Deo. 23, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



388 



A Florida Cruise. 



(^Concluded from Page 532.) 



March 1.— We are steerinR straight for Cape Sable, the southermost 

 point of the main land of Florida, which we reach at 2 P. M. and 

 anchor behind a sandbar that protects us 'from any gale that may 

 come from the south or southwest. "We take the dinghey and go 

 ashore, where we And an abandoned house and cocoanut grove. The 

 land was too poor and the owner or squatter gave it up. In coming 

 back to the schooner we saw two large blue man-eaters — we bathe on 

 board to-day. , , , , . 



March 2.— We left Cape Sable at midnight, with a light but fair 

 wind, and when we boys came on deck we found ourselves out of 

 sight of land, which the "Landsman" did not enjoy; for be was never 

 happy unless the land was in sight and the Blanche in shallow water. 

 We are making four knots sailing over long swells steering N. W. by N. 



Occasionally we see a skip-jack, a small Bsh that gets up on top of 

 the water and with a peculiar motion of its tail fairly flies over the 

 surface of the water for 300 or "SOOft., probably fleeing from some 

 larger fish. We often see the sportive porpoise as they come to the 

 top to breathe and blow. They belong to the mammal species, are 

 warm blooded and come to the surface to breath and blow like whales. 

 The finest watch oU is taken from their jaws, and the best shoe- 

 strings DOW in use are made from the skin of the same fish. Four or 

 five times we have seen monster loggerhead turtles. Sometimes we 

 see the much sought for kmgflsh, that will jump 6ft. into the air. 

 They are fine eating but hard to catch. 



Then we always have the sea gulls, with their plaintive, chicken-like 

 cry hovering around us. ever ready to pick up the crumbs that are 

 thrown overboard. But most interesting of all are the pelicans. They 

 generally fly about 50ft. above the water, looking for any stray fish 

 that swim near the surface. The pehcan will poise over such a fish, 

 and suddenly throwing up its wings wfll fall like a shot, straight as a 

 taut line, striking the water with a loud report, stunning the fish, 

 which the bird quickly secures and 8tows away in its immense sack- 

 situated under the lower jaws— and sails off in search of another vic- 

 tim. 



March 3.— We arrive at Cape Romano at 4 P. M. We caught some 

 fish, hunted shells, bathed in the surf and retired for the night. 



March 4. — We have a fair wind and go booming along with the bow- 

 sprit pointed for Sanibel Lighthouse, which stands at the mouth of 

 San Carlos Bay. After running about 1.'5 miles we ran into Naples, on 

 the Gulf. Made fast to the long dock and proceeded to look the town 

 over. 



Of all the resorts along the west coast of Florida, Naples takes the 

 first prize. The land is high, dry and healthy, and the beach is wide, 

 with the sand pounded down by the surf so hard that, horses and car- 

 riages can be driven for miles either north or south. The great roll- 

 ers come in with a sweep of 1,000 miles and break on the beach with a 

 roar that can be heard many miles away. For purity of air, for beauty 

 of beach and majestic grandeur of the breaking surf, it is the Long 

 Branch of the South. 



It was founded by a stock company fromSLouisville, Ky., but it cost 

 80 much to maintain it that the stockholders became weary of the ex- 

 pense and sold out for a song. The proprietor of the Louisville Courier 

 now owns the beautiful resort iu fee simple. Of course they have no 

 harbor, but they have a long dock that the largest ocean steamers can 

 land at even at ebb tide. This dock is made very substantial in order 

 to withstand the heavy seas that come from the west and southwest. 

 A large steamer lands semi-weekly, for which hixury the editor owner 

 is said to pay for each landing, or $400 per week. They had 

 about twenty-flve guests at the hotel. We said to the owner. "To us 

 this resort would be a largo 'white elephant'." He said, "Oh, of course 

 it is run at a great loss, as everything has to come by steamboat, Out 

 the climate just suits me, and I can stay here through the winter with 

 out an ache or pain, and at my age cost cuts no figure.''' 



It is a delightful place for bathing and fishing.' One of the guests 

 told us that in one day they caught two large sharks, one large jew- 

 fish and a great variety of smaller fish. "Indeed, you can catch any- 

 thing but a cold, "which coicicided with our experience, for we have 

 no colds since coniiog on the coast. The resort was peopled with 

 Louisville folks. 



