Feb. 24, 1894. | 



FOREST, AND STREAM. 



171 



The long lawsuit between Henry Piepgrass and the Hunters over 

 the ownership of land under water at City Island, has just been de- 

 cided against Mr. Piegrass on the strength of cert ain grants made 

 during the last century. Mr. Piepgrass purchased the old yard of 

 David Carll in 1886, in ignorauce of these grants, and tbe suits since 

 instituted have put him to very heavy expense, and finally for the past 

 six months have deprived him of the use of the beach in front of his 

 yard and prevented all laying up and similar work. Since tbe case has 

 been decided, a compromise has been made by which he secures a title 

 to the land, placing the yard once more in a condition to carry on its 

 regular work. 



A meeting of the Brooklyn Y. C. was held on Feb. 14 at the town 

 quarters, in Brooklyn, with Pres. P. H. Jeannot presiding. The ques- 

 tion of withdrawing from the New >'ork Yacht Racing Association 

 was discussed in view of the amendment proposed by members of the 

 Association, providing for the punishment of clubs holding open 

 regattas under other than the N. Y. Y. R. A. rule. The club finally- 

 decided to withdraw, the vote being 29 to 1. The date of the annual 

 regatta was fixed for June 4. 



A very convenient and handy craft for yachtsmen, is a new duck- 

 boat just introduced by J. H. Rushton. It is but 9ft. long by 3ft. 

 wide and 9in. deep, and in form very similar to the shell of a turtle, the 

 deck and bottom being alike. It is strong, light and very compact for 

 stowage, with hardly any draft, and a bottom that allows it to slide 

 over mud and grass where water is scarce. The boat is intended 

 primarily for ducking, but will be found useful for many purposes. 



The annual meeting of the Eastern Y. C. was held on Feb. 14, the 

 following officers being elected: Com... Win, A. Gardner, schr. May- 

 flower; Vice-Corn., Chas. F. Adams, 2d, sip. Harpoon; P.ear Com , H. 

 W. Lamb, schr. Marguerite; Sec, Wm. S. Eaton. Jr.; Treas., P. T. 

 Jackson; Meas., Henry Taggert; Regatta Committee— Wm. S. Eaton, 

 Jr., A. N. Rantoul, P. T. Jackson, Thos. Nelson, Henry H. Buck. 



The Quincy Y. C. elected the following officers on Feb. 3: Com., H. 

 M. Faxon; Vice-Corn., W. H. Shaw: Sec.-Treas., Q. E. Pfadman; Meas., 

 Geo. Crane; Executive Committee— W. P. Baker, W. T. Whitmarsh, H. 

 R. Drinkwater, H. L. Rice; House Committee- A. J. Shaw, F. B. Rice, 

 J. S. Whiting, W. C. Harrison, W. B. Wilson, J. T. Cavanagh, J. S. 

 Murray. 



The Hull Corinthian Y. C. on Feb. 3 elected the following officers: 

 Com., H. O. Stetson; Vice-Corn., H. P. Cook; Sej., E. R. Field; Treas., 

 C. V. Souther; Meas., W. E. Sherriff; Executive Committee— Com., 

 Vice-Corn., Sec. and Treas., G. W Bouve, F. H. Smith, Jr., W. A. Rud- 

 dick; Membership Committee— Com., Vice-Corn, and Sec, and A. 

 Stone, Jr. 



Mr. George E. Cbisholm, of New York, will replace the condemned 

 Enigma by a new schooner now building by James M. Bayles & Son, 

 at Port Jefferson. She will be a centerboard boat, of wood, 90ft. 6in. 

 over all, 21ft. beam and 8ft. 3in. The late Enigma was formerly the 

 Lancer. Her new name was very suggestive in view of her cost and 

 condition at the time she was rebuilt and re-rigged a year ago. 



