Oct. s, T901,] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
273 
I stood and gazed with interest upon the quickly rising 
flood. As I looked the trees seemed to move out from the 
shore into the river, and rocks, stumps and bushes dis- 
appeared beneath the surface as though drawn into the 
depths by an invisible hand from below. 
I walked back to my tent, which was still some 6 or 8ft. 
above the present level of the river, and looked at my 
walch. It was 2:30. With the conviction that the water 
woudi hardl}' reach us i)efore morning, I turned in again. 
Hardly had I composed myself in my blanket and begun 
to doze when I was startled by a yell of alarm from one 
of the tents. I hastily thrust my head out and looked. 
As I did so I caught sight of George's head and shoulders 
emerging from his tent. 
"What's the matter?" he shouted. 
"I didn't yell." I shouted in reply. "Wasn't it you?" 
Just then the yell was repeated — it was from Lacy's 
tent. 
"Hi, there !" he shouted. "The river's all around us ! 
Turn out! Turn out!" 
"Turn out yourself !'' cried George, as we reached his 
tent, and, pulling aside the flap, looked in. 
"How in thunder can I turn out without getting wet?" 
he demanded. 
"Well, how in thunder do you expect us to turn out 
without getting wet?" was George's not unreasonable re- 
joinder. _ 
"What's the matter with you, anyhow, man?" I asked. 
"There's no water around us! Wake up! You're half 
asleep yet!" 
"Well. I declare!" he exclaimed, with a laugh, as he 
roused himself, rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked 
out. "I woke up and looked out through my tent flap, and 
the flickering of the moonlight on the white sand through 
the leaves of the trees looked to me exactly like little 
waves and ripples, and I thought the water was all around 
us, and I " 
"Yes, and j'ou lay there and yelled for the Cbmmodore 
and me to get out in it, and come and tow j'ou safely 
ashore," said George, sternly. 
"There, there," said I, soothingly, "you'd better go to 
sleep again ; you'll be all right in the morning." 
George and I took a turn down by the river again, while 
Lacy resumed his interrupted slumbers. The river had 
risen over a foot in the fifteen minutes or so that had 
elapsed since I had inspected it, and was still rising at the 
same rapid rate. We strolled along up the bank to the 
foot of the falls. The water was tumbling down over the 
rocky pitch with a thunderous roar, which filled the 
trembling air, while the big surges tossed and splashed 
their ragged foam crests, glitteringly brightly in the moon- 
light, high in the air. 
We then returned to the camp and inspected what little 
high land remained, and noted the quickest and easiest 
way out in our canoes across the gully back of us — 
through which the water was now running — and across 
the fields to the highlands beyond, in case the water 
reached us, and retired to our canoes with the conviction 
that the rapid rise -would in all probability exhaust itself 
, before reaching us in the couple of hours that remained 
before daylight, but feeling reasonably secure and safe, 
even if the water did reach us. 
We turned out promptly at 4 :30 in the morning, to find 
the river surging and booming along but a few feet away. 
The lower pins of the fly were still in the water, and my 
The lower pins of the fly were in the water, and m}^ still 
glimmering beacon light had but a few inches to spare. 
The river was a sight to behold in the dim gra}"- of the 
early dawn as it rushed swiftly past us in a surging, brick- 
red flood, covered with foam and drift, and we made all 
possible haste to dispatch our breakfast, strike our camp 
and pack our canoes before the rapidly encroaching stream 
covered the long, narrow strip of sand upon which they 
lay. now but a few inches above the water. 
The task was accomplished none too soon, and, as the 
first rays of the morning sun began to dispel the mists 
which floated over the surface of the river, we lifted the 
bows of our canoes around into the water and launched 
them with a gentle push, hastily scrambled aboard, and 
were caught up and hurled swiftly away like bubbles on 
the swelling bosom of the resistless torrent. 
"Just in time!" exclaimed George, as we straightened 
our boats out into the stream. 
We cast a look back. The last vestige of ground had 
disappeared, and a smooth sheet of muddy, red water 
flowed rippling around the trunks of the trees over the 
.-^pot where our canoes had but just lain, while the great 
wave masses that came pitching and tumbling down over 
the foot of the falls up the river behind us were ominously 
suggestive of what lay before us in the turbid, swollen 
river, down which we were now swiftly shooting. 
[to be continued.] 
Our Boston Letter. 