We again put to sea with a fair wind and steered N.W. We soon 

 saw a large loggerhead turtle, which the captain said would weigh at 

 least 4031bs. \V'e arrived at St. James again and were glad to receive 

 letters and papers from home. We had only made the harbor when 

 a N.W. gale commenced to blow. But we were in a snug harbor and 

 proposed' to remain here until the gale subsided. 



Tnis morning some fishermen were cleaning fish and threw the 

 entrails into the bay from the shore end of the dock where the water 

 was about two feet deep. A large shark— a blue man-eater- was 

 drawn to the spot by the smell of fish blood and became partially 

 stranded in the shallow water. The "Chief Marine" soon appeared 

 with a grange, which he drove into the monster's back, and then 

 there was an exciting fight on hand. He called for help. The com- 

 modore went to his assistance and they both held on to the handle of 

 the grange with all of their strength. The shark made the water and 

 mud boil in his frantic efforts to escape. 



He finally njade one fearful jump straight up out of the water, and 

 when he fell back the pole of the grange struck the dock and broke 

 short off, leaving about four feet of said pole sticking in his back, 

 which we could see above the surface as he made his e.scape out into 

 the bay. He was twelve feet long and was the largest and ugliest 

 shark we had seen on the coast. We never saw such black, wicked 

 and vieiouB-looking eyes as this monster had on each side of his 

 broad, flat head. In his struggle with the boys he constantly opened 

 his great serai-circular mouth, filled with sharp teeth, that were set 

 with a slant backward, so made for tearing flesh and fish to pieces; 

 and he would clo.se this mouth with a snap, that made each particu- 

 lar hair of our head stand on end. We took no baths in that bay. 



The wind still blows too hard for us to sail up the Caloosahatchie 

 River, where we expect to catch some tarpon. The commodore and 

 the chief marine are on the dock catching sheepshead. They are a 

 gamy fish and give the sportsman great fun. Tliey have two rows 

 of double teeth that are the envy of any man on the shady side of 

 forty-five. They use these .strong teeth in craunchiri|f the coon 

 oysters that cling to all sait water pilling in these latitudes. For 

 bait we use the fiddler crab. The commodore shelved me his hook 

 when he was through fishing. The sheepshead had knicked, bent and 

 utterly ruined said hook in one hour's fishing. 



Many vessels are coming in for shelter from the northwest gale, 

 among them being the Oriole, owned and sailed by Commodore Colt, 

 of the Larchmont Y. C. He has a fine yacht, ketch rigged, fitted up 

 with all the modern improvements and carrying a naphtha launch, 

 which can tow the yacht in case of a dead calm about three miles per 

 hour. 



March 6.— We got under way this morning and ran to Punta Rassa, 

 a cattle station, where we anchored to wait for the tide to turn in our 

 favor. Punta Rassa consists of a small hotel, steamboat dock and 

 cattle sheds, all of which belong to one man, who is the cattle king of 

 Florida. He ships from this point by schooners, wtiich be owns, 

 from fifty to three hundred cattle per week to Key West and Havana. 

 These cattle are grown and ranged on a large tract of land in the 

 interior of the lower peninsula. 



There are a few tarpon fishermen stopping at the hotel, waiting for 

 the tarpon season to open. In the mean time they are catching Span- 

 ish mackerel, bluefish and now and then a large shark from the dock. 

 Thev catch many fine fish, but throw nearly all away, as they have no 

 ice to preserve the catch. No small part of the pleasure of catching 

 game fish is the fact that they are of some value to somebody. To 

 kill flsh (except shark) for the sake of Icilling alone is ii^noble sport. 



We are now on our way up the Caloosahatchie River, In many 

 places the channel is very crooked, so much so that the captain la 

 much of the time at tlie masthead to con her through the rocks. 



We arrived at noon at Fort j\lyers, a town containing about 200 

 people, who say thev live upon fish and sick Yankees. There are no 

 sidewalks atid the "houses badly need painting and repairing. A 

 shingle is nailed up in nearly every lot ofl'ering to sell out dog cheap. 