At the annual meeting of the Corinthian Y. C. of San Francisco on 

 Jan. 20 the following officers were elected: Com.. T. F. Tracy; Vice- 

 Corn., A. I, Lyons; Treas., W. F. Dixey: Sec'y.F. E, Baker; Directors, 

 F. M. Thornton, M. A. Newell; Port Captain, J. H. Keefe; Meas., Wm. 

 F. Stone. 



Natalie, steam yacht, whose movements for the past two months 

 have been involved in so much mystery, has turned up at Nassau, 

 New Providence, with a cargo of arms which she shipped at Savannah 

 intended for the Haytien revolutionists. 



The new Pittsburgh Y. 0., of Pittsburgh, Pa., is devoted to steam 

 yachts and steam yacht racing, and will open the season with a fine 

 new bouse and a large fleet of steam craft from 30 to 75ft. long. The 

 club had its origin in some races last season. 



The Staten Island Y. C. has elected the following officers: Com., 

 W. H. Ludlum; Vice-Corn., M. S. Taylor, Jr. ; Treas., E. W. Simonson; 

 Sec'y. C. C. Martin; Meas., Adolph Panick. Trustees— C. Y. Van 

 Duzer, H. Lindemann and Mark De Jonge. 



I (TheSouthwork Y. 0. has elected the following officers: Com., Jas. 

 Irvin; Vice-Corn., S. McEvoy; Rear Com., A. Bennett; Treas., I. Sharp; 

 Sec!, J. P. Stephens; Asst. Sec, R. Marsly; Steward, J. Sharp; Meas- 

 urers — E. W. Sheer, B. Wilson and I. Wilhelm. 



H. C. Wintringham has given up the building yard at Bay Ridge and 

 is now located in the Havemeyer Building, Cortlandt street, New 

 York, where he will devote himself exclusively to designing in the 

 future. 



Crusader, schr., has been sold by Wendell Goodman to Seymour 

 Husted, Jr.. former owner of Tioga, schr. Mr. Husted is the candi- 

 date for commodore of the Larchmont Y. C. 



Neaera, schr., designed and built last year by Lawley & Son for Com. 

 Warren Fales, Rhode Island Y. C, has been sold to H. K, McHarg, of 

 New Yark, owner of-Sagitta, sloop. 



Lt. Wm. Henn. who recently returned from Florida with the body of 

 the late Com. Colt, sailed for England on Feb. 10. He has been in this 

 country since September. 



Fedalma, steam yacht, Vice-Com. Brown, New York Y. C , has been 

 sold to F. L. Osgood, owner of Cosette, steam yacht. Mr. Brown will 

 purchase a schooner this season. 



Nesera, sch., built last year by Lawley & Co. for Com. Warren Fales, 

 R. I Y. C, has been sold to Henry K. McHarg, of New York, owner of 

 Sagitta, sloop. 



Mr. W. D. Anderson, Jr., of B. Y. C, has sold his sloop Water Lily 

 to Mr. Geo. S. Birrell, of New Rochelle, N. Y. 



The South Boston Y. C. celebrated its twenty-sixth anniversary by a 

 ball on Feb. 5. 



American Yacht Clubs. 



We have received notice of the Shrewsbury Y. C. of Red Bank, N. J., 

 treas. Edward Miner, New York, omitted from our list, and also the 

 Neptune Boat Club of Baltimore; with some notices of cbanges of 

 Secretaries 1 addresses of other clubs. 



The question is constantly asked us how a man may join the A. 

 C. A. Applications for membership must be made through the 

 purser of the division in which the applicant resides, who will furnish 

 a .blank form. The application must be indorsed by a member of 

 the Association. The initiation fee is §1 and the annual dues the same. 

 Those desirous of joining, but who are unacquainted with a member, 

 can write to the purser; or in most large towns in localities where 

 canoeing is practicable there are clubs from which strangers may 

 obtain information as to canoeists in their vicinity who might be able 

 to indorse them. 



An Interrupted Cruise on the South Platte River. 



