80 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. 26, 1895. 
tual agreement clause tias been astoundmgly utilized to modify 
them in every conceivable form. If the Continental challenger 
(say, Germany) were content to accept such a makeshift 
arrangement, it is quite within the rights of France to step in 
and object. The proposed match between Lord Dunra.ven's 
yacht and the selection of the N. Y. Y. C. is arranged quite 
ultra vires, even on the showing of the New Deed itself; and. 
although neither France nor Germany may covet the Cup 
while it is in the possession of America, the case might be 
very different if it were at Cowes, and it would be open to 
either to raise the whole question of the legality of the "New 
Deed", by challenging under the only original and valid deed, 
and, in the event of a refusal (which would be inevitable), 
sailing over the R. Y. S. oourse and claiming the Cup. The 
R. Y. S. would fare badly in that case. It is bound, by its 
promise, to the "New Deed," and yet it knows full well how 
hopeless a tasK it would be to uphold it in a British law court. 
These are merely possibilities, but they are so very painful 
to the R. Y. S. that we think it would have been wiser in that 
body to have weighed the subject more carefully than it has 
done before committing itself to insist upon any foreign nation 
accepting conditions which are contrary to the expressed 
wishes of the donors, and which the club knows and has said 
are illegal and unfair. "Was it intended to be ironical, we 
wonder, on the part of the Squadron to appoint so disting- 
uished a lawyer as Mr. Justice Gainsford Bruce to serve on its 
'America Cup Committee?' 
However, apart from the unpleasant contingencies which 
the proposed match entails, all will be pleased at the prospect 
of another race. That International sailing gives a spurt to 
the sport in those countries which indulged in it is very patent, 
and, although, as we think, a reaction often results from it, 
our trans- Atlantic friends may well thank Lord Dunraven — it 
will be a change for him if they do— for yachting in America 
is in a pitiable state. In England, however, our large class, 
next season, will not derive a great amount of benefit, for 
it is stated that Viligant will leave us to test her -metal in the 
trial races for the selection of a Yankee champion. Some 
trifling difficulties still block Lord Dunraven's way, but no 
doubt these will be eas'ly overcome in view of the great joy 
that the R. Y. S. has given to America and the great triumph 
of the New York Yacht Club. 
The Field of Jan. 19 says, in speaking of the statement that 
the Royal Yacht Squadron has promised to hold the Cup 
under the new deed : 
"This, we venture to say, is not tne case. It is either a de- 
lusion or a misrepresentation. What the British clubs under- 
stand is, that the Royal Yacht Squadron accepted as correct 
the New York Club'slnterpretation of the sweeping power of 
the mutual agreement clause, and agreed to give a receipt on 
that interpretation alone. The Royal Yacht Squadron is thus 
pledged to accept a challenge upon the terms now agreed for 
coming matches, and will not hold .the Cup according to the 
deed. 
"It would certainly have been more in accordance with our 
ideas of courage, dignity, and fairness if the New York Club 
had straightened itself out and obtained a nullification of the 
deed which has brought so much opprobrium upon its mem- 
bers." 
We fear that the Field will have trouble in finding any direct 
interpretation of the new deed on the part of the New York 
Yacht Club apart from the very indefinite resolution passed 
seven years since. As the committee's report shows, both [the 
committee and the club are kept clear of committing them- 
elves in any way; they have received and accepted a challenge 
rom the Royal Yacht Squadron under the deed of gift of 
1887, nothing more. 
The New Cup Defender. 
On Jan. 17 the news was announced that a syndicate had 
finally been organized to build a <^up defender, the members 
being W. K. Vanderbilt, E. D. Morgan, and C. Oliver lselm. 
The latter gentleman will attend to all practical details, Com. 
