FOREST AKTD stream. 
[6caf. 19, 1901. 
surface, many feet in extent, down which we swung 
smoothly. 
"I notice that the river is getting down, now, so that 
the reefs and falls are begmnmg to show," said Lacy, 
an hour later, after we had run half a mile of quite rough 
water, our spray-splashed decks indicating how we had 
been liberally sprinkled with the wave crests. 
"Yes," said George, "To my mind the most dis- 
agreeable stage of the Shenandoah is when it is about 
2 or 3ft. above low water mark. Then the rapids and 
falls are disagreeably rough. The water will be down to 
that point by morning, and we will be well out of it by 
remaining at Riverton for a couple of days, until the river 
runs down to a moderate low water stage." 
"That's my opinion," I replied. "A foot above low 
water is a very nice cruising stage, and by two or three 
days it will get down to that. 1 don't want any more 
'86 experience in mine. Lacy," I continued, addressing 
my remarks to Lacy, who was not in that cruise. "We 
ran the entire riyer on just such a stage as George de- 
scribes — some 2 or 3ft. above low water— and it was a 
very rough,, disagreeable cruise." 
"I should say so!" added George. 
"I move, then, that we lie bj^ at Riverton ttntil the 
river runs down," said Lacy. 
"That is exactly the intention," I answered. 
We landed a quarter of a mile above the Blakemore 
dam, and, on walking down to inspect it, found it simply 
horrible — the water having fallen just enough to make 
the pitch one of the wildest and rougliest. We, however, 
found a little tongue of water putting out into the wild 
turmoil of waves below, close up under the left bank, 
and but 2yds. in breadth, down which we shot, and which 
while incomparably smoother than the dam, buried us 
deeply in the foaming wave- spouts below. 
Around the bend, below the dam, the towers artd pin- 
nacles of the Randolph-Macon Academy at Front Royal 
loomed up imposingly horn the river, and several car- 
riage loads of ladies and children, driving along the shady 
road by the river bank, who stopped from time to 
time, to gaze curiously at otir little flag-bedecked flotilla 
as we shot easily along, keeping pace with them as their 
horses trotted along the road, were indications that the 
big summer hotel at that place was well peopled. 
In a short time, around a bend or two below, the large, 
white mill at Riverton loomed up into view, alongside 
of which the big, iron road bridge and the two railroad 
bridges appeared to close the river vista in an inextrica- 
ble, spidery maze of wooden trusses and arched iron 
spans; and in a few minutes more we paddled by the 
massive iron, boiler-like piers of the road bridge", which 
stretched its narrow length overhead like a huge ribbon — 
skirting close in to the left bank, for we were perilously 
near to the big 9ft. dam, just below, whose booming was 
like deep-toned thunder — cmd effected a landing among 
the bunch of skififs and rowboats moored at the bank — 
most of them with bows high up on the slimy, muddy 
bank and sterns submerged in the brick-red water. 
We moored our canoes to these boats, and .scraml iled 
up theit steeply sloping floors to the bank above, where 
we were warmly greeted by our friend, Dr. Blackwcll, 
who, happening to drop down to view the condition of 
the river — for the Doctor is an enthusiastic riverman — 
chanced to be on hand just in time to greet us as we 
landed. 
It was 5 o'clock when we drew our canoes up the bank 
and located them for the night, in position on our old 
camp ground, where they had often lain before— strung 
out in a row on the little grass plot between the road 
and the river, under the shade of the great sycamores— 
and put up our camp and began our supper preparations. 
We had had an easy day's run. and were not fatigued, 
but were fully as hungry as usual: and when, about 6 
o'clock, we sat down to a good, hot supper of fried bacon, 
cheese omelette and hot coffee, it need hardly be said 
that it was eaten with that keen relish only imparted by 
a free, open, out-of-door hfe, like ours. 
Riverton. as well as Front Royal, is quite a summer 
resort; and there are always visitors here from abroad, 
to whom our camps have always proved interesting, and 
this one was no exception. Quite a party of ladies and 
children were on the ground almost as soon as we were, 
and the process of inaking up our camp was quite inter- 
esting to them. Every one is more or less familiar with 
the appearance of an ordinary camp, with its weli-knowr 
wall tents, but a well-constructed canoe camp is some- 
thing unique and pretty. . 
As we were to be here for two or three da5^s the dmmg 
fly — which is not usually put up at a one-night stand, un- 
less the weather is threatening— was erected over the 
mess table, at one end of the camp, and the camp stov< 
and kitchen paraphernalia were located close at hand. 