 They have flue trees, and their gardens contained ripe potatoes, toma- 

 toes" and strawberries. Indeed, we at the Nor..h can grow no vegetable 

 that Florida cannot grow in midwinter. Fort Myers is said to be the 

 healthiest place in Florida. In the last census the Government sent 

 back the death rate, thinking the offlcial had made a mistake. The 

 last three doctors all left the town in debt, for they had no practice, 

 and were absolutely starved out. 



The county court w as in session and the town was full of crackers, 

 who had on their store elotbe;,. and all had on broarl-brimmed felt hats, 

 though the temperature was iu the shade. .Mr. Edison, the electri- 

 cian and inventor, has a cottage and laboratory here, which his father 

 cares for in his absence We went over his grounds, which we found 

 laid out in good taste. Among the trees we saw a Japanese bamboo, 

 which grows a sprout in one seasou that is 2in in diameter at the 

 ground", running straight up in a gradual taper to its tiny tip 30ft. in 

 the air. 



We took a tarpon guide on board and steered for the tarpon ground 

 to try our luck for the famous fish. We anchored and baited our 

 tarpon hooks with large pieces of mullet— the tarpon bites at nothing 

 else — which we proceed to east as far as we can and let the bait lie on 

 the ground with the line left slack. We lish from two small boats 

 made fast to the schoonee. 



9:;30 A. M.— No bites, but every man ou duty, eager and expectant. 



10:00 A. M.— All are on duty, but the nerves and muscles are some- 

 what relaxed, and time is now taken to get into easier positions, but 

 no bites. 



10:30.— The Distinguished Landsman comes on board the schooner, 

 ties hvs polH> to thfi taffrail. retires to the cabin to read a Iste paper 

 containing the inaugural of President Cleveland. 



11:00.— One bite reported, causing great excitement, but after a crit- 

 cal examination the guide comes to the conclusion that it is a catfish. 

 Soon after this catfish bite the guide .sang out, "Cast off my painter!" 

 He had a bite and after a few moments he strikes, and the tarpon, 

 finding himself fast, makes frantic efforts to get away. Down the 

 river goes the fish, with the guide holding the line just taut enough to 

 give the boat headway, then the fish turns toward the boat and the 

 guide reels in rapidly, then he jumped clean out of the water and 

 shook his head, trying to get rid of the hook; but the guide held him 

 steady. 



For fuU one hour did the guide work him, until, from sheer ex- 

 haustion, he was towed quietly alongside the boat and pulled in with a 

 strong gaff hook. Our trophy was Oft. long and weighed lOnibs. The 

 Distinguished Landsman had him set up, and we saw the taxidermist in 

 his preliminary work. 



Laying the "flsh down on its side he proceeded to cut out the 

 body of the fish. leaving about one inch of the muscle all over the in- 

 side; then the cavity was packed full of soda, which hardens the tis- 

 sues until they become like a piece of bone. After about six weeks 

 this filUng is taken out and another put in, and the flsh is again hung 

 up for six weeks longer, or until there is no odor from the carcass, 

 when the glass eyes are put in and after mounting on a boord the tar- 

 pon is ready for shipping. The meat of the fish is coarse, red and 

 beefy, something like a North River sturgeon, and not used for food. 



We are on our course steering for Tampa Bay, where we shall end 

 the cruise. There is a heavy swell rolling from the N. W , the remains 

 of the late gale from that quarter. We swing gracefully over these 

 swells, with the shore on our right whitened by the breaking surf, 

 which we can see and hear plainly, though four miles away. The 

 lively skip-jack and the sportive porpoise keep us company by water, 

 and the pelicans and sea gulls are ever near us on the wing, ready to 

 13ick up any crumbs that may be thrown overboard. 



Sometimes the captain would take a piece of a string and tie a small 

 cube of salt pork to each end, and throw it to the gulls, one of which 

 would soon have have one of the cubes in its stomach and fly away 

 with the other piece dangling in the air, when another guU would 

 swallow the other cube, and the tug of war would come when both 

 birds would fall to the water. The strongest bird would capture the 

 string and pork and fly away only to have the same thing repeated 

 until the pork was torn from the strings. 



March 14.— We arrive at St. Petersburg at 2 P. M , pack our dunnage, 

 haul down our flag and end the cruise. We have saUed 1.000 nauticaJ 

 miles without an accident, and have returned healthy and happy. We 

 have been gone 80 days, and the expense has been just S2 per day per 

 man. 