Morgan being now in England, while Mr. Vanderbilt sailed 
from New York for Europe on Jan. 16. Up to Jan. 21 no con- 
tract had been made for a new yacht, but Mr. Iselm had been 
in close communication with the Herreshoffs, and a new Bristol 
boat is a certainty. She will probably be a centre board boat, 
of Tobin bronze, though Mr. N. G. HerreshofE is desirous of 
building a keel craft, and composite construction has been dis- 
cusssd 
The one man who has been really desirous of going into a 
svndicate is Mr. George Gould, who has offered to pay one 
quarter of the cost of a new boat, but there is so much feeling 
against him within the New York Yacht Club that his offer 
has not been taken up. Mr. Gould has, however, offered to 
bring Vigilant over for trial purposes, and to place her at the 
disposal of the club, which offer has been acknowledged as 
follows: Q _ 
Jan. 18, 1895. 
George J. Gould, Esq., 135 Broadway, N. Y. 
Dear Sir— Since my interview with you I have presented your 
generous proposal to bring the Vigilant from England to 
America, and have her fitted for the trial races as a Cup de- 
fender in the Autumn contests of 1895, at your own expense 
it being your request that the New York Yacht Club should 
select a committee of one or three, as they may elect, to take 
charge of her in the trial races and in the match, if selected to 
defend the Cup. On behalf of my committee, I have to advise 
you it was accepted with great pleasure. I will add that Vice- 
Commodore Brown and other leading officials of the New 
York Yacht Club have expressed themselves to me as highly 
appreciating your offer, and that they will be glad to know 
that your intentions in this respect may be consummated. 
I enclose to you the circular of the America's Cup Commit- 
tee, which has just been issued. 
1 remain, very truly yours, 
James D. Smith. 
§mwemg. 
W. C. A. Midwinter Meet. 
[From, a Staff Correspondent] 
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. 
Chicago, 111., Jan. 13.— The midwinter meet of the W. C. A. 
was held at the Grand Pacific Hotel, this city, Saturday evening, 
Jan. 12 and was an occasion of unusual interest in several re- 
spects.' Some changes in the sailing rules were made, after dis- 
cussion over the classification of the racing machine and the 
all-round canoe. Spirited arguments also took place over tlie 
selection ol the place for next summer's meet, the vote going to 
Ballast Island after long discussion pro and eon, which nar- 
rowly escaped making feeling among the Wisconsin members. 
It is the plan of the W. 0. A. to hold an open court at its busi- 
ness session, this being really a meeting of the executive com- 
mittee held with the full membership of the Association present. 
After their advisory meeting, in which the sense oE the majority 
is well determined, the executive committee holds its private 
session, its vote being final on any matter. 
The open session, at 2 P.M., showed a good attendance. From 
Madison, Wis., there were Messrs. L. F. Porter Robt. M. Lamp, 
F. W. Curtiss, G. E. Gernon, S. 0. Hanks and Chas. M. Mayers. 
Milwaukee sent F. W. Dickens, F. B, Huntington. E. H. Holmes 
and A. W. Friese. Dayton. 0., of course was represented by ■the 
stand-bvs, W. H. Crawford and A. Woodruff. Mr C. F. Penni- 
well came from Detroit; Henry D. Spencer from Bloomington, 
111.; J.Hepburn from Toledo, O.; W. P. Jewett from St. Paul; 
G H. Gardner and B. M. Gardner from Cleveland. The Chicago 
men were out in lull force, among them Com. W. B. Cook and 
his sons Nat and Harrv, Mr. J. Herbert Ware, Mr. D. H. Crane, 
Mr. J. B.Keogh, Mr. J. Turrill, Mr. W. H. Quaw. etc., etc. 
The meeting was held with Com. W. B. Cook in the chair, the 
minute3, officers' reports, etc., taking up tne early portion of 
the time. The regatta committee, by its chairman, N . H. Cook, 
recommended a number of chaugeB in the sailing rules, which 
were placed on the table in writing and recommended favorably 
by vote ot the house. The committee submitted a regatta pro- 
gramme of nine events. 
BALLAST BX A NECK. 
