SS2 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Oct. 26, 1901, 
banks, which sloped gently back into smiling fields and 
verdant meadows, dotted here and there with humble 
cabins, comfortable farmhouses and stately mansions. 
The broad, swelling slopes and domes of the Blue Ridge 
towered aloft imposingly, close at hand on the right, ex- 
cept where the river, in its serpentine wanderings, mean- 
dered away into the valley, only to return again and flow 
huinbly and caressingly at the feet of its great spurs and 
foothills, while light cloud wreaths, like torn masses of 
fleece, lingered lovingly around the brows and adown the 
sides of the towering summits. 
The water flowed deep and still, though always swift, 
for the most part, and. although broken by frequent long • 
chains of rapids and falls, down whose wave-crested 
slopes we shot with exhilarating speed, was not nearly 
so difficult to navigate as the upper river. Frequent 
islands, many of them of large extent, containing groves 
of trees and cultivated fields, appeared, dividing the 
river into two smaller streams, down which, as we passed, 
it was easy to imagine ourselves transported back up the 
river a hundred miles. 
It was an ideal cruising stream, and an ideal cruise, even 
to the day, which, while bright and "sunny, was not too 
hot, while the air was rendered still more fresh and agree- 
able by a brisk breeze, which played caressingly over the 
surface of the river, breaking its otherwise smooth 
surface into miniature wavelets, dancing and sparkling 
in the sun, and lapping up under the bows of our canoes 
with a musical tinkle. It rustled merrily through the 
trees, which swayed gently to and fro under its influence, 
while, with a musical murmur, the trembling leaves dis- 
played a hundred different shades of green, and our 
bright, little, silken pennants fluttered merrily from their 
staffs, and stood out flat in living undulations. 
There were no mill dams to delay us, and the occa- 
sional falls, many of which were both long and rough, as 
well as the broken-down fish dams, offered no obstruction 
at the present stage of water, and we passed steadily on 
down the river, round bend after bend, down long, rocky 
rapids and over smooth, swift reaches, and mile after 
mile was covered without pause or landing of any kind. 
"See that peculiar hole or cave in the cliffs up there?" 
said Lacy, as we swung out of the narrow channel around 
the foot of a long island, into the broad, reunited river, 
wihch flowed abruptly into the face of a huge cliff, which 
seemed to oppose its progress by towering squarely acrois 
its course, and which it escaped by swinging around 
abruptly to the right. A large, smoke-blackened aperture 
loomed up in the fact of the cliff, half-way up its side, 
while the bank rose, steeply sloping, to its entrance. 
It was well trodden down, and under the two or three 
big trees standing guard at the entrance were scattered 
a table, one or two chairs, some boxes and other camping 
appliances, while, half-furled up across the mouth of the 
cave, hung a great sail-cloth awning. 
"Some one is evidently camping there," I replied. 
"A fishing party. I should judge." said Lacy, as his 
glance took in the large fishing boat moored at the bank 
a short distance below the cave, and the miscellaneous 
collections of rods, buckets and other fishing appliances 
scattered around. 
George promptly seized the inevitable bugle, and made 
the welkin ring with his usual discordant blasts. In a 
few minutes his efforts were rewarded by the inevitable 
"Whoo-ee 1" from somcAvhere inland, and -we presently 
caught sight of an elderly man hurrying along down the 
bank with the assistance of a cane, keeping pace with us 
as we drifted rapidly by on the smoothly flowing river 
and hailing us to come ashore. 
As hails of this character were of almost hourly occur- 
rence, we, at first, paid no special heed to it, beyond polite- 
ly declining to land, and continued on our course, but, 
after a little conversation, carried on at the top of our 
mutual lungs, we noted that this was something more than 
the usual curiosity hail, and, changing our course, we 
rounded in to the bank and drew alongside of the big 
fishing boat, and, stepping ashore, were shortly exchang- 
ing greetings and mutual introductions with Mr. George 
Tucker, of White Post, in this vicinity. who._ as he in- 
formed us, was camping here in the "Boatmen's Cave" — 
as the place is termed, from the fact that it was a favorite 
camping place of the old-time, flat-bottomed boatmen — on 
fishing bent. His friends were away for the afternoon 
and he was alone in the camp. They had been here for 
alaout three weeks, and expected to remain until the first of 
October. As he expressed it, his wife was at the World's 
Fair, and he was here, having a good time after his own 
heart. 
"Are you the fellows," he asked, after we had ex- 
changed a few mutual particulars over a glass of some- 
thing cheering, and while George, Lacy and I were 
gathering around our mess-chest preparatory to lunch- 
ing — Mr. T. had had his dinner and declined to join 
us--"are you the fellows who have been cruising up and 
down this river for the past few years, and writing abom 
it in Forest and Stream?" 
We admitted that we were the guilty parties; making 
the reservation in our favor, however, that, up to date, 
we had done no cruising up the river to speak of, our 
trips having been invariably down. 
"Well, it's all the same," said he, with a little laugh. 
"I've read about your various trips with a great deal of 
pleasure, and hope, some day, to read an account of this 
trip." 
As Mr. T. proved to be an expert fly-fisher, and somt - 
thing of an enthusiast on the subject withal, he and 
George found niainy points to discuss, and an interchange 
of ideas, and a mutual inspection of rods, fly-books, etc.. 
interspersed with a liberal swapping of yarns, detained 
us here pleasantly for a couple of hours; and it was well 
on to 3 o'clock before we re-embarked and resumed our 
cruise, with many warnings and ominous shakes of the 
head from Mr. Tucker, who begged us to be carefuMn 
running the rough water in the Harper's Ferry vicinity, 
as it was highly dangerous. 
