96 



J^ORfiST AND STREAM. 



[Aug. 20, 1891. 



THE A. C. A. SEA SERPENT.- The great A. C. A. sea serpent 

 which attacked the camp on Monday is a novelty, and has excited 

 a great deal of curiosity. There is no trace as to its origin, but a 

 wandering pair from Squaw Point repnit that on a stroll far be- 

 yond the camp they found in a wheatfield some remnants of can- 

 vas and wood, some pots ef paint, brushee, nails and similar 

 d6bris, with a number of very large footprints, evidently those ol 

 a human being and not a dragon. 



THE A. C. A. MEET OF 1891. 



1880— Lake George, 



1881— Lake George. 

 1883— Lake George. 



1883— Stony Lake. 



1884— Grindstone. 



1885— Giindatone. 



3886— Grindstone. 



1887— Lake Ohamplain, 



1888— Lake George. 



1889— Stave Island. 



1890— Jessup'i Neck. 



1891— Lake Ohamplain. 



FOR twelve years the American Canoe Association has held its 

 annual camps in these locations, this year coming for the 

 second time to Lake Ohamplain. The first fight of these camps 

 were practically under the management of the Association as a 

 whole, but for the last four years the division scheme has been in 

 operation, each division in succession holding the meet in its ter- 

 ritory and having thp main part in its management. The present 

 meet completes the first full round of divisions, the order having 

 been Central, Northern, Atlantic and finally Eastern. As a nlat- 

 ter of fact the first canoeists to take advantage of the new scheme 

 and organize themselves as a separate division of the A. C. A. 

 were the New England men, the Eastern Division haviLg been 

 organized at the local meet at Oalla Shasta, on the Connecticut 

 River, in May, 1886, and he first m<^et under the new arrangement 

 should have been held in the Eastern Division. Iq that > ear, 

 however, 1887, Mr. Butler and Mr. Barney, the leading men of the 

 new division, declined the office of commodore, and the division 

 waived Its turn, leaving the main body of the Association to hold 

 the meet, as in the past, which was done aiBow-A.rrow Point, on 



The next year, 1888, may really be set down as the first A. C. A. 

 meet under division auspices, the commodore and secretary-treas- 

 urer being chosen from the division aad not from the Association 

 at large, and after completing the round of all the divisions, it 

 must be said that what was looked on by manv asadoubtfull and 

 even dangerous experiment when begun in 18fi6, has proved in all 

 ways a success. Instead of dividing the Association, or causing 

 a decrease of membership, the four local bodies have bem able to 

 reacli individual canoeists more effectually than the one original 

 body; while the friendly rivalry between the divisions has stimu- 

 lated each to special efforts to excel the others, both in the man- 

 agement of its meet, when the turn comes, and in attendance at 

 each meet. 



While the first salt-water meet, that of the Atlantic Division at 

 Jessup's Neck last year, was in many respects a most delightful 

 one, there were several serious drawbacks which served as warn- 

 ings to the present executive, and with the experience ot 18a0 to 

 guide them, the present camp has been made one of the best, so 

 far as site and conveniences are concerned. The li«!t; at the head 

 of this column includes tne most picturesque scenery of the east- 

 ern portion of the United States, Lake George, Lake Ohamplain, 

 Long Island Sound, and above all the famous Thousand Islands 

 of the St. Lawrence. It is no wonder that each of the nine sepa- 

 rate camp sites has its special beauties and its enthusiastic parti- 

 sans, and that a comparison is very difiicult, but in beauty of 

 location the present camp is unexcelled. The view is far wider 

 and more extended than on Lake George, being like Grindstone 

 and Jessup's neck in this particular, but in each of the latter the 

 distant mountains on every hand which make such a charming 

 background for Willsborough Point, were entirely absent. 

 Wooded hills and mountains, the Adirondacks on the we-^t with 

 the Green Mountains of Yermont on the east, together with clear 

 green wai;er, shady nooks and bays, sandy beaches and islands 

 green and rocky, make the view in all directions a most charming 



**^'ot only is the outlook all that could be desired, but the camp 

 site Itself is in keeping with the surroundings. Taken as a whole, 

 the location off rs a most admirable combination of convenience 

 and beauty. The land is mostly high, and in all places sufficiently 

 dry to make good tent sites. Shade or opfn soace can be had at 

 will in any part of the camp, on the high bluffs or just above the 

 beach level. The beach in many places, especially on the eastern 

 side, is of pebbles, hut in pans is rough and stony. Considering 

 the amount of shade, the signal station is convenientlv visible, 

 though to make it so headquarters were located at a distatce 

 from the main camp. 