It is not an unusual thing to pick up a copy of Forest and Stream 

 and read an article describing a canoe trip down some river where 

 there was little carrying, wading, or those things one encounters oc- 

 casionally: when the skipper took things easily, was dry and com- 

 fortable and enjoyed every minute of his cruise. But those where all 

 is trouble and worry are seldom mentioned, though ^a- description 

 would often be of benefit to other canoeists contemplating a cruise 

 over the same waters. For this reason I will describe, one of my 

 canoe cruises — a dismal, discouraging failure as far as the attainment 

 of our object was concerned, though we had a pleasant time. 



The South Platte River is like other rivers rising in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains and flowing east or southward, in that it is wide, shallow and 

 rapid. During early summer it is a turbulent stream, carrying a large 

 volume of water from the banks of snow melting on the mountain 

 sides. But at other times there is only a small stream spreading over 

 the wide bed of the river. Irrigating ditches take out the largest part 

 of the water in the summer and early fall, and then the ditches are 

 usually closed until spring. 



During our many pleasant afternoons and evenin gs spent in paddling 

 on Sloan'B Lake, the question often occurred to us and was discussed 

 thoroughly, "Can we get through to the Missouri River by starting 

 from Denver via the Platte?" We asked many who claimed to know 

 and were told that we could, as the ditches would all be shut off by 

 Oct. 1, leaving plenty of water in the river. We put our faith in our 

 informants and got ready. So on the morning of Oct. 12, 1S&S, toe 

 skipper and crew of the canoe Dollie were busily engaged in the last 

 preparations for departure at the gun store of Sehoyeu & Burgen in 

 Denver, where a crowd of the boys stood around and made comments, 

 funny and otherwise. 



The last article was finally stowed away and the Crew went out to 

 find an express wagon to transfer us and our outfit to the river. We 

 had taken the genial George Schoyen into our confidence, aud up to 

 this time he alone knew our plans, our other friends thinking we were 

 simply going down the Platte for a little cruise after ducks, geese and 

 rabbits. We bad many misgivings as to our ultimate destination, and 

 did not wish to be laughed at m case we came back again in a few 

 days, so we simply said we were going down the river for a little hunt, 



and did not know how long we would be gone or how far we would 

 go. 



.The crew came back in a short time, followed by a large express 

 wagon, and the Dollie was placed in it, along with our oiled bags and 

 grub box. Then followed many kind words of advice as to the best 

 places from old Mr. Carlos Gove, Mr. Rhoads and George, and after 

 shaking hands all around, we started down Fifteenth street to Market, 

 and from there down Nineteenth street to tbe river. By the time we 

 had launched the Dollie and stowed everything a crowd of a hundred 

 or more had collected on the bridge, for we presented a novel sight to 

 them, no doubt, at least it was an unusual sight. 



As there were some very shallow places to begin with, the skipper 

 started alone. There was a broken dam just above the Twenty-second 

 street, viaduct, and the skipper got through it with a rush, and after 

 running a shallow rapid a block below he was joined by tbe crew. 



There were plenty of small dams, rapids and ugly places to require 

 careful paddling, but tbe worst of all were the sewers, slaughter 

 houses, etc, near the edge of the city. As we passed through Shanty- 

 town, lying on both sides of the river near the big smelters, we were 

 hailed by small urchins on all sides. On the west bank an old Irish- 

 woman stood in the front yard of her wood, iron and tin palace talk- 

 ing across the division fence to her neighbor. When she spied us she 

 ceased her gossip, took the olay pipe from her lips, cocked her head on 

 one side and yelled: 



"Hillo, thare." 



"Good marnin 1 to yez," answered the crew in his best brogue. 

 "And are yez goin' to the Worrald's Fair?" 



