240 



FOREST AN£> STHEAM. 



[Oct. 9, 1890. 



NEW YACHTS. 



"~\TINETY-F00TER'' iS in the air just now, and a number of the 

 IS leading yachtsmen of Boston have been accused of an inten- 

 tion to lower the colors of the Volunteer. 



Ex-Com. J- Malobm Forbes is the most likely builder of a 90-foot 

 sloop, though ho has not decided upon building as yet. One great 

 trouble in a boat, of this leugth is to get a suitable okippor. The 

 realty first-class racing skippers of 90-foot sloops in the country 

 can be counted on t he fingers of one hand. Dr. Bryant has a hold 

 on Oapt. Crocker, and Gen. Paine still keeps Capt. Haff in his em- 

 ploy. If Capt. Half were obtainable, it might have some influence 

 in determining Com. Forbes to build. 



Henry Br van t, the clever amateur designer of the Thetis and 

 Alert, has also been mentioned as a builder of a 93-footer. If Mr. 

 Bryant should build it goes without saying that he would draw the 

 Lines himself- Mr. Bryant has just returned from a shooting trip 

 to British Columbia, and says that ho has no intention of building 

 anything big this winter. He says that the cost of building and 

 running a big yacht is so great that they "are not worth their 

 keep." 



Some of the younger Boston yachtsmen are talking of a syndicate 

 to build a Bufges* 70-foot sloop. It seems to be accepted in Boston 

 at lea^t that the Carroll Brothers will build the 70-footer. the lines 

 of which are now in the office of William Gardner of New York. 

 The Buige? s boat is talked of to head off the New Yorker, and if 

 she is built, a couple of Boston's leading young amateurs will be 

 given sole charge of her management. 



It is to be hoped that New York will build some boats from lines 

 hyiBs own designers this winter. Much of the interest in the rac- 

 ing in (it eat Britain comes from the fact that the yachts are the 

 work of rival designers. In this country there is no doubt that 

 the fact that most of I he racing boats come from the hands of the 

 same designer tends to cool the interest in the sport. 



"Boston has held the supremacy in yachting over her sister cii v 

 too lontc without a struggle. In Gary Smith the metropolis has a 

 designer who has turned out some very creditable vessels, and 

 William Gardner, with the aid of practical experience to help out 

 his theoretical training, should be able to turn out some very fast 

 craft. With a healthy rivalry between New York and Boston, 

 both in yachts and their designers, it is probable that the interest 

 in yacht racing would be revived. 



Mr. Burgess would naturally like to build a new 70-footer, but it 

 is a question whether he could beat the Titania. A boat that is 

 worked up to such ;i fine erlge as Mr. Iseliu's sloop would he a tough 

 customer to handle, and Mr. IseUn would not relinquish the cham- 

 pionship of his class without a hard struggle. 



While many new -Mi-footers are "talked about." the fact remains 

 that those for Mr. Belmont and Mr. Thayer, and the one talked 

 of for Cornelious Vanderbilt, are the only ones which have as- 

 sumed prominence in the calculations of Mr. Burgess. The mid- 

 ship section and profile of the Belmont 4ti are drawn, and thus the 

 first step m the building of the racing fleet of 1891 is begun. 



The section of the Belmont cutter, Mineola, for she is so named, 

 shows a harder bilge than the Gossoon, aud more curve at the gar- 

 boards. In this respect she is a concession to the Mariquita model, 

 hut in point of beam she is a wide departure from Mr. Belmont's 

 present beat. With the same draft as the Jessica, 10ft. 6m,, and 

 about fiin. more beam than the Gossoon, it is evident that while a 

 powerful boat, the M'neola is no ••brute." The defeat of the Jessica 

 will probably be a much easier task than that of the Minerva. 



It is not likely that any movement toward a change of classifi- 

 cation by corrected length will he made thi3 winter. A remark 

 made by Designer Burgess a day or two since, shows that there is 

 no present danger of the building of brutes. He said that he was 

 convinced that the Gossoon could be beaten by a boat of less power, 

 and that if he were to build a 40-footer for nest year he. would give 

 her less power than the Adams cutter possesses.— Bnaton GIoIk. 