Boston, Sept. 30. — The racing season of the Yacht 
Racing Association of Massachusetts having been closed, 
it now remains to be seen what the association has ac- 
complished and what prospects it has for the future, The 
season just passed has been one of the most successful, 
if not the most successful, in the historj' of the associa- 
tion. For the past three years there has been consid- 
erable dissent, and from miany sides there have been 
heard notes of discord in regard to the system of restric- 
tions that has been put upon yachts of from 21 feet to 
30 feet waterline. 
The season of 1900 was perhaps the hardest for the 
association. Objections to what were termed arbitrary 
rules were rife on every hand. The unfortunate circum- 
stance of the famous H. O. class failing to conform to 
the restrictions that had been put upon 25-footers, and 
the barring of the boats from racing in that class, was 
only an incentive to bring out discord that had been 
lying dormant and had not cropped out before b'ecause 
there was not sufficient ground for suppt>rting the objec- 
tions. 
It was conceded that in Massachusetts Bay, where there 
are so many yacht clubs that give open races, there should 
be some organization which would make rules for all 
classes, not only for the protection of the smaller clubs 
that might otherwise be s^vamped by the larger ones, 
but also for the protection of the yacht owners them- 
selves, that, under One set of ruleS for all, they might 
build yachts that would not be back numbers after one 
season had passed. 
But there was a great grievance expressed by some in 
regard to the alleged unfairness of the rules and the pos- 
sible harm thev might do to yacht racing. Many attempts' 
were made to have clubs withdraw from the Association, 
and there was also an attempt to form a new organiza- 
tion. All of these attempts failed, and it must be noted 
that, from the manner in which the objections were made, 
there is no doirbt that most of the complaints were from 
those who were desirous of having such conditions pre- 
vail as would make them winners at all times and that 
the attempt at new organization was solely for the per- 
sonal aggrandizement of its promoters and to make rules 
that would be advantageous only to them. 
Fortunately, there were men who realized that there 
must be restrictions of some kind upon certain classes, 
and that there could be no success in such restrictions 
until they had been thoroughly tried under all conditions, 
and the result of the controversy, and the determination 
on the part of the Association to stick to its rules, gave 
theiTi the necessary a'^surance that they would be pro- 
tected in building new boats. The result was that several 
new boats were built for the 2T-foot and 25-foot re- 
stricted classes during the winter which raced during the 
entire season; and that there is yet confidence in the 
rules of the Association is shown by several orders for 
new boats for the restricted classes, to be raced next 
year. 
The number of yachts that have been sailing through- 
out the entire season, too, was much greater this year 
than it has been for several seasons past. Two years ago 
the munber of yachts that sailed throughout the season 
was not promising for the future, but the nuniber has 
steadily increased until this year there was quite a re- 
spectable aggregation. 
Another feature that has been proved during the nast 
season by practical demonstration has been that the divi- 
sion of the races sailed under Association rules, during 
the season of 1000. into three circuits was not beneficial. 
This season the yachts were obliged to sail at all places 
along the coast where Y. R. A. open races were given. 
The competition in the two restricted classes that now 
represent the Association was so. brisk that it was neces- 
sary for all to take part in as many races as possible. 
It was said before that the distance was too great to sail 
from place to place, but it was noticed that this year the 
yachts found no difficulty in getting to the races, no mat- 
ter how far they had to go. 
There is one more thing that has developed since the 
season closed that is very significant apd is rather an 
assurance of further success of the Association. _ For the 
pa.st two seasons there have been no representative boats 
in the .TO-foot restricted class. In iSoQ there were only 
two 30-footers that raced consistently throughout the en- 
tire^ season, the Meemer and the .^shumet. Since the 
racing season closed I have heard that there are as many 
as nine boats which will be buHt during the winter for 
this class. With nine new boats racing next sea- 
son, the class will again be established, but this 
lime more firmiv than it has ever been before. The re- 
cstabh'shment of this class is only a forerunner to future 
nossibilities. It is but one step from the ,30-footers to 
the 3=:-foot class, which has been abandoned by the As- 
sociation on account of a lack of boats, and the interest 
thus gained may lead to the establishment of still larger 
classes. 
In classes D and C, which we will take up this week. 
■;he percentages are as follows: 
Class D— 25ft. Cabin Yaclits. 
Starts. Ists. 2ds. 3ds. Fins. Bks. Total. Average 
Flirt ....19 7 7 4 t 0 1310 .68 18-19 
Spso ■ 19 1? 2 3 3 1 1|0 .67 7.19 
rii».MtinU- 9 1 4 4 0 0 OiiU .06 
g?rDawn;::;:20 4 ? f ^ O S70 .43 1-2 
Areyto 4 1 1 1 0 1 26o .26 
Alarion ■ 4 0 1 0 3 0 110 .11 
^lnlo ...... 2 0 1 1 0 0 100 .10 
[i tie Pet;;-:;.-.. 500131 so -os 
Tarnon ... 4 0 0 1 2 1 6s ,06 l-i 
cvX 200020 30 .03 
Class C— 25ft. Open Yachts. 
