JtJNE 19, 1897.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
498 
The. Milwaukee Y. C. Is out of the Lake Michigan Yacht- 
inp Association. This action on the part of the Milwaukee 
yachtpmen is clue to a cliiFere'nce over the airan semen ts for 
meeting the expenses of the annual regatta. For the past 
three yearp the big regatta of the Afsociation has been held 
here, the Milwaukee Club paying all the expenses. This 
year the club did not want the regatta and it was fixed at 
Racine. The Eacine yachtsmen felt they could not stand 
the burden of expense entailed by the meet and it was de- 
cided to a.o.sess each club in the Association equally to pay 
the expenses. This the Milwaukees did not like, claiming 
that an injustice would be done the smaller clubs if they had 
to pay the same amounts that were assessed against the 
larger Chicago clubs, which would be represented at the re- 
gatta by a score of boats, while the small clubs might not 
send but one. Their protests being of no weight, the Mil- 
waukee yachtsmen decided to withdraw from theAssocia 
tion. — CWcogo Times-Herald 
Vencedor, recently purchased by H. M. Gillig, Larchmont 
Y. 0. , was shipped from Chicago for New York on June 9. 
mamg* 
Atlantic Division, A. C. A, 
CRTJISE AND MEET ON THE DELAWARE. 
The long-looked-for river cruising meet of the Atlantic 
Divi.sion is now a thing of the past, and it is safe to say that 
in some respects it was a canoeing experience which those 
who were fortunate enough to participate in will re- 
member with unmingled pleasure, and which they will 
probably pass a lifetime without an opportunity of re- 
peating. 
Perfect conditions of weather and height of water in the 
river made it possible to carry out the whole itinerary ex- 
actly as arranged, and the cruise began with the dinner at 
the United States Hotel at East on, on Thursday evening, 
May 27, and ended on the followine: Tuesday evening at De- 
lanco with nothing but regrets that the experience might 
be but beginning instead of being a thing of the past. 
It was a merry party Avbich tumbled into the welcoming 
portals of the hotel about 6 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, 
carrying diver.sified baggage and wearing rare combinations 
of cruising and traveling costumes. Rooms were soon 
assigned and th^n all sat down to dinner. In the party at 
this time were Harry C. Allen and Edmund C. Hill, of "the 
Park Island Canoe Association, Trenton, N. J.; Robert H. 
Peebles and Warren T. Berry, of the Knickerbocker C. C, 
New York; Woolf=ey Carmalt. Erank C. Moore, Harry H. 
Smythe, Frank G. Palmer and James King Hand, of the New 
York 0. C: Robert Gilchrist, of the Bayonne C. C, Bayonne, 
N. J.; M. de M. Marsellus, of the lanthe C. C, and Arthur 
W. Corning, W. S. Benson and Halbert E. Payne, of New 
York; Wendel Andreas, of the Bogota B C, Bogota, N. J.; 
Frederick B. Lewis, of New York, and Joseph Edward Mur- 
ray, Vice- Com mod ore of the Atlantic Division, withMaurice 
D." Wilt and Will K. Park, all of the Red Dragon C. C, Phil- 
adelphia. 
The evening was spent amid the glories of the circus, but 
it would be difficult to say whether the performance in the 
rings or the fun on a certaitt portion of the inevitable blue, 
back-breaking slat seats was the most exhilarating 
Every ope was under covers at 11 o'clock, however, and 
when the call came at 6 the following morning, all tumbled 
down with a healthy appetite and the keenest anticipation of 
the day's enjoyments that were to come. 
We "left the hotel at 7 o'clock, with the top of the 'bus 
which was to carry us over to Phillipsburg piled high with 
"bags, bundles, cameras, paddles, etc., and soon we were by 
the river bank. In an hour all the canoes at the different 
railroad stations in Phillipsburg had bfeen gathered together 
and at half-past 8 o'clock we were off. Two unfortunates, 
Andreas and Lewis, whos5 canoe was delayed somewhere 
between New York and the start, were left in the throes of a 
long distance telephone box, finally giving up the fight and 
joining us at Frenchtown in the evening. 
With three cheers for Phillipsburg, the twelve canoes 
pulled out from shore and we headed for the first rapid, a 
pretty little piece of fast water just below the city. 