CORINTHIAN NAVY.— On Sept. SO a meeting was held at the 

 Hotel Marlborough. Sixty-two members were present, and Com. 

 Connolly laid his scheme for the consolidation of the squadrons 

 about New York before the meeting. The navy has been so suc- 

 cessful that demands have been made on the administration to 

 start squadrons at Boston, Philadelphia and other distant points. 

 The navy is not inclined to spread, and will adhere to the old con- 

 stitution and by-laws except so far as the squadrons are con- 

 cerned. The probable changes will be slight, and will include a 

 new set of officers, a rearrangement of territory and probably 

 raising the limit to 25ft. l.w.l.. instead of 23ft. as now. The com- 

 modore's report showed t hat 231 members were on the. roll, eighteen 

 port stations established and running in good order, and that 

 seven regattas had been given. All the prizes won during the 

 past season have been awarded, and the treasury still has a good- 

 sized balance on hand. This is not bad for an organization run on 

 S2 a member. Lectures on seamanship and navigation will lie 

 given this year, and a school established where members will 

 study, and upon passing the necessary examination will be 

 awarded certificates. Com. Center, of the S. C. Y. C, will deliver 

 the opening lecture late in November. Proposed for membership: 

 W. S. Gilmore, E. D. Hurl hurt, Jr., Augustus Gardiner, L. S. Har- 

 din, Frederick Dickens, Wetmore Worthley. Com. Connolly has 

 appointed the following committee to revise the constitution and 

 by-laws: Vice-Corn. Thos. Clapham. Yiee-Com. T. F. Day, Capt. 

 Frank B. Jones, Thos. T. Taber and Capt. J. C. Summers. The 

 commit tee will meet on Oct. 9 and will report at a special meet- 

 ing to be held this month. 



LAUNCH OF THE ST. GEORGE. — On Aug. 30, Messrs Ramage 



W.C.Storey. The inner skin and framework are of iron mueh 

 above Lloyd's requirements, sheathed outside entirely with teak, 

 and coppered to above the water-line. The extreme length of the 

 vacht is nearly 200ft., breadth ontsiae of planking 32tt., aud depth 



The propeller is two-bladed of gunmetal. She is three masted, 

 with yards and studding sails on the foremast. A beautiful figure- 

 head, representing St. George with sword in hand flanked by carved 

 dragons on the trail hoards, gives the bow of the yacht, a charact- 

 eristic appearance. The sleeping accommodation is aft, and con- 

 nected by a passage with the dining saloon: and other apartments 

 forward. A large deck saloon and chartroom are handsomely 1 ur- 

 nished on deck, and built entirely of teak. Electric lighting is 

 everywhere fitted, aud a powerful search light is fitted.— Lonriov 

 meld. 



MIRAMTCHI Y. C.-The Miramichi yachting season was closed 

 on Sept. 25 by a race, for the McLimont, flag. There was a howl- 

 ing sou'wester blowing, with frequent squalls out of the hollow 

 and off the hills, and all reefed before the start from Chatham 

 except the cabin cutter Kittoch. She got a terrific knockdown 

 the first time she tacked, and did not recover until Com. Miller's 

 Kilbride had a good lead. A half-decker would have filled and 

 sunk in the same situation. Kilbride couldn't stand the puffs, 

 and had to haul up for the purpose of tying down another reef. 

 The cutter got a lone lead and increased it to the finish. Off 

 Bushville, three miles from the start. Yiee-Com. Stewart's Fedora 

 broke her rudder and had to run back under her jib. This is Kit- 

 toe h's third club victory this season, and her owner, Mr. James 

 Miller, is greatly pleased with her improved sailing powers. The 

 official time is as follows: , . 



Start. Turn. Finish. Elapsed. 



Kittoch - .... 2 17 03 3 38 35 4 17 38 2 0t I 35 



Kilbride 2 17 07 4 01 15 4 39 01 2 21 54 



Fedora 2 18 29 Disabled. 



The course was 10 miles, half of it windward work. 



ATALANTA. — Belleville, Ont,., Oct. 3.— The well-known sloop 

 yacht At alauta was yesterday purchased by Mr. D. R. Leavens, 

 of this city, on behalf of a local syndicate, who will have her put 

 in thorough repair during the winter and will race her next year. 