To people who wish to get rid of the blizzards of the North, and 

 especially those who are suffering with bronchial or catarrhal troubles 

 during the winter months, the west coast of Florida is the p'lace to go 

 for rehef. The time is not far off when this west coast will be a,ipre- 

 ciated by all people seeking pure air, sunshine and soft, balmy 

 breezes. R. P. Bkll. 



YACHT NEWS NOTES. 



The "Yacht Racing Calendar and Review" for 1893 'is a compact 

 volume of nearly MO pages, compiled by Mr. Dixon Kemp from the 

 yachting pages of the Field during the year. Americfm yachtsmen 

 will find it interesting as a record of Navahoe's races abroad. The 

 price is $1.25. 



The annual meeting of the North Shrewsbury River Ice Yacht Club 

 was held on Dec. 13, the following officers being elected: Com., S. 

 W. Morford; Vice-Corn., F. H. Ball; Sec'y-Treas. . J. B. Weaver. 

 Regatta Committee— C. E. Throckmorton, A. W. Haviland, Charles 

 Curtis. Reception Committee— Dr. Edwin Field, W. A, Cole, C. D. 

 Warner, T. S. Hubbard, Joseph Burrows, Sr., J. B. \Veaver. House 

 Committee— A. W. Haviland, W. T. Conover, Walter Sutphin. The 

 club has accepted a challenge from the Burlington' I. Y. C. for its 

 pennant and has decided to put but three yachts in defense against 

 the challenging yacht. 



On Dec. 14 the Orange Lake I. T. 0., of Newbxirgh, elected the fol- 

 lowing officers: Com., H. C. Higginson; Vice-Corn.; William Kidd: 

 Sec'y-Treas., A. N. Chambers; Meas., C. A. Dixon. Regatta Commit- 

 tee— Dr. E. O. Mitchell, chairman; B. B. Moore, George Beggs, Willett 

 Kidd, Jr., and W. P. Ray land. 



ThePavoniaY. C. has elected the foUowing officers: Com , David 

 W. Kohn; Vice-Corn., Frank M. Randall; Treas., Benjamin JleClain; 

 Cor. Sec, James B. Fiskel; Fin. Sec, Wm. F. Tobin; Fleet Captain, 

 Louis W. PorbeU; Fleet Surgeon, Dr. Louis Baumann; Meas., Albert 

 V. Curtis; Trustees, W. J. Kent, N. B. Pritchard, Enoch J. Smith, W. 



B. Adams and George A. Skinner. Com. Kohn has appointed the fol- 

 lowing committees: House— Norman L. Rowe, Ijouis Mittlesdorf, W. 

 Willis, .]. J. Leonard and Dr. Van Meter. Anchorage— A. F. Roe, A. 

 J. Kreymeyer and R. H. McFarland. Delegates to New York Yacht 

 Racing Association— F. M. Randal), N. L. Bowe and A. .1. Kreymeyer. 



An ice yacht club has been organized at Red Bank, N. J., under the 

 name of the Junior Ice Yacht Club. 

 The first lecture of the season before the Seawanhaka Corinthian Y. 



C. will take place on Dec. 21, the lecturer being Dr. Frederick A. Cook, 

 an officer of Peary's first Arctic expedition, who, during last summer 

 made an independent expedition to the polar seas iu a schooner yacht] 



The members of the New Rochelle Y. C. are endeavoring to obtain 

 an appropriation for improving New Rochelle Harbor by removing 

 the reefs and rocks and constructing a breakwater. 



Valiant, steam yacht, Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, was reported at Alex- 

 andria on Dec. 12. 



James Hixon; Treas. George A. Corry; Board of Governors: G. How- 

 land Leavitt, C. F. Ahlstrom; Meas., B, F. Corry. After the election 

 the club sat down to the third annual dinner. 



Nirvana, steam yacht, a new vessel owned by W. R. Sands, of New 

 Hamburg, sailed for Cuba, via, Charleston, She was designed and 

 built by Dr. C. D. Miller, of Poughkeepsie, and is 100ft. over all, 18ft. 

 beam, oft. draft, with engines 10, 16 and 22X16 in, and a Roberts boiler. 