On the question of the location o£ the summer meet, Mr. G. 
Harry Gardner spoke at length in favor of Ballast Island, set- 
ting forth its well-known attractions. Mr. D. H. Orane, of 
Chicago, also spoke in favor of Ballast, and Mr. Penniwell, ot 
Detroit, also said Ballast would please. Detroit. Mr. J. Herbert 
Ware read a letter irom Mr. W. C. Jupp, president of the De- 
troit Boat Club, and added his testimony for Lake Erie and 
Ballast. 
The opposition to Ballast, and the element believing in change 
of Bite, now tools up the other side of the question, Mr. Porter 
speaking at length in favor of Madison, Wis. He was seconded 
aoly by Mr. Lamp. Nat. Cook responded in favor of Ballast. 
Mr. Spencer mentioned tentatively tne waters near Charlevoix, 
at the head of Michigan south peninsula. Mr. Crawiord, of 
Dayton, threw a great deal of ligut on this same country, and 
e poke of the Cheneaux islands as a fine place for the meet. 
This created much interest, and Mr. Crawford had everybody 
about converted for that locality, when he hurriedly corrected 
himself and Baid that he thought the meet should go to Ballast 
this year and the Cheneaux Islands next yeaa*. Mr. Lamp, see- 
ing that Madison could not win, and noting the drift toward a 
gnod compromise spot, better for Wisconsin than Ballast, with- 
drew Madison. Mr. Hanks called for an informal ballot to de- 
velop the strength of .the Ballast and anti-Ballastites. It was 
learned that twelve were in favor of Ballast and ten opposed. 
At this Mr. Lamp, thinking it the graceful thing to do, moved 
the vote be made unanimous, and this was done. Mr. Lamp in 
this was hasty, for a vote on the Cheneaux Islands was never 
taken, and it is very likely that if this had been offered as a 
compromise, it would have brought out over twelve votes. 
There was some talk among Western men of making a split on 
the Ballast question, and organizing a Northwestern association. 
This I should consider it extremely unwise to do. It would seem 
better counsel to pull altogether this year for Ballast and have a 
big meet there, and then go to the Cheneaux or elsewhere the year 
following. In turn the Ballast men should not selfishly consult 
their own personal pleasure or preference at the expense of tne 
W. 0. A., and should not thrust a personal majority upon that 
body; Dut should bear in mind that to msiBt on Ballast always 
and every year would mean an association fixed, hidebound, and 
done with growth and progress. It would still be a pleasant 
body of summer sailors, but it would not be a great and influen- 
tial organization of Western canoeists. It would not seem that 
mere cheapness of building docks and convenience of access 
should be the determining factors in establishing a canoe camp. 
In short, there is much to be done by way of careful thought and 
concession on both sides of this question. It is the best thing, 
however, to unite heartily and with full vigor on Ballast this 
year, and give the Ballast men no cause for regret at having 
voted as they have. Ballast is a pretty place, and there isn't a 
bad fellow in the lot of those who love it so well and stick to it so 
faithfully. If the meet fails there again this year as it did two 
years ago, I don't think the Ballast boys will want to try it there 
again for a while. If it succeeds, they will ieel generous and will 
be ready to go to some other point. I think by that time they 
will begin to see that a too steady insistence on Ballast will kill 
the Association in respect of its best and widest purposes. But 
it is Ballast this year by vote of the majority, and therefore there 
should be firm resolution on the part of every man to be there 
with a canoe and a, jolly heart and an unreserved disposition to 
have nothing but a good time and plenty of it. It is no time 
to talk of a Northwestern association, and this I feel sure the 
Ballast boys will prove first of all when it comes to '96. 
THE BANQUET. 