 One of the first, efforts of her new owners will be to recover the 

 Fisher champion cup, which her then proprietors forfeited to 

 the Norah in 1885. It will be no easy task, however, to heat Norah, 

 which in J88fi defeated Atalanta by nearly 20 minutes, exclusive 

 of time allowance, and since then was rebuilt and lengthened 

 uuder the superintendence of the late Capt. Cuthbert. She is 

 now faster than ever, aud an effort will be made to further im- 

 prove her by putting four tons of lead on her keel. In Atalanta 

 and Norah the B. Q. Y. C. has once more the. two largest center- 

 board sloops on fresh water, and they are as well the fastest craft, 

 of any rig on the lakes in any wind short of a very heavy gale. 

 The rivalry between them will revive the yachting spirit here, 

 which had almost died out.— Pout Tack. 



A NEW CAPE OAT.— Mr. Hanley, of Monument Beach, CaDe 

 Cod, the builder of Harbinger and Almira, has an order irom Mr. 

 T. J. Young, owner of Almira, for a new boat for the 30ft. class. 

 Though a racer, she will have 6ft. headroom in a cabin in which 

 will be foul 1 berths besides a stateroom. 



CHIQUITA.— This cutter, the first of the deep centerboard 40- 

 footers, built in 1888, will he converted into a keel boat, the work 

 being done by Lawley. She now draws about 7ft. f>in. as a center- 

 board boat. She will be used only for cruising. 



YACHT RACING IN EARNEST.— The achievement of the 

 owner of the V elide, competing in forty-eight matches out of t he 

 fifty sailed by the 20-raters, beats the performance of the 10-tonner 

 Florence in 1878, when Mr. Henry Little sailed her hi mself in forty 

 matches out of a possible forty-four. In 1876 he sailed thirty-two 

 matches on the lona, and eleven in other yachts, making a total 

 of forty -three. Last year Mr. Hodge.us sailed forty-one matches 

 in the Yreda: whilst in 1885 the Marjorio competed in forty-one 

 matches, and in 1S87 Mr. Nottage sailed forty-one matches in the 

 Foxhound. We do not, think anythiug of the "historical" yacht- 

 man— Mr. Weld for instance— sailed as many as fifty matches 

 thoroughout the whole of their career, and here we have one gen- 

 tleman performing such a feat in a single year. Sailing forty- 

 eight matches in a 20-rater is by no means an enterprise, which 

 can he accomplished without trouble and a great deal of devotion, 

 not to say industry, in pursuit of the end. For instance. Velzie, to 

 sail her in fortv-eight matches had 105 days, excluding Snudays; 

 so she had fifty-seven days for making passages and enjoying the 

 luxury of rest from the bustle and racket of match galling. The 

 passages exteuded from the Isle of Wight to the Thames, then to 

 Dover, back to the Thames, to Harwich, Isle of Wight, round to 

 the Menai Straits, Liverpool, the Clyde. Belfast, Kingston, Fal- 

 mouth. Isle of Wigot, Plymouth, and back to the Isle of Wight, 

 about 2150 miles in all. It can be gathered from this alone, that 

 sailing a 20-rater in the way Yclzie, Chiquita, and Dragon were 

 this year is anything but ihe sleepy operation yacht sailing is 

 sometimes supposed to be: and to win twenty-three first prizes, as 

 Dragon has done in the teeth of such opposition as she met with 

 from the other two prize winners, is evidence of the excellence of 

 the craft and the skill of her skipper, Ben Parker.— Field. 



CLARA AND MINERVA.— Clam is now laid up at the Corin- 

 thian Basin, at Staten Island. Minerva was out at Wintringham's 

 last week, where her lines were taken by Mr. Hyslop for the Sea- 

 wanhaka C. Y. C. She then sailed for Beverly, where she will bs 

 laid up. Captain John Barr, of Clara, with his brother, Captain 

 Cnarles B irr, of Minerva, is now living at Marblehead. The two 

 will buy a smdll schooner and spend the winter herring fishing. 



