 