Mr. Marsellus and Mr. Corning found that their long-un- 
used boat was leaking badly after this drop had been made, 
and when an. unsuccessful attempt to tighten by swamping 
her for a couple of hours had been made, but with no success, 
we moved on. 
The twelve canoes comprising the fleet were, with two ex- 
ceptions, all open boats and proved to be well adapted for 
the conditions met with on this joiirney. 
More perfect weather coiild not be imagined than we ex- 
perienced the first and second days of our run. Cool enough 
to paddle in a sweater, even under the midday sun, and 
with that same cooling breeze astern wafting us gently 
toward our dei^tination, is it any wonder that the spirits of 
all rose until, lining up the cano s across stream, good old 
"Australia" and "Parmer's Boy" went lustily resounding 
through the old hills of the Delaware Valley, scaring the 
natives into.long lines of gaping wonderers at the absolutely 
novel sight on those, or, indeed, on any waters. 
Many were the incidents of that day. To recount them 
would be impossible. New songs and wonderful variations 
of old ones, oriental dance music from tin-cup cymbal and 
top-strake drumheads, made weird effects not altogether 
lacking in humor. Then, too, gunner Park, with his tiny 
air rifle, would occasionally dart shoreward, and we know 
that another feathered songster was about to pass away. 
That was only what we thought, however, for the birds 
stopped singing only for a moment to tiu-n their heads in 
wonder at the hartnless popping going on beneath. Many 
of them indeed followed him down stream, chipping a pretty 
plaintive request to make it go again. 
Our usiial manner of going down stream was to keep 
within 100 or at least 200ft. of each other at all times when 
paddling, and although this was subject to some variations, 
It was nevertheless the rule and a very good one. Approch- 
ing a fall or rapid, Mr. Allen, whom we dubbed our pilot, 
and a good one he was, went in first, and in a long line the 
rest followed. Nothing prettier or more novel could be im- 
agined, than to get a good position well down thS line, and 
watch the men in front slowly dip, dip in the falls, then 
tumble about and finally pass out of sight as it came to your 
turn to be watchful, and heed the tumbling waters and 
many hidden rocks about. Or again to get through first, 
and jratting about when in still water once more, watch the 
others with a better view, picking their way bravely through 
the seething waters of the rapid. 
That day we dined well at Riegelsville, close by the river 
shore, in a good old fashioned inn, which indeed, with one 
exception, was the only variety we found along the river. 
The proprietor was the clerk and porter and anything you 
pleased, looking his best when he leaned with outstretched 
arms and his broadest smile behind the high har in his own 
tap-room, as we frequently saw him through the slatted 
green screen which barred the entrance. The guidwife Avas 
cook, and of course the boys fared well at her generous 
hands. 
Well, there was a half hour's smoke after dinner in an ele- 
vated pavilion by the river bank, and once more we were in 
the canoes and "off for our night's stopping place, French- 
town, on the New Jersey side of the river Once more did 
the favoring winds follow us, and when the afternoon wore 
on and the chances of good water for a respectable distance 
seemed good, we brought the canoes side by side and hoisted 
the little sail, which had fortunately been brought along by 
the human crustacean of the party, who had by this time 
donned enough of his bright boiled color to identifv the 
species, and thus we howled down the river, even getting 
brave enough now and then to do a light, rapid side by side, 
much to thp distress and discomfort of the canoe9> which were 
tai^dem and had very little freeboard. 
We had manv novel and agreeable experiences on the run, 
but it is doubtful if any were as much appreciated as this 
comfortable method of progress down the river, withthenext 
man within touching distance, and every one on the cruise 
within hail when he was not asleep. 
Wp reached Frenchtown at 5 o'clock, and were soon quar- 
tered for the night, our boats well up on the river bank and 
our precious duflle stowed in a convenient freight house. 
Some of the boys went ofl: for a swim, some quietly changed 
togs at the hotel, and in an hour we were down to supper of 
wonderfully good, quick-disappearing chicken. Finally de- 
licious strawberries, which with the richest cream and layer 
cake that was six-ply, soon nut every one easily into a chair 
on the porch for an hour, while with fragrant pipes we con- 
templated a rosy world andwi.shed for nothing but a lifetime 
of days like the one then passing away. 
The evening was spent around the boats by the river shore, 
answering many questions as to our destination, the weight, 
cost, speed, safety and fun of our craft; and while there 
Messrs, Marsellus and Corning loomed up in the dusk with 
their canoe in good shape, and our party was once more com- 
plete. 