WILD DUCK.— This name has been chosen for the new 125ft* 

 steel steamer for Mr. J. M. Forbes. 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Fouest A-nd 

 Stream their addresses, with name, membership, signal, etc., of 

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

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

 requested to forward to Forest an d Stream their addresses, with 

 logs of cruises, maps, and information concerning their local 

 waters, drawings or descriptions of boats and fittings, and all 

 items relating to the s port. 



AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION. 



OFFICERS, 188!>-90. 

 Commodore: Walter TJ. Lawson, Boston, Mass. 



Secretary-Treasurer: KAt.rn F. Erazek, 17 I 'eutral street, Lowell, Mass. 

 Rce-Ccmv. Rear-Com. Purser. 



Central Dlv., Geo. A. Warder.... E. L. French J. K. Bakewell, 



110 Diamond st reet, Pittsburgh, Pa. 



Eastern Div.. Dr. J. A. Gage A. S. Putnam Ralph F. Brazer, 



Lowell, Mass. 



N'thern Dlv. . W. J. White W. J. Read CM. Whitlaw, 



Montreal, Cau. 



Atlantic Div.. 51. V. Brokaw L V. Dorland W. R. Haviland, 



Yonkers, N. Y. 



Applications for memnership roust be made to division pursers, accom- 

 panied by the recommendation of an active member and the sum of $2.00 

 for entrance fee and dues for current year. Every member attending 

 the general A. C. A. camp shall pay $1.00 tor camp expenses. Application 

 gent to the Sec'v-Treas. will be forwarded by him to the proper Division. 



Persons residing in anv Division aud wishing to become members of 

 the A. C. A., will be furnished with printed forms of applicati on by address 

 Ing the Purser. 



WESTERN CANOE ASSOCIATION. 



Commodore— D. H. Crane, Chicago, 111. 



Vice-Commodore— N. B. Cook, Chicago, TU. 



Rear-Commodore- O. A. Woodruff, Dayton, O. 



Secretarv-Treasurer— .1. H. Ware, 130 Rialto Building. Chicago, 11). 



Applications for membership should be made to the Sec.-Treas., on blanks 

 which mav be obtained from him, and should he accompanied by §2 as 

 initiation fee and dues for the current year. 



A RIVER CRUISE IN A FOLDING BOAT. 



[Co7iduded f rom Page 220.] 



THE next morning, after exhibiting our novelties to a number 

 who desired to inspect our outfit, we launched for new ad- 

 y r entures, and having run down a mile anchored our craft at the 

 exact point in the river where the States of Pennsylvania, West 

 Virginia and Ohio join, so that the Wanderer's 12ft. of length 

 then actually rested in three States at once, an experience which 

 so small a boat seldom has. S., from the stern, asked, "W., how 

 goes the time in West Virginia and Ohio?" W., with right hand 

 dipped in the waters of Ohio and his left in those of West Vir- 

 ginia, responded. "Oh, nuite good, how is it in Pennsylvania?" S. 

 rejoined, "'It's confounded hot here, but think it will be cooler 

 when 1 get over there." 



We then meandered on, and finding a pleasant, cool looking spot, 

 a mile or two dowu the river on the West Virginia shore, near the 

 base of a mountain range, where the primeval forest was unbroken 

 and no habitation near, we decided to inspect and if desirable go 

 into camp for a few days, until the weather became somewhat 

 more enjoyable. A delicious spring was found, also wood conve- 

 nient, and the tent pitched on a level shady plateau, fully 100ft. 

 back from the river and 40ft. above it, with the bluff rising 

 abruptlv within 50ft. at the rear, covered with dense forest 

 growth "and an island of some extent in the middle of the river 

 shut out a view of civilization in that direction. This reminds 

 W. of Adirondack scenes and he begins to fell quite at home. 

 Wood is gathered, a rude ta>de constructed, beds, etc., arranged, 

 ere enjoying a late dinner. Then the hammocks are swung and 

 the afternoon whiied away ere we are aware. Then a neat camp- 

 fire arranged at a locality favorable for cheer and light, without 

 too much heat, and after supper, music and "seven-up" fill in the 

 hours uni il time to turn in. 