The members of the banquet committee, Mr. J. Herbert Ware, 
chairman, Messrs. D. H. Crane, J. B. Eeogh and H.B.Cook 
would all be wearing laurels now if the ^V. 0. A. boys knew 
where there was a laurel patch. As it is they wear each a vote 
of thanks tendered by the body in general for as complete and 
elegant and thoughtfully arranged an affair as ever made glad 
the heart of sailor, be it of salt water or of fresh. Much of the 
credit devolves upon Mr. Ware, who knows all about everything 
in matters of this sort. Mr. Ware wa8 Maker of the Feast. He 
wore on his breast a large crystal star with a ruby in the middle 
of it. Mr. H. D. Spencer, who was chosen as toast master of the 
evening, wore a similar star and sat at Mr. Ware's right at the 
banquet. Both these gentlemen wore bright, glad smiles, but so 
did about everybody else. The head of the board was alBO hon- 
ored of course, by the commodore of the W. C. A., the venerable 
and much-beloved N. B. Cook, who evaded active responsibility 
for the eloquence of the evening in favor of his usual quietude. 
Mr. L. J. Marks, of the Chicago Canoe Club, who is justly looked 
upon as the oratorical piece de resistance of the W. 0. A., was cor- 
raled and kept close by, where the toast master could put his 
hands on him. Mr. Marks was becomingly garbed in evening 
clothes of the most correct finish. And his golden hair was 
hanging down his back. r i. 
The menu offered by the Grand Pacific Hotel was perfect as 
that well-tnown hostelry can arrange and left nothing to be de- 
sired Everything went merry as a marriage bell, and before 
long 'there was a sound of revelry by night. Also, music arose 
with its voluptuous swell. When it did not arise satislactorily, 
some one or other of the canoe boys would be apt to go over to 
the orchestra and deprive a player of his guitar or mandolin 
and show him how the thing was done when done properly. 
Great discrimination and precise judgment in musical matters 
was displayed by those present, the classical bent of the mem- 
bers being easily apparent. Perhaps the most popular number 
was the "Little Alabama Coon," which came near ending the 
banquet though enthusiasm was scarcely less great when in the 
middle of one air struck by the orchestra, nearly every man 
about the table was on his feet melodiously declaring that he 
loved his love in the springtime, and that he loved his love in 
the fall, but that, all things considered, he rather believed that 
in the mellow summer time he loved her best of all, though 
through all the changing seasons he intended to keep up his 
lick and continue to love his love tout le merne, . 
Thus matters progressed as they can progress nowhere else in 
the world but at a canoe banquet, and it had come so far along 
as fromaqe de Brie and the waiters were trying to take away the 
debris and leave the fromage, as Mr. Marks suggested, when Mr. 
Spencer served notice that he would begin pestering before long. 
So after a while he rose and talked nicely about unity, fraternity, 
equality and Ballast Island, and said everybody must be there 
next year, which was good advice, too. Mr. Spencer then re- 
ferred to the respected commodore of the Association, whom he 
mentioned as being the best all-round canoeist he ever knew, a 
type for the class, and without doubt the oldest active canoeist 
in America (Mr. Cook is in the seventies). 
Com. Cook said he could well remember the early days of 
canoeing in this country, when a canoe was a traveling craft and 
not a racing machine only, and he rather liked that notion of a 
canoe still. He could remember the birth of the A.. O A. and of 
theW C A. later. He had been at a meet where there were 
canoeists from California, Canada, New York and Chicago. He 
honed the W. C.A. would grow and never lose sight of the essen- 
tial features of eanoeing as a successful amateur sport. He 
thought Ballast Island an ideal place for a meet and had always 
thought so. 
MB. MABKS AND HIS SWEETHEAKTS. 