"Sure and we're uot," he shouted back, adding to the skipper, "Oh, 

 for a snap shot at her with a Kodak 1" 



As several parties had gone down the Platte the past season in flat- 

 boats on their way to the World's Fair, the old lady no doubt thought 

 we were bound for the same destination. 



Just above the beautiful Riverside Cemetery we had to carry across 

 a dam at the bead of a big irrigating ditch, which was shut off. This 

 gave us fresh hopes, for it all the ditches were shut off we knew 

 there would be plenty of water. Noon found us several miles on our 

 way, and as the sun was very hot and we were tired after our morn- 

 ing's exertion, we lay under the shady trees on a grassy bank for a 

 couple of hours. Up to this time our route was through groves of 

 willows and eottonwoods, under high banks, but in the afternoon we 

 reached more open country and had glimpses of the mountains occa- 

 sionally. 



Toronto C. C. and Its New House. 



(From the Toronto Mail.') 



Among the pleasing changes wrought upon the water front during 

 the past year is the removal of the old ramshackle structures which 

 obtruded their rugged ugliness upon the vision of the citizen, and 

 created anything but a favorable first impression upon the stranger 

 arriving by water. The new buildings which adorn the water front 

 are more in keeping with the city 's progress. Of the number none is 

 more conspicuous than the new home of the Toronto C. C, a cut of 

 which is shown in to-day's issue. 



Occupying a most advantageous position immediately south of and 

 in a line with the clock tower of the Union station, it will, from its 

 size and handsome appearance, be a noted object. 



Toronto, so widely known for its lead in aquatic sports, can now 

 boast of having the largest and most completely equipped canoe house 

 on the continent, a distinction of importance, when it is remembered 

 that the American Canoe Association numbers 128 clubs upon its roil. 



It may safely be asserted that no other sport has among its devotees 

 such a number of persons belonging to the professional classes in 

 arts, sciences and literature. The individual that is termed "a sport" 

 finds no congenial companionship among canoeists. There is no noisy 

 and unhealthful excitement, and no opportunity for the development 

 of the betting instinct. The joys of the canoe and paddle are unob- 

 trusive, but none who has tasted the joy of a summer's cruise, with 

 its varied and delightful experiences, would ever abandon it for the 

 more noisy sports. 



It affects the heart and imagination in a manner not to be expressed 

 in words, but only to be realized by actual participation in tbe pleasure 

 of an outing. A trip with congenial companions in a light canoe 

 through lake and river, over the portage and down the rapid, the 

 voices of nature soothing the nerves, and the cool, healthful breeze 

 cooling the brow, is it any wonder that in picture, in song and in story 

 canoeing occupies a higher plane than any other outdoor sport? 



The yearly gathering in camp of the clubs comprising the American 

 Canoe AasiA Titiou is a notable event. Here is true fraternity. No 

 national, political, or religious dividing line, but friendly rivalry— who 

 possesses the most complete canoe kit, the fastest canoe? Who has 

 made the longest cruise, can tell the best fish story, or exhibit the most 

 artistic views, tbe product of his own camera? One such outing 

 makes of the novice a willing enthusiast— he too is compelled to tell of 

 its joys. Thus no gentlemanly sport has received such accessions of 



TORONTO CANOE CLUB'S NEW HOUSE. 



As the water in the river was unfit to drink, we kept a buckeC in tbe 

 canoe filled with fresh water, which we replenished wmenever we came 

 to a little creek emptying into the Platte. The river described many 

 curves, often winding around big bottoms and coming back to nearly 

 the same place. Several small ditches came in on both sides at vari- 

 ous places aud on the west side more than one emptied, taken from 

 Clear Creek, away up in the mountains. Clear Creek itself was passed, 

 its water belying "its name, as it was a dirty yellow in color, caused by 

 the chemicals used in the abstraction of ores far above. 