An amusing incident, at least to W., occurred as the duffle was 

 being transferred from the boat to the camp ground. S., a strong 

 vigorous bicyclist, slung the pack-basket on his back, and taking 

 the tent grip in one hand and the Winchester iD the other started 

 up the bank; but as the river had been at a high stage and the 

 water was receding the ground was somewhat uncertain in that 

 immediate vicinity and his feet slipped backward, resulting in a 

 header into the sand with the pack on top, which W. was obliged 

 to remove ere his companion could arise. 



We remained in camp here for three days, and were only 

 cognizant of the extreme heat when obliged to take the boat and 

 go out for supplies. S. took one trip up the ri ver, and found the 

 current near the head of the island very strong at the then low 

 stage of water, and be was uncertain at one period whether he 

 would make it or not. He succeeded, however, and on his return 

 trip fairly came back flying. At this point several steamers that 

 were on up trips were obliged to turn back. Squirrels were plen- 

 tiful, and VV. bagged a number with the rifle. Perch and bass 

 could be easily obtained when wanted. On the evening of the 

 third day, as we were having a game of "seven-up" near the camp 

 fire, the silence was broken by the crunching of bones some 

 twenty-five feet below the plateau, where the refuse of the camp 

 had been thrown. W, sa'd "There is a fox or a hedgehog, get the 

 camp lantern and shine his eyes, and I'll get the rifle and drop 

 him." It was quickly done, hut the "ki yl" that followed the shot 

 announced the fact that the intruder was a canine instead of a 

 beast of the forest, and W. regretted the act, as he believes others 

 as attached to their pet dogs as is he to his. The next day prior 

 to breaking camp, a card was tacked up on a tree, and a request 

 made that should the owner of a wounded dog find such card Le 

 could communicate with the address given. Just as we were 

 packing up a native put in an appearance, and asked if we had 

 heard a shot fired the night before; that some one had shot his 

 dog, and he didn't know whether it, would live or not. W. man- 

 fully said that he was the fellow, and explained the circumstances 

 and'oifered to pay him a fair remuneration. The owner said that 

 under like conditions he would have done the same, and re- 

 fused compensation, but W. insisted on his taking a fiver, that his 

 conscience might be easier, and everybody was made happier. 



The run to Wellsville was a charming one, and soon made, and 

 as it was part of the programme to stop over here for a day and 

 visit friends who had' extended a warm invitation, and were ex- 

 pecting us, we portaged boat and baggage up to the express office, 

 and became quite, famous, judging from the numbers of sports- 

 men, and others interested, who called to examine our outfit. 



The term of S.'s vacation being limited, it was decided to ship 

 camp equipage and thereafter occupy the full day in getting 

 over the proposed route, and make a hotel or farmhouse our 

 quarters when night came on, 



The next afternoon we bade our kind friends adieu and started 

 down the river, passing Yellow Creek, McCoys and Elliottville, 

 through an interesting section of the country, and the views pre- 

 sented were fascinating. When between New Cumberland aud 

 Toronto, nearly opposite Garliek's extensive pottery works, we 

 passed the greatest natural (or unnatural) curiosity of the trip, 

 which at a distance seemed to he the river on Are. A natural 

 gas main crosses the river, and had either burst or in other way 

 been injured, so that a large volume of gas escaped in mid river, 

 and some one with an eye to the phenomenal had applied the 

 match, and an immense column of fire 15 to 20ft. in height arose 

 from tne surface of the water which was hissing and apparently 

 boiling up to the extent of 3 or 4ft., and falling in jets of spray 

 with the pillar of fire rising from the midst. It was a sight worth 

 going miles to see, strange and weird, and would have been adored 

 by the ancient fireworsbippers as a god. We reached Toronto on 

 the Ohio side at 6 P. M., having made fourteen miles in three and 

 one-half hours, and with great ease. One can pull the Allen bow- 

 facers with but little exert ion, and an occasional change off from 

 oars to paddle or vice versa waB more by way of variety than 

 necessity. At Toronto we found good accommodations at the 

 Hotel Brady, with storage for boat and baggage in a convenient, 

 livery barn adjacent to the high bank, up which we were obliged 

 to make a carry in order to get within city limits. After supper 

 we strolled about the. town, which is a thriving one with exten- 

 sive pottery works, and bears evidence of prosperity. 