Two great features of the camp are 1 he hotel and the mess. The 

 former is a cosy and comfortable place, offering every convenience 

 for ladies and chance visitors who do not care to camp out. At 

 the same time it is free from the objections of most summer 

 hotels, which turn loose on the camp a host of sightseers. It is 

 in charge of a gentleman who has done everything possible to 

 accommodate th«i canoeists, and who is giving them a table that 

 has never been equaled at any camp mess. The meals are served 

 in a large summer pavilion, the sides open to the lake, with a 

 board fl.oor that is perfect for dancing, as has been fully proved. 

 The tables, covered with clean table cloths and real napkins, are 

 served by neat trim country girls, and the bill of fare is most sat- 

 isfactorv in quality and quantity. The scale of prices is $1 per 

 day, or 35 cents each for breakfast and supper and 50 cents lor 

 dinner. There are tables and seats for probably 200 persons, each 

 table being reserved for a particular party. Many tables are 

 decorated with cluo flags on small staffs. Near the pavilion is the 

 camp store. Tlirouguoat the camp a number of small cooking 

 outfits are seen, but there are few larye camp messes, nearly 

 every one patronizing the general mess. The only disadvantages 

 of the camp arise from the fact that nature has laid it out on too 

 large a scale for the number who are likely to attend, ana as a 

 consequence the familiar social intercourse of the Grindstone and 

 Jessup's Neck camps are to a certain extent missing. The avail- 

 able space is far in excess of any previous camp; there is ample 

 room for a meet of 600 or 800, and naturally the 200 or 300 who will 

 makeup the camp this week are bioken up into groups instead 

 of forming one united community. There is hardly a lim't to the 

 variety of tent sites, a man may choose between the woods and the 

 open, between the beautiful nooks, high up on a rocky ledge, and 

 overlooiiing the bay and the lake, the shelving, gravelly beach, 

 with a low bank at the back, or the open hillside with its unob- 

 structed view. The result is that the men are widely scattered. 

 Wherever one may he he is cerfain to have a long walk to half a 

 dozen points of interest, eiiherthe mess shed, the headquarters 

 and post-offlce. or the bluff from which the races are to be seen. 

 From the Toronto camp to the mess shed is a very long distance, 

 and from the main camp is almost a^ far, while the two camps 

 are themselves widely separated. All this interferes greatly with 

 the usual familiar, everyday intercourse ot: camp life, and espe- 

 cially with the smaller camp-fires and impromptu sports, no one 

 knows what may be going on in other parts of the camp. 



The location of the dock is also unfortunate, as may be seen 

 from the map: it is a long distance from all parts of the camp, the 

 consequence being that no one knows of the new arrivals, and 

 one may be in camp two or three days without knowing who of 

 bis friends are present. In this respect the camp is like Stave 

 Island and Long Island in Lake George; and very diflrerent from 

 Jessup's Neck, where the arrivals at the main dock were seen and 

 quickly announced tinough camp. One of the pleasantest feat- 

 ures of a meet is the daily arrival of the steamer and the meeting 

 of old friends; aad much of this is lost where the dock is far from 

 the center r.f the camp. In this case, however, there is a strong 

 compensation; by using the existing dock the Association saves a 

 heavv outlay. 



The courses for the races are two, an inner course off Indian 

 Bav, and an outer, to the N. E. of the point. The former is visible 

 from the main camp, bat not from Squaw Point; to see the outer 

 course it is necessary to go to the point marked "'steep rocky 

 bluff," or half a mile from the landings of the racing men; while 

 it is a still longer sail from these landings to the starting line. 