At 30 o'clock everybody was in bed, for unused muscles 
made even the easy nineteen miles of the day seem a bit 
wearvi n er. 
The following morning at 6 found us all scurrying for first 
place in the dining room, where a .lolly breakfast was eaten, 
and we were off again for the river. At 7:15 we took our 
paddles, and with three cheers and a tiger for the town 
where we had been so hospitably treated, we were ofl;. 
Again did the favoring breezes waft us onward and down- 
ward, and again did we get side by side, and with our soli- 
tary l ittle sail do the level stretches in rare comfort, only dis- 
turbed by the "Breakaway!" of the Commodore, when the 
roar of water ahead bade us get our positions in line for 
some more excitement. 
"This morning we were to take our first serious bit of falls. 
Bull's Island Dam, and it was lively work, two of our mem- 
bers, more daring than the rest, coming through in that 
altogether unprecedented and nutre. manner, side on. To be 
sure, the style gives you little freeboard if you are still in 
the boat after it is all over, but it is very exciting and made 
us all hold our breath for a minute or two. 
At noon we were at Lambertville, which every rlverman 
knows, because immediately below it lies the highest falls 
on the river. Wells'. As soon as we were ashore and our 
canoes left in the care of some fi.sherTuan on a little island 
near the town, we all walked down the half mile to the head 
of the falls. There they lay . tumbling and sending up a 
roar which perhaps made some of us wish that we were 
safely through it, and this especially after our pilot had an- 
nounced that we would surely go through. At dinner that 
day the conversation was somewhat serious, and the hoys 
felt that there was work ahead in a place that has claimed 
manv a victim in boats and men. 
When we out off that afternoon everything was well 
locked in. With knees braced stoutly against thwarts, with 
firmly-gripped paddles and tightly-pressed lips, we followed 
the leader into the roar and tumble of waters about Wells', 
and to their credit and the confusion of the disaster-predict- 
ing natives who lined the bank, be it recorded that all came 
through without mishao. To be sure, there was water in 
most of the boats, and there had been bumps and a couple 
had been hung un for a brief but awful moment or two, but 
then we were still all keel down, and when the mile of rapid 
rock-bri.'tling watershad been passed everybody .stood be.side 
the bumboat and a congratulatory round of grog was drunk 
to our very good luck. 
That afternoon was a long, easy paddle with a destination 
that put vigor into the arms of the voyagers For were we 
not to pass the night in that paradise of canoedom. Park 
Island? W. C. Lawrence, a member of the Park Island 
Canoe Association, who had come up to Frenchtown the 
night before, was with us now, and occasionally said some- 
thing about the possibility of getting a taste of the shad, for 
which we saw them fishing everywhere, on the island that 
nisht, and then you could see the hungry bcits shoot ahead, 
only to get a fresh impetus when the recollection would 
wear off and they found themselves back again near Law- 
rence and his agonizing hints. 
A little after 5 o'clock we rounded a bend in the river, and 
there lay the bright little isle with its snowy tents, and fig- 
ures waving us their welcome from the bank. 
We ^ere ashore at 5:30, and then it was a handshake all 
around with the jolliest and most hospitable crew who wield 
the paddle— the members of the P. I. C. A. Here were Gilk- 
eson, Packer, Anderson, Lucas, Fritz, and Allen and Hill 
who were with us, and later, ex-Com. Dorland, all old friends 
and good ones. 
Soon they had us assigned to tents, which, with blankets 
and cots, had all been provided by their thoughtful commit- 
tee. And then when the shadows were beginning to 
lengthen, the tired paddlers sat down to the most glorious 
array of planked shad ever gotten together outside of Glou- 
cester in the State of New Jersey. Diagonally across the 
cosy room of their island club house stretched the long table, 
and the inspirations of bygone times under these old rafters 
must have come to some of the older members as the fun be- 
gan, and the gleaming good will of healthy men who have 
diupd well made the banners on the walls tremble for joy. 
Well, all good things come to an end, though they threat- 
ened to last indefinitely, at least so far as the Vice-Commo- 
dore and Moore were concerned, nn6 we were made up into 
a party of investigation to do the rounds of the island, and 
watch the rays of the setting sun as it mellowed the waters 
of the river, and gave us the promise of another clear day on 
the morrow. 