We did not get away until 9 o'clock the next morning, hut ran to 

 Steubenville in two hours, reaching the wharf just in time to 

 avoid a heavy thunder storm that broke within a few minutes 

 after we had sheltered boat, and baggage. After a thirty minutes 

 pouring rain the clouds pass away and we go up town and register 

 for dinner at the excellent United States Hotel, and then go out 

 for a look at the town, which is new to S. and which W. has not 

 seen for 25 years. We noticed that the town was posted for an ex- 

 hibition by Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show during the afternoon. 

 A d odger, announcing the fact of a slight delay on account of miss- 

 ing railroad connection, had been profusely scattered over the 

 streets, and the city was full of people on the qui vive of expectancy. 

 As we promenaded the principal streets in our tourist costume of 

 flannel shirts, and faces browned in the sun and reflection from 

 the water to something near that of baked missionaries, w T e were 

 taken for the advance guard of the show, and commanded con- 

 siderable attention. In fact, one fellow was so well assured that, 

 pointing to W. in his wide-orimmed felt Stetson, announced to bis 

 companions, "that's Pawnee Bill himself." 



After an excellent dinner we start away at 1 o'clock The usual 

 crowd of admirers and curious from hotel and vicinity came down 

 to the wharf to see the "Walk-up-the-Creek" start off, and we 

 pulled out against a strong head wind, and in due time passed 

 Yorkville, Caruthers, Warrensvilleand numerous small towns on 

 either bank. The wind blew strong and gave us a harder day's 

 work than any yet experienced in good water, but we were in ex- 

 cellent condition and spirits, and made fair headway. At 5 o'clock 

 we stopped at Wellsburg for refreshments. We learned that the 

 next favorable stopping place would be Martin's Ferry, opposite 

 Wheeling, and 14 miles distant, and as the wind had somewhat 

 abated, we concluded to make the run, and did so without inci- 

 dent worthy of mention, reaching the wharf boat at 8 P. M., hav- 

 ing made 85 miles in 8)4 hours. Darkness had set; in, but we were 

 fortunate in meeting Mr. Terrell of the ferry boat, who kindly 

 permitted us to use his boat for storage purposes, and directed us 

 to a hostelry. At the Hotel May we found good accommodations. 



The next morning the landlord introduced us to a number of 

 gentlemen, among them the redoubtable Col. Sharon, brother of 

 the bonanza king, and quite a character himself, being genial 

 and entertaining. As usual we were escorted to the river, and. 

 there exhibited the peculiarities of our craft before taking our 

 departure over veritable bounding billows in the face of a strong 

 wind that seemed blowing up the river, no matter what direction 

 the channel turned. We pas«ed the city of Wheeling, then Bridge- 

 port, Benton, Beilaire and McGee without a halt, except in mid- 

 river for a few moments at the latter named place to permit ex- 

 aminations of our oars by a curious riverman, who said he had 

 "been rowing a boat on the Ohio for twenty-five years' and never 

 had seen a rigging like that before," and for that, reason had 

 pulled out to see it. After inspection he pronounced it "about 

 the checker," and having ascertained where procurable, he 

 thanked us and returned to shore. We reached Moundsville, 

 W.Va., at 1;30 P. M-, having accomplished but 14 miles in four 

 and a half hours, owing to the heavy sea. On our way we passed 

 numerous gangs of coal wreckers iu various stages of nakedness, 

 working about the rapids and bars, in the vicinity of which quite 

 a number of coal barges had been stove to pieces. 



We carried boat and baggage up to the B. & O. railroad depot, 

 bidding good-bye to the old Ohio, who had been our bosom friend 

 for just one week. It is a notable fact that the sceuery tnus far 

 has been grand, and none can fully appreciate it until passing 

 over th9 route by boat. At the depot we took Wanderer apart 

 and packed her for transportation as sportsmen's extra baggage, 

 then went up to the Mound City Hotel, and after supper visited 

 the noted Indian mound in an inolosure. in the heart of the town. 

 It is about 75ft. in height, 200ft. in diameter at the base and 50ft. 

 across at the top. A shaft goes in from the base on the north to 

 the center, meeting a perpendicular shaft sunk from the top that 

 is about, 10ft. in diameter. It is a great curiosity, and the outlook 

 from the top being very fine, it is visited by many. Numerous 

 skeletons, battle axes, spears, pottery, etc.. apparently belonging 

 to the pre-historic race, have been taken from the mound. 