 Capt. G. W. Eaton is in command. 



Columbia, Mr. .1. H. Ladew's new steam yacht, has taken a berth at 

 Tebo's, the attempt to make a speed trial being postponed until spring. 

 She is not yet fully completed. 



Clermont, steam yacht, Mr. Alfred Van Santvoord, is now undergo- 

 ing alterations in New York. 



The Manayunk Model Y. C. held its annual meeting on Dec. 13, elect- 

 ing the following officers: Com., Dr. W. Evans; Vice-Com., J. G. 

 Rosegarten; Treas., W. A. Worth; Sec'y, J. Hart. On motion of Dr! 

 Evans the measurement rule of the club was altered so that it reads, 

 "the length shall be taken between the perpendiculars, that is, from 

 the foreside of the stem to the afterside of the sternpost. The length 

 so taken shall be multiplied by the extreme beam and again by the 

 mean depth. The depth to be taken forward, aft and amids'hips. 

 counting from bottom of keel to deck, the mean of the three measure- 

 ments shall constitute the depth for measurement purposes." After 

 a short discussion the rule was adopted with only one dissenting vote 



White Ladye, steam yacht, has been rechartered by Mr. Ogden 

 Goelet, who will use her in the Mediterranean ttiis winter. 



Christmas Vacation Outings via Pennsylvania 

 Railroad. 



Following its yearly custom, the Pennsylvania Raikoad Company 

 proposes running a special holiday tour to Old Point Comfort on Dec. 

 36, leaving New York at 8 and Philadelphia at 10:20 A. M. S18 from 

 New York, $15 from Philadelphia, and proportionately low rates from 

 intermediate and contiguous points will cover hotel accommodations 

 railroad fare, meals en route, and, In fact, all necessary expenses dur- 

 ing the period of four days which win be spent on the trip. This out. 

 ing appeals strongly for the consideration of those de.siring to spend a 

 few days pleasantly and profitably, and apart from the attractiveness 

 of the jaunt a decided educational benefit is to be derived from a 

 familiarity with this historic spot. The Hygeia Hotel, famous through, 

 out the land as one of the finest hostelrles of this country, will be the 

 resting place of the tourists. At the same rate will be sold another 

 ticket going with tour proper, including but one day's boardat Hygeia, 

 but good to return via Richmond and Washington, and valid for stop- 

 off at those cities until Jan. 4, 1S94. 



Two other trips deserving attention are those to Washington on the 

 14th and 28th of the month. Three days will be occupied on each, 

 affording ample time for an inspection of the most beautif id of Ameri- 

 can cities, with its wealth of interesting features, The wonderful 

 architectural studies, and the glamor always surrounding the capital 

 of a great coimtry, will more than repay a visit. §13 from New York, 

 $11 from Philadelphia, and corresponding rates from other points, are 

 certamly low enough for the most modest purse. These last-men. I 

 tioned tours will leave New York at H A. M., and 1:50 P. M., stopping 

 ftt the principal stations between New York and WllmiDgton —Adv. ' 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Fokest anp 

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

 clubs, and also notices in advance of meetings and races, and report >£■ 

 the same. Canoeists and all interested in canoeing are requested ; ) 

 forward to Forest a^id Stream their addresses, with logs of cruises, 

 maps, and information concerning their local waters, drawings ) 

 descriptions of boats and fittings, and all items relating to the sport. 



THE LOG OF THE FRANKIE. 



The '92 Cruise of the Shenandoah C. C. 



BY THE COMMODORE. 



CConiiniied from Page SSI). 

 Wb: found the old dam at Mount Meridian quite broken out, as 

 had expected, and after portaging the remains of an old pile damf 

 above, we easily shot it, Beall's bad luck for the day was not yet> 

 for in shooting a small but ugly flsh dam just in front of the village 

 Mount Meridian, his canoe brought up all standing with a crashing 

 in the middle of the shoot, and an investigation revealed the 

 that the 6in. bolt of an old ploughshare had stabbed his canoe to 

 heart 1 



There were no Scriptural quotations or ejaculations of a derogatory 

 character this time; the subject was too deep for utterance, and 

 merely remarking that he wished the nigger who had tied his fish-net 

 to this particular ploughshare and left it in this particular place was 

 elsewhere, he quietly stepped overboard up to his waist, lifted his 

 canoe off of the cruel shaft that impaled her, and without a word, 

 towed his waterlogged craft to the bank, where he bailed her out and 

 hauled her ashore, and for the second time that day hung himself and 

 belongings out to dry. 