Soon it was dark, and then the camp-fire was lit. Its 
warmth was grateful to the sweatered cruisers who sat 
around and watched its leaping blaze, and soon it warmed 
them into the good old A. C A. songs, and made every man 
grateful for the shelter and hospitable hands into which the 
wayfarers bad fallen that night 
In anticipation of a long paddle before us on the morrow, 
"taps" was sounded at 10, and in an hour every man was 
under canvas, wrapped in generous blankets and the good 
sound sleep of the weary. 
Next morning we hreakfa.sted, and at 8 o'clock tumbled 
into the boats and stood by for a tremendous and hearty 
cheer for the Park Island men, which must surely rever- 
berate in those regions for a long time to come. 
We had an escort of three Trenton canoes through the 
last bit of rapid water we met, and when they left us below 
Trenton, we settled down to the paddle which was to Vjring 
UB to our final camp site, Delanco. We soon found that we 
had a heavy head wind to contend with that day, and to 
this, at Florence, was added a flood tide that made good 
muscles, by this time hardened for the task, bend as they 
urged the boats onward. 
We lunched lightly on tea and sandwiches at Florence, 
and a half-hour's smoke by the shore was terminated by the 
Vice-Commodore's cry of "Tumble down, everybody," and 
we made our final start. 
The ever-freshening southwest wind soon made us wish 
for help; and, as if iu answer to our prayer, came the boom 
of a cannon and quickly we were in the mid.st of Red Dragon 
men. with launch, yawl and 15-footer, and then friendly tow 
lines ppt at rest all doubts as to our ability to get in ca,mp m 
time for dinner, and at 5 o'clock we had every canoe in line 
on the Delanco beach and the cruise was over. 
The camp at Delanco was a comfortable one, made so by 
a beautiful situation, good accommodations and an excellent 
mess, under the charge of Mr. A. S. Fenimore, of the camp 
site committee. That nmht there was a jolly camp-fire, and 
the following morning, Monday, we all turned out in prime 
condition to enjoy the quiet rest of a day in camp. 
Races were proposed at an informal meeting, and finally 
abandoned in favor of a day's recuperation after our three 
days' journey, and we were again blessed by a joyous, cool 
breeze which made warm clothes comfortable and even 
necessary. Durini? the morning the camp was honored by a 
visit from Henry M. Dater, ex-division purser. In the after- 
noon we learned of the fate of Messrs. Wilkin. Pinckney, 
Vernon and Eastmond, of the Brooklyn C. C, who were de- 
layed in starting, and only got as far as Park Island, to re- 
turn home from there on Monday. 
Again came the night's camp-fire, and again the early 
retiring to cot and blanket. 
Tuesday was bright and fair, but witli the afternoon came 
a heavy wind and rainstorm, making things lively for an 
hour. We broke camp, and the very successful experiment 
of a river cruise and meet was all over, and universally 
admitted to be successful. 
Better than all was the promise of a good representation 
at this year's general meet in August, for the universal re- 
mark as the last good-bys were said was: "See you at 
Grindstone." 
With Berry in the Bow. 
WITH APOLOGIES TO MISS JOHNSON. 
On the recent Atlantic Division cruise my friend, who, 
with myself made up one canoe crew, were the sole survivors 
of that first memorable cruise of the Division, which was 
held in '88. immediately after the subdivision of the A. C. A. 
Having also attended all of the subsequent camps, I feel 
competent to write of its relative merits. This year, being 
blessed with a commodore of conspicuous ability, a commis- 
sary general to match, favorable weather, and a "soldier's 
wind," which followed us aspersistently as did Mary's lamb, 
it seems to me a man would be an unconscionable kicker 
who would cavil at such a combination. 
To many of us rapid running was both a novelty and a 
revelation, and 1 may safely say that in one particular it was 
so to both veteran and novice alike. I refer, of course, to the 
startling innovation of one of our party— in consideration of 
whose well-known modesty I will designate as Mr. Plus. 
For did not he— and right here I would bespeak for him a 
niche in the temple of fame— conceive the daring plan of 
running the rapids under sail? No one of our little band, I 
feel assured, will ever seek to strip the laurels from his 
brow while the memory of that second day's cruise shall 
linger. Shall we ever forget how twenty men in eleven 
canoes floated abreast through the long golden hours, drink- 
ing in the river views (with occasional shifts to something 
stroneer), all the while propelled by a five-mile current and 
Mr. Plus's sail a4sq. ft,). 