At 0 P. M. we board the train tor Fairmont, W. Va., on the head- 

 waters of the Monongahela, and our route on the B. & O. ft. R. is 

 a winding one, through a mountainous region and full of charm- 

 ing views, but dissolving ones, owing. to the rapidity with which 

 the train is whirled over the sinuous road. There are numerons 

 tunnels, and beside the road we noticed the famous RosebyRoek, 

 where the laying of track was completed in 1853. It is a large 

 boulder nearly 30ft. in diameter, bearing the inscription: "Roseby 

 Rock, track closed Christmas, 1853." 



We reached Fairmont at 7:30 P. M., and found excellent quar- 

 ters at the Hough House, near (he suspension bridge. Next morn- 

 ing we sauntered about the town and were well pleased. It was 

 our good fortune to be recognized as "men and brothers" by some 

 of the leadiug citizens, who introduced us to others, and our 

 sojourn made'quite pleasant. We here saw quite a curiosity that 

 had just, been discovered and attracted a large number. Some 

 workmen in making an excavation for a new business block ex- 

 humed the petrified body of an old colored woman that had been 

 buried in that locality forty-two years before, and was so well 

 preserved as to be recognized At noon we continued by rail to 

 Rowlesburg, on the Cneat River. It was our intention to launch 

 our boat and run down the Cheat to its confluence with the Monon- 

 gahela, as the scenery has the reputation of heing remarkably 

 fine. We found tne water at a low stage, and the rapids (that ex- 

 tend nearly fourteen miles) swift, rocky and dangerous, especially 

 in low water, aud running through the Cheat Mountain range 

 that loomed up from 500 to 1,000ft. in that vicinity; and further, 

 that for a large stretch there was no human habitation in the 

 vicinity of the river, and we should have to rough it were we suc- 

 cessfuL in getting through. We also found many old heads who 

 advised us not to make ihe attempt, and cited the fact that no 

 less than eight persons who had started out to run the Cheat River 

 rapids had lost their lives iu tbe attempt. Under the circum- 

 stances we decided to take the back track to Fairmont and then 

 go down the Monongahela. . 



At Rowlesburg we met a number of old hunters, and got into 

 their good graces by giving them an opportunity to use the Ly- 

 man sights, and learned much of the locality. It appeared to be 

 quite a sportsman's paradise. Deer are quite plenty in the near 

 vicinity, speckled trout abundant and partridges without num- 

 ber. We were told of a covey of almost perfectly white part- 

 ridges (or ruffed grouse) that an old hunter had frequently seen 

 and knew their haunts. This might have been a wnite lie, but 

 was given with apparent sincerity. Thus we whiied away a few 

 hours until arrival of train, which we boarded and reached Fair- 

 mont in the evening. . 



Next morning we start down the Monongahela. The water 

 heing at a low stage we were obliged to lighter over some of the 

 rifts, but in the main had good running, and through interesting 

 sceuery, and reached Morgantown that day, and called a halt until 

 morning. We did not leave Morgantown until U o'clock A. M., 

 and then were soon in fine water. After a two-mile run we were 

 overtaken by a passing shower and pulled up under a projecting 

 tree, where we rested until the storm was over, and then bent to 

 the oars and made up lost time. We soon reach U. S. Lock No. 

 9, nine miles from Moruantown, which we portage around and 

 then run the Cowles riffle on the State line, aF.d find ourselves 

 once more in Pennsylvania territory. 



We passed Point Marion, at the mouth of the Cheat, and then 

 pulled up the Cheat River for a short distance on a tour of obser- 

 vation. The waters of the Cheat are of a peculiar dark color, and 

 it is asserted that the color makes it quite deceptive in estimating 

 the depth, and that it was from this f act that the name was given 

 to the river. On returning and reaching the junction with the 

 Monongala we passed quite a rapids, in which and for a long dis- 

 tance below the distinctive color of the two rivers was plainly 

 seen, and after a final blending the water was quite changed in 

 appearance. It is presumed that the color is taken from the roots 

 of the mountain laurel, as well as from mineral through which it 



