172 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[[March a, igoi. 
— — 
'Mid Reef and Rapid. 
BY F. R. WEBB. 
I. 
"There now, I think she'll do!" said the Colonel com- 
placently, as he stepped back, varnish brush in hand, and 
took a comprehensive survey of his handiwork. 
What he surveyed was this: A trim, shapely canvas 
canoe, i6ft. long by 3oin. beam, handsomely finished and 
tastefully painted, with gunwales, cockpit coamings and 
other trimmings of oak, elegantly finished and polished. 
The canoe was specially designed for him by me, her 
model and lines being patterned after the other canoes of 
our fleet, except that she was built on a larger scale, and 
her construction had afforded interesting occupation to the 
two of us on odd, spare afternoons for pretty much all 
v?inter. In her design she conformed as nearly as pos- 
sible to the requirements of that bold, swift, rocky stream, 
the Shenandoah River, upon which she was mtended to 
cruise. 
She was well rounded away at both ends, so as to turn 
easily and quickly, the slope of bow and stern beginnmg, 
at her keel, fully 3ft. back of her deck lines. She had full 
lines and a broad, flat floor, insuring light draft and 
plenty of stowage room. Her canvas hull was amply pro- 
tected bv a broad, flat oak keel, ^in. thick by 3m. wide, 
with no less than five bilge keels of oak, im. wide by %in. 
thick, on each side of it. 
The cockpit or well was 8ft. long by 20in. wide amid- 
ships, tapering to I2in. at each end, the taper following 
the lines of the gunwales. Three Tredwen folding hatches 
closed this opening. One at each end reduced the open- 
ing to 4ft.. while a midship hatch closed this remaining 
space except the aft i8in., which was protected by an 
ample canvas apron, well oiled, which came well up over 
the breast of the crew of one and tucked in aft— a neces- 
sary precaution in view of the rough water she was built 
to cruise in. , • 1 
She was a big, heavy boat, weighing something less 
than a ton, and she looked like a canal boat arnong the 
rest of our 14ft. canoes ; but the Colonel was a big, heavy 
man. weighing something less than a ton also, and stand- 
ing full 6ft. in his stockings, and he required a canoe 
large in proportion. 
She was propelled by an 8ft. double-bladed paddle, which 
the Colonel, not caring to go to the trouble of making one 
himself, had purchased in New York at the store of a 
dealer in supplies. 
A footboard, swinging back rest, camp stool, a light 
tent, folding mattress, a pair of. stout blankets, an air 
pillow and a rubber sheet completed her equipment. 
"I expect the Colonel will have her moved up into the 
front parlor this evening," remarked Lacy, as he looked 
the handsome craft over with admiring eyes. 
"No; I think it more probable that he will build up a 
good fire here in his work room to make the atmosphere 
feel more like July than January," said I, as I took in 
the bright, cold, winter landscape through the window of 
the Colonel's work room— the shining, level blanket of 
snow sparkling in dazzling brightness in the afternoon 
sun— "and set her down off these trestles upon the floor, 
make up his bed in her and sleep in her." _ . 
"You probably speak from your own experience with 
■your first canoe," said the Colonel, good naturedly ward- 
ing off the chaff as it fell around him. , „ r 
"No; I never had the fever quite as bad as that, 1 
replied, as I gave the Colonel's fire a freshening poke; "but 
when we were preparing for the great cruise of '86, George 
and Lacy slept in their canoes for several nights previous 
to the cruise, and they " 
"We wanted to get used to our quarters before the 
start," interrupted Lacy, coloring a little, as he spoke, 
"and to test them to see where the sleeping arrangements 
could be improved upon." 
"Yes," I replied, "and George was also afraid that the 
old machine works where they were built might take fire 
some night and burn up the whole outfit." , , 
"And if they burned, he and Lacy were afraid they 
wouldn't be there to burn with them," said the Colonel. 
"Yes, life would then have had no further charms for 
them," I replied. 
"By the way," said Lacy, as he lit his pipe and changed 
the subject, "what shape is the kitchen outfit in? Did 
vou remodel it this winter?" 