Tne camp site committee, Messrs. Buddington and Butler, have 

 worked very hard and with good results, the preliminary arraage- 

 tuents being excellent. Tent floors have been built in advance 

 when ordered, also the usual landing stages, the grounds have 

 been put in good order, and special care has been given to the 

 sanitary arrangements. The mess business is well conducted and 

 the transportation is fairly go id. The connection with the trains 

 from the south, from New York and Albany, is hardly perfect, 

 entailing a wait of nearly five hours at Port Kent. In the hurry 

 and bustle of everyday life, a few hours of serious thought and 

 deliberate introspection, communing with one's self as it were, 

 are never thrown away. At the same time, one would hardly 

 select the stringpiece of the Port Kent dock on an August morn- 

 ing for such mental discipline. Absolute quick trausit for the 

 last five miles of the long journey to camp is something of the 

 first importance, but which Has been seldom realized. It was in 

 1884 at Grindstone and in 1838 at Lake George, but at Bow -Arrow 

 in 1887, Stave Island in 1889, and particularly at Jessup's Neck in 

 1890. the period of purgatorial probation was anywhere from six 

 tP twenty-four hours for the men and an indefinite lime for lug- 



gage. The first essential in the wiv of transportation is prompt 

 connection with trains to and from New York and Albany at Lake 

 George, L-tke Ohamplain or the Sc. Lawrence; from half to two- 

 thirds of the attendance is from this quarter. It seems now that 

 a better connection could have been made from Willsborough 

 Station, but this is a matter that cau only be learned by experi- 

 ence, and the committee have done a great deal of work, and it 

 has been well donf . 



The final arrangement of the camp is somewhat different from 

 that in the map before published. Indian Bay is a deeper inden- 

 tation than there shown, and the headquarters is nearer to the 

 end of the point, near the first of the three letters A. C. A. Here 

 are Com. Lawsou's tents, the A. 0. A. tent, with post office and 

 secretary's office, the flig and signal poles, and two cannon. To 

 the north, on the high ground of the extreme point, is the Cana- 

 dian camp, with the members of the Toronto 0. C. Following 

 the shores of Indian Bay, on which, if the truth must be told, the 

 beach is by no means perfect, being partly muddy and soft, with 

 holes and rough stones in plenty, to the westward of headquarters 

 is the Brooklyn 0. C. camp on the beach, with Springfield just 

 back of it on the high ground. 



The main encampment is in the grove on Indian Bay. opposite 

 to the figures 49 and 4 on the map. This grove, mainly of fir trees, 

 extends for a mile along the shore of Willsborough Bay. The 

 first suffgestion was to make this the ladies' camp, anrl it is so 

 marked on the map, but the location was finally changed, Squaw 

 Point being on the east shore of the Point;, near the figure 3 on 

 Pumpkin Reef. 



The tents of the main camp being scattered among the trees, 

 there are this year no well defined club camps, such as those of 

 the Vespers and lanthes at Jessup's Neck, wtiile the fine display 

 of club flags that graced the bluff there is also missing. 



The club attendance this year is thus far smaller than last, the 

 register will probably show a greater number of clubs repre- 

 sented, but by only half a dozen members each. The Mohican 

 C. C. will probably have more men in camp than any other. The 

 older clubs are not well represented in point of numbers. 

 Rochester has only two representatives, Oapt. Ruggles and his 

 tin telescope, Newburg has one member, Oswego none, Rondout 

 none, Pittsburgh none, Buffalo none, Peterboro none. Red Dragon 

 none, Rome none. The Toronto, New York, Yonkers, Knicker- 

 bocker and Brooklyn average about half a dozen members each. 

 A great many new faces are seen, and thus far comparatively 

 few of the old men who made up the c-imps of 1S8'3 to 1858. 



Among the latter are Gibson, ^Vhitlock. Vaux. Stephens, 

 Fernow, Rev. Dr. Neide, Knappe, Butler and W. B. Wacker- 

 hagen. Gen. Oliver is expected for a few days, also Dr. Chas. A. 

 Neld§. Mr. Shedd is in Tacoma, Mr. Mix and Dr. Misten are m 

 Europe, Mr. French is detained by business, as are Dr. Gage and 

 W. G. Mackendrick, of the present regatta committee. The most 

 distant representative thus far is Mr. T. J. Kirkpatrick, of 

 Springfield, Ohio, at an A. 0, A. meet for the first time. A rumor 

 has reached camp that Mr. Warder, now of Oakland, Cal., is on 

 his wild and wooily way to camp, being last reported at Tacoma, 

 where he stopped to visit Mr. Shedd. Mr. Barney is expected, but 

 without a canoe. 



At Squaw Point are of course the Seaveys, with Miss Dartnell, a 

 large lanthe party, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Palmer, Mrs. and Miss 

 Winser, Miss Fredricks and the Misses Douglas, and Mr. and Mrs. 