Thordis . 6 3 2 1 0 0 465 . 7* 1-2 
hSs 3 2 0 0 0 1 200 .571-7 
Hustler 4 1 0 2 1 0 185 .46 1-4 
TJoinanrp 7 ' 1 2 2 0 2 300 .42 6-7 
Wid«on : 2 0 1 1 0 0 100 . 28.2-3 
Theodora 4 0 1 0 3 0 110 .27 1-3 
rirrie M 2 0 1 ,0 1 0 SO .22 6-7 
Acr^e . i o o -i o o 35 .10 
One of these classes— Class D— is governed by the re- 
strictions of scantling and sail area which have been laid 
down by the Association. Because there was a cry for 
classes upon which absolutely no restrictions would be 
placed, other than wateriine length, the Association held 
the other class-— Class C— which is open to yachts of all 
kinds of construction and sail area. It is of interest to 
note that in the past two seasons eight new boats have 
been built for the restricted class, while not one has been 
built for the class which is open to all. 
In Class D. which is therefore the more mrportant ot 
the two, the racing has been hot during the entire season. 
Flirt, Calvpso, Chewink and Early Dawn have done the 
bulk of the racing, but the others have been around 
often enough to swell the class on race days and to give 
the four leaders battle royal. The contest has been warm- 
est between last year's champion, Flirt, and the new 
centerboard. Calypso. It will be noticed that, although 
Flirt is credited with the largest average percentage, 
Calvpso has taken ten firsts to her seven. 
It would reallv seem, according to this, that Calypso 
should logically "be the champion, and, as a matter of 
fact, she has beaten Flirt more times than Flirt has beaten 
her. But it will be noticed that out of nineteen races 
Flirt has fourteen, which are either firsts or seconds, 
while Calypso has twelve that are either firsts or sec- 
onds, and' seven that are further down the line. It has 
been shown that Calypso has been best in moderate to 
i=trong breezes, and that Flirt has always finished near 
the top of her class, no matter what, the breeze. In one 
race that went to Chewink, with Flirt second, the open 
race of the Misery Island Club. Calypso really made the 
fastest time over the course. 
It is now claimed that there is too much percentage 
given to a boat finishing second, and that is a matter 
which will probably be discussed at length at the winter 
meetings of the Association. It was this year that the 
percentage for seconds was changed from 50 to 65. Under 
the old rules Calypso's percentage would have been 64 4-19 
and Flirt's 61 6-19. 'There is a protest which was de- 
cided a.gainst Calypso on July 3, which she has appealed 
to the Executive Committee of the Association, and if this 
is decided in her favor she will get the championship. 
Flirt, which was the champion in her class for the sea- 
son of 1900, is a keel boat. She was designed by Crown- 
inshield for F. Wright Fabyan and Frank McKee, and 
wa.s built by Fenton, of Manchester. She is 39ft. /in. over 
all, 25ft. waterline. 9ft. 6in. beam and 6ft, 6in, draft. 
Calypso, which is a representative centerboard boat, was 
designed and built by Hanley, of Quincy Point, for A. W. 
Chesterton. She is 42ft. over all, 24ft. 6in. waterline, 12ft. 
beam and about 3ft. draft. 
Chewink was also designed by Crowninshield, with the 
special purpose of beating Flirt. She has at times shown 
rafe bursts of speed during the season, but she has not 
been nearly as steady as the two leaders. She was built by 
Fenton,_ of Manchester, for F. G. Macomber, Jr. She is 
41ft. loin. over all, 25ft. waterline, loft. 3in. beam and 6ft. 
1 1 in. draft. 
_ Early Dawn, which is one of last j'ear's boats, was de- 
signed and built by Shiverick for Com. J. E. Doherty, of 
the Columbia Y. C. She is more of a heavy-weather boat 
than the others, and is particularly good at reaching. Un- 
der certain conditions she can make them all hustle. She 
is 40ft. over all. 24ft. Sin. on the waterline, about 12ft. 
beam and 3ft. draft. 