"Oh, yes !" I replied. "Everything is m fine shape, and 
all new, and large enough for five or six men this time. 
Here it is !" I continued, as I dived into a closet in one 
corner of the room and reappeared with a sheet iron 
box, which was discovered to contain a large, bright tin 
paiV. a couple of joints of 3in. pipe, a small camp axe, a 
half 'gallon coal oil can, a malleable iron ladle, a small 
compass saw, a small, square tin soap box and a general 
assortment of tin cups, etc. 
• "There !" said I, placing the outfit on the Colonel s car- 
penter's bench and removing the tin pail and miscel- 
laneous assoriment of sundries. "There's the stove, as I 
inverted t.he sheet iron box, which then stood revealed as 
a compact little camp stove. I7in. long, I2in. wide and 
6in. deep. There was no bottom to it, as the fire is 
built inside of it, directly on the ground. It had two 
holes in the top, 6in. in diameter, covered by lids swing- 
ing upon rivets, and the two joints of pipe were fitted 
together (one of the joints was an elbow) and placed 
' upon a short collar at one end of the stove, to save top 
room, while at the other end was a door. A heavy wire 
was run in a hem around the entire open bottom_ of 
the stove, and a stout wire bail or handle was let into 
each end, hooking over the wire hem, by which to carry 
the stove and contents when not in use. 
"There!" I exclaimed, as I placed the stove right side 
lip and put on the pipe, "that will prove large enough for 
our party. You will observe that there is room for two 
frying pans at once, so that I can get up a fish supper 
for the entire party all at once without having^ to cook 
the fish on the installment plan as I did last year." 
"Great Scott!" cried Lacy, as I took the cover off 
the big pail and unpacked its contents and spread them 
out to°view, until pretty much the entire surface of the 
of pots, pans, tin plates, kettles, etc- "Where in the world 
did you find all that tinware, and how in the mischief do 
you expect to get it all back again in that pail?" 
"Well," said I, laughing, "I didn't find it; with the ex- 
ception of the frying pans and tin plates everything was 
designed by me, and made to measurement, so that all 
nest together inside of the big pail. So," I continued, 
gathering the articles together, "the pail comes first, of 
course. It is iiin. in diameter and Sin. deep. Then the 
two frying pans, which are of the same size. They are 
loin. in diameter and nest together like a couple of tin 
plates, the handles, of course, being detachable. _ They are 
of heavy, pressed sheet iron. lOin. in size, and just go in 
the pail nicely. Then this saucepan comes next. It is 
Sin. wide at the bottom, loin. wide at the top and 3}4in.. 
deep. Then this little flat pan, 7^in. on the bottom by 
8j4in. at the top, and a couple of inches deep, comes 
next." 
"What's it for?" inquired Lacy. 
"To wash dishes in and for general purposes," I re- 
plied. "Then this smaller pail, 7in. at bottom, Q^'m. at 
top and 6in. deep, goes in next. Then the tea kettle, for 
boiling water for all sorts of purposes, 6^ in. at bottom 
and top, and SJ^in. deep, goes in next," suiting the action 
to the word. "Then this coffee pot comes next. It is 6in. 
deep, 6;^in. wide on the bottom and 4J^in. wide at the 
top. That is all the utensils that go in the pail. Then 
you put on the lid to the coffee pot, and over that the tea 
kettle lid, then this little pile of gin. tin plates, then the 
lid to the small bucket, next you put in these flat covers 
for saucepan and frying pans, and finally the big bucket 
lid goes over all, and there you are!" I exclaimed, tri- 
umphantly, replacing the big pail in the stove. "You will 
also note that all handles are folding iron rings or wire 
bails, so as to lie close to the sides of utensils, and all 
spouts, lips, etc., are as small ,as possible, to be prac- 
ticable." I continued. 
"Well, that's the best outfit we have had yet," ex- 
claimed Lacy, admiringly, as I replaced the miscellaneous 
assortment of hardware in the stove alongside of the 
Buchanan. Wm. W. Crosby, H. W. Anderson, Edgar 
Ward, Edw. S. Baker. W. H. McLean. 