We had intended making Rippetoe's, five mUes below — for our eveh- 

 tng camp, but of course further progress was out oi^ the question, so 

 the other canoes were soon otit alongside of Beall's and camp was 

 made, after which the damage to Beall's canoe was easily repaired in 

 the usual manner by pasting a canvas patch over the wound, and he 

 and Lacy took advantage of the opportunity to repair a badly smashed 

 bilge keel in the bottom of the Clyde, whUe the Colonel and I again 

 went fishing. I used flies this time and did not get a rise, while the 

 Colonel, with his helgramites, took a couple more fine bass. 



We sjaent a pleasant, quiet evening in camp enjoying our after- 

 supper pipes with our camp stools placed on a limestone ledge at the 

 margin of the water, which plashed musically over the fish-dam just 

 above us, while the tiny wavelets lapped up against the ledge at our 

 feet, and sparkled brightly in the rays of the full moon, which smiled 

 benignantly overhead. The murmur of voices was brought to us on 

 the light breeze in a subdued undertone from the village store lOOyds. 

 away, which, with the twinkle of a light here and there in the Uttle 

 hamlet on the bank above us gave pleasant assurance of human com- 

 panionship, and dispelled that sense of loneliness and solitude so often 

 felt in our night camps along the mountain rivers. 



Saturday, July 30. — We didn't have fish for breakfast this morning, 

 as an impression seemed to prevail-in the party that I was to clean the 

 fish along with my other privileges as expeditionary cook, and as 

 this impression was not shared in by me they were left on the stringer 

 all night and were spoiled by this mornijg. We got a good start and 

 had a pleasant five mile cruise to Rippetoe's. 



This final mile and a half stretch of Middle river from Mt. Meridian 

 to where it mingles its waters with those of the North River is pecu- 

 liarly interesting to me as well as to the rest of the party, and we 

 dallied along the still, deep reaches, overarched with great sycamores 

 and varied by an occasional short, steep rapid, loth to leave the little 

 stream behind us, although fully aware of what the Shenandoah had 

 to offer as it stretched its silvery length invitingly before us, with its 

 miles and miles of swift, rocky rapids, down whose rough and foam- 

 ing chutes we would soon be plunging and tossing in an exhilarating 

 manner unknown to the Middle River. 



The big fish dam half a mile above the mouth of the river detained 

 us an hour, as we had to portage it, and took advantage of our stop 

 here to enlist the services of a troop of ragged and picturesque little 

 colored urchins to secure us a good supply of helgramites for bait to 

 use at Rippetoe's, for it was our intention to go into camp there until 

 Monday and enjoy the fishing to be had there this morning. Our bait 

 secured, we re-embarked and paddled down the last long still reach of 

 the river and out ujiou the broad bosom of the united streams, which 

 here at the confluence of the two make quite an imposing river in size. 

 A heavy rain caught us as we were leisurely paddling through the 

 mile and a half backset from the Rippetoe's dam, but with closed 

 hatches and waterproof aprons drawn well up over our breasts under 

 our oiled capes we rode the storm out without shipping a drop of 

 water or wetting a thread of our garments. 



We found the dam quite badly broken out at the left end, leaving a 

 large but very hazardous-looking shoot. The temptation to run it was 

 great, but as we did not like to risk wrecking a canoe or two in the 

 operation, we decided not to attempt it, but to let the canoes down it 

 carefully by hand, so we took our stations along the edge of the shoot, 

 and the canoes, lightened of our weight, were easily and safely passed- 

 over. 



Before being passed over the canoes were lying strung out along 

 the inner face of the dam some Httle distance from the break, just as 

 we left them when we disembarked to reconnoitre the shoot, and Lacy 

 was detailed to bring them down to us, one at a time, which he did by 

 gingerly making his way along the steeply sloping and very slippery 

 sheathing of the dam, which afforded a very precarious footing and 

 made the oiJeration of passing back and forth a very tedious one. 