 Belman. Mr. Scott, of Ottawa, has a party of five: Mr. J, N. Mac- 

 kendrick, of Gait, is present with his wife; the Misses Sherwood 

 are also at Squaw Point; while Mrs. and Miss Vaux and Mrs, Gib- 

 son are at the hotel. 



Those who have read Mr. Poe's '"Thunder Storm Cruise" on this 

 lake, puhlishf d in the Forest and Stream, will not be surprised 

 to learn thtit Che thuuderetorm is sotOiethlng of an established 



institution on this part of the lake as well as further north; and 

 the camp has been favored with several very sulden storms of 

 wind and rain, alone or in company. There has been but one real 

 "rainy day," but a small and unobtrusive black cloud may he 

 seen at almost any time above the hills, which may at a few 

 moments' notice either sprinkle or drench the camp. Tne weather 

 has been very pleasant, warm enough, hut nothing like the high 

 temperature and moisture of the coast, and it promises to continue 

 pleas'inr for the remainder of the meet. 



The usual duration of an A. C. A. meet is nominally two weeks, 

 actually 10 days, the men breaking camp immediately after the 

 conclusion of the racing, but few remaining the full time. This 

 breaking up has been apparently governed by no special law, a 

 few are called away by necessity, others see the vacant tent 

 sites and the boxes on the dock and a stampede begins, the whole 

 camp sometimes disappearing between sunrise and sunset;. 



This year, for the first time, the attempt has been made to "con- 

 tinue the surroundings" for a third week, the date announced 

 being Aug. 6 to 27. It has been impossible to lay out a full pro- 

 gramme in advance, as so much depends on the attendance, but 

 the general plan was for a preliminary week with no set events, 

 but the pitching tents, renewing and making acquaintances, short 

 cruises and scrub races. The second week, or from Aug. 13 to 20, 

 to be the principal week, devoted to rices and visitors' day, while 

 the third would be filled up with such cruises and entertainments 

 as might be practicable. There is no doubt that a very pleasant 

 meet can be had and the camp kept together for nearly three 

 weeks, but it will in all probability prove desirable to begin the 

 races on the Monday, instead of Thursday, of the second week. 



One member of the site committee, Mr. Buddington, has a resi- 

 dence at Port Kent, and so has been enabled to spend much of his 

 time about Millsborough Point, with the aid of his steam launch, 

 giving personal attention to the thousand and one details which 

 go to make a successful meet. Com. Lawson and Mr. Butler have 

 also made a number of trips from Boston, and Vice-Corn. WinnS, 

 from Albany. The camp was fairly opened as per programme on 

 Aug. 6, the men drifting in slowly from all quarters. The head- 

 quarters tents were pitched, the flag poles set and a very good 

 dock built. In the course of the next three days a number ot 

 tents were pitched, many of them at Squaw Point. For a day the 

 rain proved troublesome, and on Wednesday night a very heavy 

 squall struck the camp, but, with these exceptions and a few odd 

 showers, the weather was most pleasant. 



Toward the end of the week many nev.' men arrived, making 150 

 in camp up to Sunday night. With this number the camp as- 

 sumed a definite shape, each quarter having a goodly array of 

 teuts. One notable change this year is the absence of yachts, the 

 picturesque fleet that lay off Jessup's Neck last August is repre- 

 sented only by a few craft, the principal one being the Burgess 

 40ft. Nautilus, a cruising cutter built on the lake and owned by 

 Mr. Hickok, of Lake Ohamplain. That some canoemen are 

 yachtsmen as well is proved by the club burgees that ar^ seen 

 this year in greater number than ever before, the clubs repre- 

 sented in this way being the Eastern, Seawanhaka, Atlantic, Cor- 

 inthian of Marblehead, St. Lawrence of Montreal. Corinthian 

 Navy and Corinthian Mosquito Fleet. Com. Lawson flies a big 

 s'ring of club flags above his tent— Eastern, Vesper, Newton, 

 Union and others. 



The camp thus far has been a quiet one, our old friends "Annie 

 Laurie" and "Annie Rooney," too, together with "All Over," am 

 buried beneath the deep blue waters of PeconicBay. "Comrades" 

 has not yet become epidemic to any considerable extent, and a 

 strict quarantine Is maintained by the putrol. The newest vagary 

 is a request frequently made in a loud voice by one man or an- 

 other to "Let the animals growl," which is invariably answered 

 hy a series of of howls, growls and yells from all quarters which 