About 4 o'clock we came to a fine place to camp, and the tent was 

 soon up and a fire burning brightly in front, while some water was 

 brought from a small spring above. We had no game, but a supper 

 of flapjacks, bacon, coffee, canned tomatoes, etc., was soon disposed 

 of, and we lolled around the fire and smoked our pipes while we talked 

 over the events of the day. The night was cool and the sky cloudless. 

 From a little sand hill near our tent we could see ihe mountains dis- 

 tinctly, and the electric lights and tall stacks of the smelters at Denver 

 -were plainly visible, though miles away. 



During the night a strong wind blew from the north, but in the 

 morning it was clear and cold and there was a heavy frost. A half 

 mile below our camp a barbed-wire fence crossed the river, but by 

 lying down we got through it and passed around a long curve toward 

 the mountains, turning eastward after traversing several miles of 

 swift water. Toward noon we passed through another long strip of 

 trees and came out again in open country which was tlickly settled and 

 covered with weU cultivated fields and farms. 



After dinner we reached the long chute which leads into the Fulton 

 ditch. In the shade of some willows we got out, and walking down 

 the chute some 500yds , what we saw dashed our hopes to the ground 

 in one moment. There was the big ditch, thirty feet wide and ten feet 

 deep, tbe head gate of which was open and nine-tenths of the water 

 from the Platte flowed into the ditch. Looking down the river we saw 

 a stream spread wide across the river bed, but too shallow to float a 

 two-inch plank. This was what we had feared, but were told all the 

 ditches were shut off, and we really could not see why the ditch was 

 open so late in the season. 



But the ditch was open and we. couldn't continue down the Platte. 

 The ditch was private property, and even if we had attempted to run 

 it and had escaped being shot at or prosecuted for trespass, we would 

 have probably wound up out on the prairie somewhere high and dry, 

 or had no end of trouble with gates, flumes, etc. So we returned to 

 the canoe, put up the tent, gathered some wood and put things in 

 shape for the night; and then taking our rifles started across toward 

 the big road on the hill, made some inquiries at ranches about the 

 river below, and found out to our disgust that the only railway sta- 

 tion near us bad been closed and was now only a flag station. 



We intended shipping the canoe and duffle to North Platte, Neb., 

 and starting out fresh from there, but found that impossible. We were 

 stumped. We finally found a. man who was going to Denver on the 

 morrow with a big farm wagon, so we engaged him to come to our 

 camp next moruiug and take us in with him. We returned to camp 

 and cooked supper and built a roaring fire, for the evening was cold 

 after the heat of noon. The pipes were lit, and in their glow we all but 

 forgot our troubles. 



Next morning while we were eating breakfast our friend appeared, 

 and we soon packed up and were on our way home again, reaching 

 there in the afternoon. We were a little shy of meeting our friend, 

 not liking to be quizzed- about our sudden return. The canoe was 

 taken to the Union depot office of a prominet express company for 

 shipment east, and when the agent told us he would charge $21 per 

 lOOlbs. to Jefferson City, about 800 miles, we nearly dropped dead. 

 We did the best thing we could under the circumstances and shipped 

 the canoe by freight. Aside from the fact that there was an addi- 

 tional charge n» pay on receiving her, and the time required for her 

 journey was over two weeks, the canoe arrived in Jefferson City 

 without injury. Of cruises near here I may write at some future date. 



Should any canoeist attempt a cruise down the Platte River he 

 should start not later than Aug. 1 and carry not an ounce of unneces- 

 sary duffle. After reaching the mouth of the North Platte River the trip 

 would be easy to tbe Missouri, and in that river one only has to keep 

 clear of snags and good time can be made down stream, as the cur- 

 rent is very swift. Perry D. Frazer. 