It may not have been war, but it was magnificent. Loung- 
ing there in the bottoms of the boats, watching the fleecy 
clouds sailing overhead, or anon observing the indefatigable 
Nimrod of the party sparing the song-birds on either bank 
with unflagging zeal and a small-bore repeater. It did seem 
as though the laws of chance must eventually impel some 
chippv to fly into the leaden hail— but no. The Dragoons, 
too. aft'orded us much innocent amusement, for though 
them-selves chevaliers sans %)6ur, their boat at the very out- 
set "took water" so copiously as to necessitate a delay of 
several hours while she swelled. But thev pluckily caught 
us at Frenchtown, our stopping-place for the night. 
While I am telling tales out of school I might relate their 
thrilling adventure of the following morning: We novices 
had heard much of the dangers of Bull's Island Dam, a,nd 
when we reached it the Dragoons, evidently unable to agree 
upon who should have the honor of going through first, 
compromised in going through abreast. Whether by design 
or accident we shall probably.never know, but right through 
the "foamer" they went, broadside on, with results that can 
be easily imagined, and although they filled their boat they 
cleverly avoided capsizing. All who witnessed this maneu- 
ver, while conceding its originality, seemed inclined to ques- 
tion its utility. 
We stopped for lunch at Lambertville, where we found 
Wells's Falls to be as formidable in fact as in reputation. 
To carry or not to carry was the question, and after a careful 
inspection from shore, "we decided that it could be run, and 
run it was by every one, and though many of us bumped and 
thumped upon the rocks, we all got through without mis- 
hap. Another party of canoeists followed a day behind us, 
elected to dodge Bull's Island Dam and carry around Wells's 
Falls, but then we were merely novices, and you know 
"Fools rush boldly in," etc. 
The close of this delightful second day brought us to Park 
Island, the home of hospitality and planked shad, where we 
stopped for the night; and it was here that we made the ac- 
quaintance of Christopher Colombo, who never left us for 
the remainder of the trip. That we were royally treated goes 
without saying, and next morning when we left we were 
escorted through Trenton Falls by several members. But 
now we were on tide-water, and the conditions which had hith- 
erto been unusually favorable, was changed, and with tide 
and wind against us, when five miles from Delanco. we wel- 
comed the arrival of the secretary-treasurer's launch, which 
took us all in tow to camp, where we spent Decoration Day 
very pleasantly, missing no meals at a mess that left nothing 
to be desired. By next morning most of the members had 
left for home, among whom were the cruising partners of 
Mr. Plus and myself; and we, having some time to consume, 
organized a little side trip to round out the week. The cap- 
tain of the Alicia took the bow thwart of Mr. Plus's canoe 
and I secured the Young Stentor in a like capacity, and at 
about noon of the following day, after shipping our surplus 
duffle home, we went on to TrentDn, where, at our hotel, we 
had the pleasure of receiving a few of the Park Island men 
whom we were fortunate enough to encounter. Next morn- 
ing, armed with the necessary permits and a tin horn, we 
launched our boats upon the Delaware and Raritan Canal, 
and it was quite an experience to see the bridges swung and 
the locks opened through the magic of our permits, which 
granted such privilegs to "Canal Boats A. and B., Captains 
P and M., loaded light." 
We paddled and sailed (same sail) for about five miles on 
the Fourteen Mile Level, then the man in the much-ma- 
ligned red shirt suggested towiug, a suggestion which our 
energetic quartette caught at like drowning men. So, tying 
the boats together, with oneman steering, the Young Stentor 
trotted off in fine fettle. Intelligent reader, when in such- 
like circumstances, always tow. The "mule's" work is not 
arduous, for with one end of a 30ft. painter fastened about 
4ft. from the bow, and the other to a 3ft, stick which is car- 
ried behind the back in the hollow of the arms, you will find 
that you can walk her along at a good rate, for the boat's 
resistance can be counted as,nit. The inevitable mile posts 
were found to be invaluable, as they allotted the labor on an 
equitable basis, and in no case in changing mules was the 
intelligent animal known to overstep his "finish" by 1ft, 
The work of towing is less than that of paddling, with the 
additional advantage that three of the party are always 
loafing. This feature I know will commend the plan to all 
real canoeists. 
As the numTjer thirteen had seemed to pursue us on the 
trip, we unwittingly disembarked at a bridge of that num- 