From our mail, received here, we learned how gen 
eral and destructive the great storm had been, as we liar 
also learned, on our way down, how severe it had beei 
all along the river, and how sudden and heavy the floo( 
in the river had been. Dr. Blackwell spent the evening 
with us, round our little blaze of a campfire, and, to. oui 
surprise, he informed u? that he had budt two canoes 
without designs, patterns, models or other assistance 
than the points received last year from inspecting oui 
canoes while we were in camp here, together with what 
we had told him regarding their construction. 
[to be continued.] 
Canoe Sailing Race on Mystic Lake* 
A RACE was held on Oct. 5 for the Winchester Boat 
Club's sailing challenge trophy. The following boat? 
were entered:' Bug, Paul Butler; Bee, H. D. Murphy; 
Wasp F F. Dorsey, in the second class; and Myra, C, 
Patch'; Drift, F. Abbot; Widgeon, Wm. McLean; Fly 
L. S. Drake; V., Wm. Hyde; October. M. P. Ford; 
Uncle Sam. C. Bell, in the novice class. 
The wind was very light and fiuky. The novices 
having 13m. time allowance, were started at 3:30, anc 
seniors at 3:43. . , , , 
In the beat to the first mark the seniors overhauled 
the novices, and at the finish of the first round the fleet 
was well spread out over the ij^-mile triangle. Toward 
the close of the race the wind flattened down and a 
drifting match was finished in the following order: 
Bee, Bug, Unde Sam Jind Drift, 
The racing between Bee and Bug on the first two 
rounds was very close, and they were both closely fol- 
lowed by Uncle Sam, H. D. Murphy's canoe, built for 
English racing, but outside the A. C. A. limits. 
Races will be held on Saturdays, weather permitting, 
until Dec. i, inclusive. 
The oflicial times were as follows: 
Start. 1st Round. 2d Round. 3d Round. Finish. 
Bug, P. Butkr 3 4.3 42 .4 06 02 4 30 42 5 00 22 5 35 55 
Bee. H. Murphy.... 3 43 40 4 06 03 4 30 42 4 58 51 5 30 21 
Wasp. R Dorsey.... 3 43 1 5 4 06 10 4 35 11 5 08 52 
Uncle Sam, C. Bell. 3 32 15 4 06 01 4 33 10 5 05 09 5 41 31 
Myra, C. Patch...... 3 31 02 4 08 00 4 40 55 5 13 29 
v., W. Hyde 3 30 01 4 07 25 4 41 22 
Widgeon, VV, Mc- 
Lean.. 3,30 08 4 06 50 4 35 10 5 08 34 
Drift, F. Abbot. .... .3 31 04 4 07 10 4 34 55 5 06 22 5 42 10 
Fly, L. S. Drake.... Did not start 
October, M Ford... 3 30 04 4 08 15 4 49 06 5 30 55 
Hermann Dudley Murphy. 
Mr. F. C. Kendall-Howard, who was one of the 
challengers for the R. C. C. sailing challenge cup this 
year, is coming to America next year to race, and has 
ordered a 16 by 30 racing canoe, designed by Mr. Lintoh 
Hope, who designed the " China, which made such a 
wonderful showing this year. Mr. Howard is a fine 
sailor, and as he intends to sail at the meet and also 
challenge for the N. Y. C. C. international cup, his 
advent will be a spur to all racing canoeists. 
Hermann Dudley MuRt>HY. 
Communications. 
Edilor Forest and Stream: 
As the Executive Committee meeting of the A. C. K. 
approaches, the time for attempting to solve the problem 
of the sailing canoe ripens. There have been many wishes 
expressed in the past few years for a more .stable craft, 
which would require a less acrobatic performance of its 
skipper, and permit of cruising under sail with more com- 
fort than in our 16 x 30ft. .sliding-seat canoe. 
It is only natural that all who are fond of the latter 
iype should wish to retain it, and I should very strongly 
oppose any attempt to do away with it, but I realize that 
there is coming a time when I can no longer jump back 
and forth from my canoe to the end of a sft. slide, though 
I hope it is many years oft'. I am sure that even when that 
time does come, I shall want to sail some small, fast 
boat, and, if pos.sible, still race at the A. C. A. meets. 