The chairman now called on Mr. L. J. Marks to respond to the 
honored toast, "Wives and Sweethearts." Mr. Marks arose and 
asked "Which ones?" and was assured that any would do. He 
protested that he had never been married and had never had a 
sweetheart of his own, never saw one except in a photograph, so 
they couldn't prove anything by him. At this there were loud 
cries of "Aw I" and "Come off 1" so that Mr.Marks was forced to ad- 
mit that he had beard other gentlemen tell about wives and eweet- 
hearts.and was disposed to think that they might, under some cir- 
cumstances, be a good thing, though at present to be viewed with 
alarm, as witness the history of the Chicago Canoe Club, which was 
ruined by the baleful presence of sweethearts and the pernicious 
practice of marriage. He could not speak encouragingly of the 
habit of having either wives or sweethearts. Then Mr. Marks 
told a story about a married woman who was looking for her 
dead husband in a morgue, and who thought she had found him 
till the corpse's false teeth feil out. This latter incident sent 
her away and so irritated the keeper ot the morgue that he 
thumped the unfortunate dead gentleman on the back, saying: 
"You blame fool, if you'd just kept your mouth shut you'd have 
had a christian burial 1" Mr. Marks feared that on so delicate 
a subject, addressing gentlemen each of whom had several wives 
or sweethearts, it might have been better for him to have kept 
his mouth shut. But as he swung into a rattling good speech, 
the boys told bim they were glad he hadn't. Mr. Marks wished 
to denv the assertion that the sailing breeze at Ballast was at- 
tributable to the presence of his whiskers. He hurled back the 
calumny with scorn. Then everybody said "D-z-z-z-z," in imi- 
tation of the low, soft Boughing of the wind. 
The chairman said some nice things about Fobest and 
Stbeam. and asked its representative to tell what he knew about 
the press anyway. After this he wanted Mr. Friese of Milwaukee 
to tell which he preferred, a yacht or a canoe, and Mr. Friese 
said a yacht was better, because if you stopped to pull a cork on 
a canoe you tipped over, while on a yacht you didn t. 
Grandpa Huntington (the youngest member of theW. C. A.) 
told what, he knew about Milwaukee, and short responses were 
made bv Harry and Nat Cook, when the ohairman announced 
that "civillized man could not live without OookB," and neither 
could the W. C. A. Brief remarks followed by Dave Crane on the 
practice of cold baths. Mr. Penniwell (the Commodore of Lost 
Island) answered the toast, "Where is Detroit?" Mr. Robert 
Lamp told a fish story about the Madison lakes, how the bass 
stopped a threshing machine, but was told that the W. 0. A. 
could not endure fish stories. Mr. R. P. Marks made some re- 
marks, stating that, referring to the gentleman at the head of the 
table, he considered it unconstitutional to invite a man to a ban- 
quet and then expect him to keeD his mouth shut. 
At this stage of the game Mr. E. H. Holmes, of Milwaukee, was 
asked to sing, and did so, solemnly asserting that he never, no 
never, wandered from his own fireside. Whereafter Mr. Gus 
White informed those present that his bonnie was unavoidably 
detained from the banquet, being at that writing lying over the 
ocean, also over the sea. Mr. Gernon told more things about 
Madison, and Secretary Dickens told about tin-horn canoeistBas 
a class, and Mr. W. P. Jewett spoke of the canoeing situation at 
St. Paul. 
By request Mr. Kitchin, of Chicago, sang verses 1, 5, 7, 13 and 
24 of "There Was a Little Man," telling again the story of the hat 
that was "all bound round with a woollen string." Then every- 
body aang "Auld Lang Syne," and the pleasant meeting came to 
an end, after such an evening as only canoeists know how to 
have. 
Those present at the banquet were as follows : Messrs. Geo. 
B. Powell, Orrin L. Evan3, W. H. Quaw, Nat H. Cook, J. D. Mc- 
Whorter, E. H. Holmes, H. B. Cook, A. W. Frieae, G. E. Gernon, 
F. W. Curtiss, Chas. M. Mayers, F. B. Huntington, L. F. Porter, 
L. C. Hanks, J. W. Hepburn, W. P. Jewett, O. A. Woodruff, F. W. 
Dickens, W. H. Crawford, A. Kitchin, C. L. Penniwell, Gus White, 
Gus Hessert, R. P. Marks, D. H. Crane, G. H. Gardner, James B. 