In Class C, open 2S-footers, the greatest number of 
races sailed was seven. This class was not provided for 
at all meetings, and, as a matter of fact, it is generally 
provided for only by the larger clubs, which are desirous 
of getting as many entries as possible. It is made up of 
yachts that have gone over their required length in the 
classes below, and also those which feel that they have no 
chance with the restricted boats. 
Thordis, the champion in this class, was designed and 
built in 1896 by Hanley. She is a Cape cat, 33ft. over all, 
24ft. on the waterline, 12ft. beam and 2ft. 6in. draft. She 
is owned by W. U. Foster, of the Winthrop Y. C. 
Hostess, the second boat in the class, is well known to 
the readers of Forest and Stream as the defender of the 
Quincy cup for two seasons. She was measured out of 
the 2ift. class and went up one to tackle the open 2$- 
footers. Had she started in this class earlier in the season 
there is every reason to believe that she would have won. 
Out of three entries she won two firsts. 
Hustler, third boat in the class, is a Cape cat, owned by 
Robbins and Whittemore. She is about 22ft. on the water- 
line, and very little more over all. She was designed by 
C. C. Collins, and built by Howard Linnell, of Dorchester. 
Romance, the fourth boat in the class, and which sailed 
the greatest number of races, is one of the 2X-footers of 
the class which was made famous a decade ago by the 
advent of the fin-keel. She is a centerboard boat and is 
owned now, as she was then, by Loring Sears. 
John B. Killeen. 
Old Mill Y, C, 
JAMAICA BAY. ^ 
Saturday, Sept. 22. 
There were fifteen starters in the fall regatta of the 
Old Mill Y. C, which was held on Sunday, Sept. 22. The 
boats sailed over the club's triangular course on Jamaica 
Baj'. The starting line was off the mouth of Spring 
Creek, thence to a mark boat off Little Paul, thence to a 
mark boat off Little Gofbel and back to the starting point. 
The cabin cats sailed twice over this course, while all 
other boats covered the course three times. A fresh W. 
wind held true throughout the race. The preparatory 
gun was fired at 2:15, and the cabin catboats were sent 
away 5m. later. The summaries follow: 
Cabin Class Cats— Start, 2:20. 
Mignonette 4 07 00 1 47 00 1 47 00 
Diana 4 14 50 1 54 50 1 49 30 
Spray 4 13 10 1 53 10 1 49 30 
Open Cats-^20 to 23ft.— Start, 2:25. 
Ilalcvon r .4 14 25 1 49 25 1 49 05 
Pauline B 4 11 27 1 46 27 1 46 27 
Trebla 4 11 58 1 46 38 1 44 23 
Folly Disabled. 
Open Cats— 16 to 20ft.— Start, 2:30. . 
Finish. Elapsed. Corrected. 
Amaranth 4 11 10 1 41 10 1 39 25 
Pepita 4 14 00 1 44 00 1 41 25 
Vision 4 06 15 1 36 15 1 35 20 
So So' .....Withdrew. 
Sharpies — Start, 2:35. 
Bill Nye Withdrew. 
Lester Not timed. 
Mert 4 14 00 1 39 00 1 39 00 
Free 4 15 03 1 40 03 1 40 03 
The winners were Mignonette, Trebla, Vision and Alert. 
Cofmthian Y» C. 
ESSINGTON — ^DELAWARE RIVER. 
Satutday, Sept. 21. 
Eleven boats entered in the regatta of the Corinthian 
Y. C. that was held on Saturday, Sept. 21. It was a most 
unsatisfactory day for a race, as the wind was light and 
variable, and at times the boats had barely headway 
enough to stem the tide. 
The race of the day was between Karma and Fareeda, 
the former being one of the Seawanhaka Corinthian one- 
design knockabouts. The boats made a pretty race up to 
the last leg, where Fareeda struck a soft spot and Karma 
drew away from her fast and wOn by over 3m. The sum- 
raarv follows: 
Half-Raters— Start, 2:35. 
Finish. Elapsed. 
I^Iae . . . . : 4 44 50 1 59 50 
Imp 5 05 55 2 20 55 
Nora •• ....5 10 12 2 25 12 
Tadpole • • * Not timed. 
Knockabout Class — Start, 2:40. 
Karma . ; .5 17 IS 2 37 IS 
Fareeda 5 20 3S 2 40 3S 
Gaviota 5 21 32 2 41 32 
Raccoon ...,5 26 03 2 46 03 
Grilse ; 5 34 08 2 54 08 
25ft. CJass.— St^rt,. 2:55. 
Merlin „,..,,..,»...,..., Not timed. 
^^minole . ..... .Not tiijied,. 