This makes a total from the Eastern Division of more 
than one hundred men who are opposed to the changes 
made in the sailing rules last October. 
Hermann Dudley Mxtrphy, 
\ V 
/ \ 
// 
pail, and set it back in the Colonel's closet. 
"I should think so," said the Colonel, lighting a cigar. 
"I think it will do." said I, modestly, as I took the 
burning match from the Colonel's fingers and lighted my 
own cigar. . 
"By the way, what shape are the rest of the canoes in? 
asked the Colonel. 
"Mine's all right," said Lacy. "I have overhauled and 
repainted her thoroughly, and she is all ready to launch." 
"Same here." said I. "I have not only overhauled and 
repainted her thoroughly, but George's also; and the en- 
tire fleet looks like new." 
"That's good," the Colonel commented. 
"By the way. Lacy, one of the best tricks in the entire 
outfit I have at home in the mess chest in my work room," 
I continued. 
"What is that?" he asked. 
"A granite ware plate and cup for each man," I replied. 
"We use them on our Greenbrier fishing trips and find 
them much nicer to eat and drink from than the com- 
mon tinware; besides being easier to clean after using." 
"That certainly is a good trick," said Lacy, as he pulled 
on his overcoat and overshoes, in which example we fol- 
lowed him, and after the. Colonel had shut and locked his 
work room door, we all wended our way down the snowy 
path through the yard to the street, leaving the new 
canoe, with its attractive, summery cruise suggestions, be- 
hind us, and the little conclave broke up, each going his 
separate way. 
[to be continued.] 
A. O A. Amendments. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Will you have the kindness to publish the following 
names which have been added to the petition regarding 
sailing rules of the A. C. A. since your last issue?: J. B. 
Kelley, A. W. Brown, H. S. Bosson, A. W. Dodge, R. 
D. Smith, Danl. S. Pratt, Jr., Oscar J. Gerd, Francis J. 
Burrage, Edw. Lawrence, Jr., Jas. H. Law, Steadman 
Smith, Walter E. Clark, Geo. S. Brazer. Robt. K. Rogers, 
D A. Johnson. H. J. Conand, G. E. Fickett, H. G. 
Chamberlain, J. E. Nold, W. A. Packard, Wm. V. For- 
^aith Henry M. S. Aiken. Chas. T. Estabrook, W. C. 
Billings. John B. May. Abbot S. Mitchell, C. J. Halpen, 
W D. Cram. Alfred E. Collins, Fred. A. Sears, F. G. 
Carter A W. Walls. W. K. Fowle, H. W. Cramphorse, 
Wm T Ladd, Jack Howard, A. G. Mather. Wm. M. 
Holbrook, H. V. Dimick, F, W. Fbwle, F. H. Sawyer, 
O, M, ^' Bright, Cr Mi W, 
A C A Membership. 
Mr. Harry S. Maffitt, of Boston, Mass., has been pro- 
posed for membership to the Eastern Division of the 
A. C. A. 
tHchting. 
Notice. 
All communications intended for Forest amd Stream should 
always be addressed to the Forest and Stream Publishing Co., and 
not to any individual connected with the paper. 
Our Boston Letter. 
Boston, Feb. 25. — Many new wrinkles have been in- 
stituted in the Belmont syndicate defender, now building 
at Herreshoff's, which your correspondent has had the 
opportunity of finding out and can now give to the 
readers of Forest and Stream. It would be strange in- 
deed if Herreshoff did not embody some new ideas in 
construction, but the majority of yachtsmen have un- 
doubtedly been unprepared to find so many startling 
departures. . , , . , , 
The lead is not secured to the keel plate m the usual 
manner, but is held by over 800 screw bolts, §^in. in 
diameter and 6in. long, which are screwed through the 
lower streak of plating and into the lead._ There are 
also 37 threaded bolts, lin. in diamter and loin. long, that 
pass through the keel casting into the lead. The distance 
from the bottom of the lead to the deck is 24ft. and the 
beam is exactly 26ft. There are 77 frame spaces, the 
same as in the Columbia. 