Keogh, L. J. Marks, this being their order to the right of Com. 
N. B. Cook, toastmaster Henry D. Spencer and the maker of the 
feast, Mr. J. Herbert Ware. One rarely sees a more goodly com- 
pany of sportsmen assembled. 
The executive committee continued its session on the morning 
following the banquet and made some changes of sailing rules, 
which will be duly handed in by Mr. Dickens, the secretary. 
There is a good healthy condition in the W. C. A. and it is 
bound to grow. The meet at Ballast next summer promises to 
be a good one, and it deserves the hearty labor of every member 
of the Association for its success. E. Hough. 
909 Seoubity Building, Chicago. 
CHANGES IN THE SAILING KULES. 
Following are the changes in sailing and regatta rules deter- 
mined upon by the committee in executive session, the draft of 
which being kindly furnished by the urbane efficient Secre- 
tary, J. W. Dickens, of Milwaukee, Wis. : 
The rules received more consideration and discussion at this 
meeting than at any previous meeting, and these are the first 
changes of any importance made in the rules. 
The rule relating to sails, which heretofore specified that sails 
used in all canoes, must be a hoisting rig and capable of being 
reefed while afloat, was changed to apply to Class "C" canoes 
only, thus allowing the standing rig to be used in Classes "A" 
and "B". The four classes of paddling canoes were cut down 
to two classes, viz. ; Class 1— Any Canoe. Class 2— Canoes with 
same measurements as classes "A" and "B" sailing canoes. In 
the sailing canoe classes the only change made was in the 
measurement of centre boards in classes "A" and "B." The 
change made in this rule was, instead of centre board being 
measured from garboard streak allowing 18 inches as maximum 
drop of board, to read, "they must not drop more than 28 
inches below the water line when canoes are in light trim, 
(without crew, sails, deck seat "or ballast.") 
The rule specifying that canoes sailing in races must carry 
flags, numerals or other such marks of identification was 
dropped out entirely. 
A member can enter one sailinsr and one paddling canoe in 
the races, the rule before allowed but one canoe to be entered 
by any one member for racing, but was invariably violated, 
and the change is a wise one. 
The rule specifying seven record events at each meet was cat 
down to four, and the points in figurnig the record were 
changed to 5-4-3-2-1 instead of 50-40-30-20-10. 
A new scheme for figuring the position or number of points 
a canoe has earned or entitled to, in the summary of the 
record, was adopted, which is claimed will prevent two scores 
from being tied and makes the m an n er of figuring record posi- 
tions clear. 
The programme of races for next meet is as follows: j 
No. 1 Paddling Class, 1. 1-2 mile. > 
No. 2 Paddling Class, 2. 1-2 mile record event. 
No. 3 Hurry Scurry (All classes). 
No. 4 Sail and Paddle, Class A. and B, 1 1-2 mile, record 
event. 
No. 5 Gardner Cup (Sailing) free for all classes. Best two 
heats in three, record event for Classes A and B. 
No. 6 Trophy Cup (Sailing) Classes A and B only. Best two 
heats in three, record event. 
No. 7 Longworth Cup (Sailing) Class C. Best two heats in 
No.' 8 Passenger (Sailing) free for all. One heat, three miles. 
No. 10 Consolation (Sailing) free for all. One heat, three 
miles. 
The allowance of standing rigs in Classes A and B is a de- 
parture from the old rules regarding sails, that perhaps will be 
welcomed by the canoeists owning modern racers. 
The rule relating to the measurement of centre boards in 
classes A and B permits the fin keel, but does not give this 
class of canoes any advantage over others, so far as depth of 
centre board is concerned. Heretofore the question of what 
constituted the garborad streak in a fin keel was always raised 
and disputed. The rule governing the manner of figuring 
record points was always a source of annoyance, as there was 
generally questions raised whereby more than one construction 
of the rule might Le applied. 