This past summer in England I was introduced to the 
Royal C. C. cruises, and I felt«that therein lies the solu- 
tion of our troubles. It is a healthy type of boat, so well 
defined by their rule that it is impossible to build a racing 
machine under the specifications, and of speed just about 
equal under average conditions with our 16 x 30ft. canoes. 
The two classes, cruiser and racer, sail together in the 
same races, and it is impossible to say which is the 
speedier. The cruiser is sailed without a slide ; carries 
generally a centerboard weighing about loolbs.. and about 
r4oft. of sail in a sloop rig. The R. C. C. rating rule — 
waterline length multiplied liy sail area, divided by 6,000 
— not to exceed .03, gives an opportunity for develop- 
ment of design and experiment, and the stable, roomy 
hull, a sense of security and comfort not experienced 
in a 16 X 30 racer. Moreover, these cruisers will carry 
two, and several times at the R. C. C. meet at Langston 
Harbor trips were made across to Ryde or Bairibridge 
on the Isle of Wight with ladies. I believe only one 
of these cruisers capsized during the two . weeks, and 
that carried an extremely light centerboard. I have 
been so convinced that the adoption of this class here in 
America would keep many men in the A. C. A. who 
now drift into half-raters and larger boats that I shall 
offer the following amendment at the executive com- 
mittee meeting: 
To amend the racing regulations by striking out the 
present clause in Rule I., under the title "Cruising Class," 
and substituting the following: A cruising canoe shall 
be sharp at each end, with no transom or flat stern; any 
metal keel, centerplate or ballast shall be detachable 
from her. Dimensions— Maximum. — Length over ail 
shall not exceed 17ft.; beam not over 42in. No seat shall 
be extended beyond the side of the canoe. Fixed draft, 
including keel, or drop keel when hauled up, shall not 
exceed I4in. Extreme length of mast, added to boom, 
shall not exceed twice the waterline length; in respect 
of a mast such length of spar will be measured from 
the waterline to extreme top of mast. Dimensions — Min- 
imum. — The depth inside from deck to skin (to be taken 
at any distance within 3ft. from mid over all length 
and at not less than loin. out from middle line) shall 
not be less than I2in. Depth outside from top of deck 
at middle line to under side of keel (taken anywhere up 
to 2ft. from either end of canoe) shall not be less than 
i2in. 
Construction. — There shall- be a sleeping compartment 
between two fixed complete transverse bulkheads of 
wood, which are to be not less than. 5ft. 6in. nor more 
than Sft. apart, and not more than 5ft. from mid over 
all length, and of such compartment a length of 3ft. on 
the flooring shall be clear of centerplate case, and shall 
extend from side to side of the canoe. To such position 
of the compartment there shall be a direct hatchway 
above it of not less than i6in. in width extending 3ft. 
in depth, and any bucket well or covering pf any kind 
fitted in or over such hatchway or any part of such 
hatchway shall be detachable from the canoe. To each 
compartment, forward or aft, of the above-mentioned 
bulkheads, there shall be a door or hatchway of not less 
than Sosq.in. opening. 
Scantling. — The substance of the skin or planking 
shall not be less than Y^m., and of the deck shall not be 
less than 3-i6in. in its finished state; and the substance of 
the bulkheads shall not be less than 3/^in. in its finished 
state. 
Rudder. — When an under-body rudder is fitted, it shall 
be 1 if table through the body of the canoe until it is above 
the lower edge of the keel, at such place, and also re- 
movable from the canoe. 
Rating. — The rating of the canoe — length of L.W.L. 
r'ultiplied b}' sail area, divided by 6,000 — shall not ex- 
^,«;ed .03. 
Sails. — The certificate of rating shall be given in re- 
spect of one type of rig or suit of sails only; and under 
5uch certified sails or sail only shall a canoe be qualified 
to compete, except that a smaller suit may be used. 
Only one certificate of rating shall be granted to be held 
at a time by any canoe. 
All sailing races of the A. C. A. shall be open to both 
classes of canoe. 
In the prospect that several members of the Royal 
C. C, may come to our meet next year and bring OA-er 
some of these cruisers, I hope that the class may be 
adopted* 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Having been appointed to draw up rules to govern the 
use of the A. C. A. Island in the St. Lawrence. I beg to 
present to you the following suggested rules. You will 
kindly peruse the same, make any additions and altera- 
tions you consider necessary and return the same to me 
at an early date, that the report may be presented to the 
Board of Governors at their next meeting, to be held in 
Boston, Oct. 28, 1901. 