 Jefobrsom Cm, Mo. 



membership in so short a time as canoeing. The Toronto Canoe Club 

 is an illustration of this. In 1880 nine gentlemen met in the Rossin 

 house and formed the Toronto Canoe Club, which now is so strong in 

 members as to justify them in leasing one of the finest aquatic houses 

 on the continent. The present membership exceeds 120. The club- 

 house has provision for 160 canoes, with locker rooms, dressing rooms, 

 shower bath arid gymnasium. Nor have the lady friends been forgot- 

 ten in the general arrangements. The club's "at home" will in future 

 be held in their own rooms, as 100 couples will not crowd the dancing 

 room. Tbe ladies' parlour adjoining, with dressing room and lavatory 

 is ample for all occasions, and in good taste. 



The ground floor is entirely devoted to the housing of the canoes 

 and other craft belonging to the members, and is not only the largest, 

 but the most convenient boat house in the city. The building has a 

 frontage of 86ft. on the bay, with a depth of 40ft., enabling every 

 canoe to be stowed so that no twisting or turning is necessary to con- 

 vey it to the float for launching, nor will it be necessary to carry it 

 very far, and in returning after a run the work of hauling up and 

 housing will be accomplished with a minimum of trouble and risk to 

 the craft. The large frontage also gives opportunity for several 

 floats, preventing crowding on regatta days, when a large number of 

 the members are getting afloat or returning at the same time. These 

 are important points about a boat house and in these respects the 

 Toronto C. C. could not have done better. The room is lofty and thfe 

 walls finished in a light color, making a neat and clean appearance. 

 As the membership fee and rack rent will altogether amount to less 

 than an ordinary boat house rental the club ought to attract large 

 numbers of the owners of small craft, esprcially when the club house 

 and social advantages are considered. 



A stairway leads directly into the reading room, a square, cosy 

 apartment the full width of the building, and forming the winter 

 quarters, always heated by a stove, and ready for the reception of 

 members. To the east of this is the large assembly room, separated 

 only by folding doors, which can be removed altogether, making a 

 very large and convenient apartment for an "at home." For heating 

 the'assembly room there are two old-fashioned fireplaces, of a capacity 

 suggesting the warmest and heartiest kind of hospitality. The west- 

 ern end of the first floor is taken up with a comfortable ladies' parlor, 

 with mantel and grate, neatly furnished, and with dressing room 

 attached. In all these rooms the floors are stained and are to be fin- 

 ished in varnish, the walls and wainscotting being of agreeable tints, 

 and the general effect excellent without ostentation or extravagant 

 display. A kitchen and well-supplied china locker are also to be 

 found. 



The next flat contains committee rooms, janitor's apartments, 

 shower baths and lavatory, and a locker room, the latter having a 

 large clear central space, with a cottage roof, so as to be fitted up as a 

 small symnasium. A stairway leads up to the flat roof of the main 

 portion of the building, which has been fitted with railings so as to 

 make an excellent observatory which, with the large balconies down 

 below, will afford vantage ground for a thousand people to view races 

 on the bay. 



The house was opened on Jan. 12, a large number of guests being 

 present. The officers of the club are: Com., H. R. Tilley ; Vice Com. , 

 George Wilkie; Rear-Corn., T. P. Stewart; Sec'y, Frederick Woodland ; 

 Treas., Harry Ford; Ex. Com., A. E. Ball; Chairman of Regatta Com.., 

 James E. Brown; Chairman of House Committee, John C. Iredale. 



A. C. A. Membership. 



Atlantic Division; W. J. Averill, Bay Ridge; A. W. Van Deusen 

 Arlington, N. J. ; Stephen M. Balzer. Bayard Hawthorne, New York 

 Paul 0 Gottschalck, Jersey City. Central Division: Frank D. Wood 

 Buffalo t N. Y. ; John L. Maning, A. W. M. Moffith, Troy, N. Y. East 

 ern Division: Chas. H. Davenport, Jr. 



On the Home Table. 



Philadelphia.— Your paper is a great paper for me and the whole 

 family, as it is read by them daily; and when my brother calls on me 

 the first question will be, "Have you this week's paper?" The inclosed 

 blue print will show what paper can always be found upon our table. 



■ " C. W. H. 