The keel casting, which rests upon the top of the lead, 
is J4in, thick, and has flanges 4in. high, running along 
its length and transversely at the frame stations. This 
takes the heels of the frames, and also the heels of the 
floor plates. The upper edge of the lead is rabbetted to 
take the bottom of the lower streak of plating, thus mak- 
ing a smooth ioint. The plating is arranged on the 
raised and sunken system up to the top of D plate, which 
comes flush with plate C. From there up to the deck the 
plating is flush. The plates at station 40 are from 49 to 
48in. wide and from 8-32 to 6-32 in thickness. 
There are belt plates which go around the inside of the 
boat and form floor plates and deck beams. These are 
Tsin. deep and 5-40 to 7-40 in thickness. At the outer 
edge there is an angle bar on either side, which is riveted 
through the plate, and to which the outer plating is se- 
cured. From the plank sheer to the bottom of D plate, 
the belt plate is cut in at different places. Through these 
cut out places run bulbed angle bars and T bars, which 
run the entire length of the boat. The angle bars come 
at the middle of the outside plating, and the T bars conie 
at the edges of the plates, to which they are fastened, 
making flush joints. 
These longitudinal braces, or really frames, are to take 
the places of bulbed angle frames. The belt plates come 
at every fourth frame space, except at the mast station, 
where they double up. Between them there are bulbed 
angle frames and plain angle frames, which do. not, how- 
ever, go above the top of the third streak of plating. The 
frame stations are spaced 2oin. on centers and the belt 
plates, coming at every fourth station, are spaced 6ft and 
Sin. Above the top of the third row of plating there is 
nothing in the nature of frames except the belt plates, to 
which the outer plates are fastened, and the longitudinal 
angle bars and T bars. 
The T bars are 4^ by 4%m. amidships, and tapering at 
the ends. The bulbed angels are 3 by 2 amidships, taper- 
ing at the ends. The short frames, which are bulbed an- 
gles, are 3 by 2, except the one which comes in the middle 
space, between' the belt plates, which is a plain angle, 154 
by There are floor plates and tie bars above the lead 
on the bulbed angle frames, and a solid floor plate run- 
ning between the pair of plain angle frames. The stations 
at which the belt plates come are as follows: 4, 8, 12, 16, 
20. 24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 40. 44. 48, 52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72 and 70. 
The angle frames, which are called the intermediate 
frames, are placed at the following stations: 10, 14, 17, 
18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38. 39. 
Ai, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, Si, 53. 54, 55, 57, 58, 59, 01. 
62 and 63. There are no intermediate frames aft of sta- 
tion 63. At station 2 there is a bulkhead of steel plate. 
No previous cuo defender has had a system of logitudi- 
nal framing installed to take the places of the regular 
angle frames. This principle of lightness seems to have 
been Herreshoff's greatest aim in the new boat, for her 
dimensions are not much different from the Columbias 
except in the point of beam, in which he has given the 
new boat 2ft. more. In the construction of the boat, the 
plate plans of the Columbia have been used. 
Another innovation is in the mast step. In former cup 
defenders this was a solid metal casting, but m the new 
boat it is formed of plates, 7-i6in. m thickness. The 
mast will be stepped between stations 29 and 30, but the 
arrangement of plates will extend from frame 23 to frame 
32, the mast step plates engaging the frames. The step 
itself is conical in shape. , , , , 
Thomas W. Lawson has again startled the yachtsmen 
by making the most generous offer of prizes to be raced 
for after the international races are finished, that has 
ever before been known. The prizes are offered for 
yachts in the larger classes and for fishermen. The 
following is the list which was given out by Mr. Lawson 
to the press Saturday night: 
For 90ft. sloops, a suitable cup; for all schooners, a 
cup valued at about $1,000, with siutable second and third 
prizes; for 70-footers, a cup valued at about $1,000; for 
the Sift, rating class, a cup valued at about $500; also 
cash prizes for all fishermen, $1,000 first, $500 second and 
SsiiO third. 
■ There sonriething VWf t^^*? W19\^ 