J. H. McKendrick, a. C. A. 633. 
A. — The island shall be officially known as i, Yeka- 
wetha, pronounced Ya-kaw-wa-tha — Mohawk for the 
"Paddling Place." 2. Mecaw Island — Northern, Eastern, 
Central, Atlantic and Western. 3, Sugar Island — its pres- 
ent name. 
B. — No member shall be permitted to erect any build- 
ing on the island. 
C. — No member shall be permitted to cut any trees on 
the island. 
D. — Members shall be permitted to use the island for 
camping purposes at all times on registering with the 
overseer, who shall forthwith notify the purser to whom 
the member belongs. Register — Name, A. C. A., number, 
home address, club, date of arrival, date of leaving. 
E. — Members may invite friends to camp with them. 
The names of Aasitors shall be registered, and if such 
\-isitors remain more than two nights on the island, the 
member introducing him shall pay a fee of $1 each to 
the overseer. All such fees shall be expended in improv- 
ing the island. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In accordance with Article 12 of the constitution of 
the American Canoe Association, I beg herewith to pub- 
lish in general terms to be voted upon by the Executive 
Committee at as early a day as possible the following 
amendment to Article VI., Section 5, of the constitution: 
After the word ''appropriated." in the sixth line, insert 
"they shall hold, as trustees, all of the permanent prop- 
erty, both real and personal, of the Association, and 
shall make such rules and regulations for the care and 
government of the same as they shall from time to time 
deem necessary. They shall have full charge of such 
permanent property and are empowered to take such 
action as thej'^ shall deem expedient to care for and pro- 
tect the same." 
I will have the above amendment proposed at the next 
meeting of the executive committee, or as soon there- 
after as possible. Robert J. Wilkin. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
At the executive committee meeting I intend to offer 
the following amendment to the last article of the 
racing regulations: 
A canoe built under the A. C. A. rules prior to Oct. 1, 
iQoo, shall be permitted to enter all races of any A. C. A. 
meet, imless alterations of cockpit or bulkheads are 
miide, in which case such alterations must conform to the 
dnnensions and limitations of Rttle I, 
H. D. Ml-rjmiv. 
A, C A. Membership. 
Central Division — A. H. Johnston, F. F. Newcomb, W. 
F. Stafford. Buffalo. N. Y. : Frank S. Baker, Rome. N. 
Y. ; Harris Buchanan. W. F. Benkiser, H. W. Cramer. 
Ralph Heeren. Geo, W. MacMullen. Oscar J. Steineri 
Marius I. Steiner. Pittsburg. Pa. ; Percv R. Morgan. 
Walter Haves. Harry N. Kraft, Harris S. Williams, John 
E. Selkirk. .Albert H. Jung, E. D. McCarthy. Buffalo C. 
C. ; I. B. Rouse, Irving Rouse. Rochester, N. Y. 
ffuchting. 
Our Boston Letter. 
Boston, Oct. 14. — Since the records of the yachts of the 
25ft. restricted class of the Yacht Racing Association of 
Massachusetts were given in this column, a change has 
taken place which alters the positions of the two leaders — 
Calypso and Flirt. Last Thursday evening the judges of 
the Columbia Y. C.'s race of July 3 gave a new hearing 
on the protest of Chewink vs. Calypso, in which consider- 
able new evidence was put in. The judges reversed their 
previous decision, and awarded the first place to Calypso. 
This protest was decided last July, and was appealed 
to the Yacht Racing Association, which refused to act. as 
it was a question of fact, and referred it back to the club, 
and, upon the introduction of new evidence, the club gave 
a new hearing. The principal new evidence was from 
Marion and Early Dawn, neither of which was repre- 
sented at the first meeting. This decision gave Calypso 
72 12-19 per cent., and reduced Flirt's percentage to 
67 17-19, making Cal3'pso champion of the restricted 25ft. 
class for the season of 1901. 
There is no doubt that this decision will be pleasing to 
many New England j-achtsmen, who have watched the 
performances of the boats during the racing season, and 
have felt that the championship should go to Calypso. 
Not only has she beaten Flirt more times than the keel 
boat has beaten her, in Association races, but she has 
beaten Flirt a majority of the races that have been sailed 
outside of Association rules. The question oeE the value to 
be attached to second plaCe in a race still remains un- 
settled, however, and will undoubtedly cotue in for con- 
siderable attention during the winter. 