The canoes were all over but the Frankie, and Lacy had gone back 

 after her. when the Colonel, who was stationed at the head of the 

 break, sung out, "Give her a shove. Lacy," supposing, of course that 

 he would give the canoe a gentle push and send her along close to the 

 face of the dam until within reach, when he would seize it and pass it 

 on down the shoot to George and me. Imagine our consternation, how- 

 ever, when he gave the canoe a vigorous push straight out into the 

 pool, and she saded gracefully in a broad semicircle far out and 

 then turned and came bearing down at her own sweet will upon the 

 foamiug shoot and entirely out of reach. 



Lacy saw his error when too late, and came scrambling and splash- 

 ing along the face of the dam as fast as the slippery and treacherous 

 planks would allow him, and reached the shoot ahead of the canoe, 

 and as she approached he dashed boldly in after her. The first stride 

 took him in up to his waist, the second to his shoulders, and the third 

 over his head, which final lunge gave him the boat, and they both 

 came bearing down helplessly upon the yawning shoot, down which 

 he would have slid hke a runaway sled on a toboggan slide, but that 

 the Colonel, striking out a step or two from the dam, extended him a 

 helping band, whicli he grasped as he was vigorously swimming for 

 shore, and was safely drawn ashore while George secured the canoe 

 just as she made the plunge, and we eased her safely over. 



We were soon nicely in camp at the big spring half a mile below 

 Rippetoe's, where Lacy took prompt advantage of the opportunity tof 

 ensconce himself In dry clothes, and after lunch the Colonel, Patrick 

 Rippetoe and 1 went fishing above the dam for a couple of hours, 

 where we had fine sport, for the Colonel took five small bass, while I 

 took a 2>^-pouDder and a small one. 



We hurried back to camp at 5 o'clock ahead of a heavy rain, which 

 caused us no inconvenience of discomfort whatever, as our tents and 

 dining fly were all in position and proved perfectly weatherproof. 

 We had a royal flsh supper as well as a good supply for breakfast, 

 as with one accord everybody turned to with a will and cleaned fish. 



Sunday, July SI. — It was a bright, beautiful mornirg, and we had 

 a leisurely flsh breakfast and a delightfully lazy time in camp, which, 

 being under the bluff, is densely shaded; this, with the big spring in 

 our midst, and the rock floor under our cacoes and tents preventing 

 any possibility of mud, making an ideal camping place, and which we 

 have frequently camped on before. We shaved, wrote letters, etc., 

 and at 11 o'clock the Colonel and I borrowed a horse and buggy from 

 an obliging neighbor and drove over to Shendun, where we took din- 

 ner at Wright's Hotel and loitered around until 4 o'clock, when we 

 drove over to Dr. Mohler's residence, where we staid to supper. We 

 reached camp again at 7 o'clock, when I turned to and got up a sup- 

 per for those two hungry mortals Lacy and George. 



Monday, Aug. L— This morning by 8 o'clock we were again afloat 

 and the cnuse was resumed. We easily portaged the big lish dam in 

 the bend of the river a mile and a half below otir late camp, and had a 

 successful and exciting run through the formidable falls that stretch 

 for pretty much all of the remaining mile and a half from here on 

 down to Port Republic. The run was made without accident, although 

 collisions with the rocks were not infrequent, and Lacy displayed 

 marked and commendable agility in jumping overboard at one ticklish 

 place in order to avoid a capsize. Also the Colonel broke his paddle 

 squarely off just as he swung around uader the bridge at the toot of 

 the falls in a tremendous endeavor to avoid smashing up on the final 

 ledge of rocks, and we were detained here at Port Republic a couple 

 of hours while George repaired the damage. 



While herel renewed our supphes and we received and mailed letters. 

 We took lunch on the old camp ground opposite Port Itepublic, and 

 got off at 2 o'clock with Three Springs, seven miles down the Shenan- 

 doah as our evening's objective. There can be no more beautiful 

 river in the country than the Shenandoah (which we begin here at 

 Port Republic), with its bold, rapid current, its beautiful grassy tree- 

 shaded banks, and most entrancing mountain scenery, and otir after- 

 noon's cruise was a most lusty and enjoyable one. The river strikeg 