We found the big spring at the "White-horse," a mile 
below, to which we. had been directed at Riverton, with- 
out trouble. We had expect^ to lunch here, but as we 
had already performed that duty, _we stopped only for 
a good, refreshing drink of water instead. 
It was a nice place for a camp, barring the fact that 
it was by the side of a much-traveled public road, and 
the trampled, littered condition of the ground indicated 
that it was a popular picnic resort, and had been used 
at no distant period for tins purpose. 
The "White-horse" is a huge sandstone boulder, evi- 
dently of glacial deposit, grayish white in color, and half 
as big as a house, lying in the water's edge, close to the 
right bank, in the bend of the river a mile or two below 
the boatmen's cave. From a little distance above it 
looked not unlike a huge white horse, in a recumbent 
position, and minus his head. 
The region hereabouts is a famous fishing ground, and 
we learned from Mr. Tucker that he and his party had 
been meeting with great success until the rains descended 
and the floods came, and reduced them to a condition 
of masterly inactivity. The water was now clear again, 
however, and they had resumed their fishing, with fair 
.success. 
•We easily shot the remains of the old, stone "Sharp- 
rift" mill-dam, half a mile below the "White-horse," and 
went spinning down the rapids below at an exhilarating 
i-?.te, while the crests of the waves washed our free- 
boards without more than sprinkling our decks. 
We passed Berry's Ferry — the usual wire cable con- 
trivance — and dropped down the long, naiTow channel 
past Burrell's Island, which is three miles long, and con- 
tains quite a little farm, bemg connected with the Bur- 
rell estate on the left — to which it belongs — by a private 
ferry. The channel, broken here and there by little rifts, 
reminded us strongb^ of North and Middle Rivers, one 
hundred miles above. 
While resting at the "AVhite-horse" Spring George and 
I rigged up our fishing tackle. I attached a collar of 
flies to my line, while George put on one of those bar- 
barous contrivances known as a "phantom minnow." 
We fished as we passed down this narrow channel, and 
each scored several rises. My success was fairly good, 
and out of every rise I now and then scored a capture; 
but George's diabolical contraption — studded, as it w;as, 
with gangs of hooks — proved to be a deadly attraction 
to the bass, for, if one came within a length of it, he was 
sure to be hooked somewhere — in the gills, back, tail, or 
where not — everywhere except in the mouth, where a 
decent, self-respecting bass ought to be hooked^ George's 
method of u.sing it w^as simple; he had but to cast it 
lightly out, some twenty or thirty yards, to one side or 
the other, and reel it gently in. It proved ^ deadly lure, 
for if there was a bass in the river anywhere within a 
quarter of a mile of it, he was sure to make a dash tor 
it, and every dash meant a certain capture. He took one 
bass weighing about .3H pounds, about half way down 
this narrow channel, which seemed to teem with bass, 
besides several others nearly as large. 
We found a delightful little nook for a camp up on 
the high bank, in the rear of the old Tilt-hammer mill, 
which, by the way, like all of the mills down in this sec- 
tion of the river, derives its motive power from a srnall, 
side stream falling into the river, and not from the river 
itself. This little^stream, which rejoices in the unpoetic 
appellation of Spout Run, drops into the river over a 
worn, honey-combed ledge, some six or eight feet in 
height, forming a charmingly beautiful little waterfall, 
into a sheltered little basin, just back of our camp. 
Our arrival created the usual little ripple of excite- 
ment in the quiet, little hamlet, and we were, as usual, 
cordially received and treated by the few residents of 
the place. ' , 
The evening was chill, and we enjoyed our after-suppt r 
smoke around a cheerful little blaze of a camp-fire, in 
whose flickering light the tented canoes stood out in 
bright relief, and the weather-beaten, moss-grown side 
of the mill loomed up like a w'all. imtil lost in the gloom 
overhead, while the musical tinkle of the waterfall 
sounded a soothing lullaby in our ears. 
[to be continued.] 
Holmes and Mr. Catlin, both of Chicago, are near at 
hand. Hence, there will be a practical working body at 
the head of affairs in this part of the world. 
It is not thought likely that any members of the West- 
ern Division will be present at the A. C. A. meet at 
Auburndale. Mass., on Oct. 26. One or two of the mem- 
bers have recently returned from the East and find that 
they are tmable to make a second trip at so early a date. 
E. Hough. 
Hartford Building, Chicago, 111, 
Western Division, A. C. A. 
Chicago. 111., Oct. 19.— The meeting of the Western 
Division of the A. C. A. was held at the Great Northern 
Hotel in this city at 4 P. M. to-day. There were present 
in person or by proxy four members from Milwaukee, 
four from Chicago, eight from Peoria, one from Detro't 
and one from Wyandotte, Mich. Entertain'ng addresses 
were made by Mr. Juup, of Detroit; Mr. Campbell, of 
Wvandottc. and by different members of the Milwaukee 
fraternity. In the election of ofhcers. Mr. F. B. Hunting- 
ton, of Milwaukee, was chosen Vice-Commodore; Mr. A. 
W. Friese. of Milwaukee, Rear-Commodore; Mr. E. H. 
Holmes, of Chicago, Purser. Mr. F. W. Dickens, of 
Milwaukee, and Mr. Franklin S. Catlin. of Chicago, were 
constituted members ex-officio of the Executive Commit- 
tee. Mr. H. C. Morse, of Peoria, continues to represent 
the Western Division in the Board of Governors of the 
A. C. A. . , , 
The meeting cannot be said to have evinced so large 
and general a revival of canoeing interest in the West as it 
did proof of the fidelity of the best men who have been 
identified with that sport in this vicinity. We shall hardly 
solve the problem of Western canoeing by juggling the 
terms A. C. A. or W. C. A. The thing to do is to build 
fundamentally and create an intefest in the sport itself. 
That interest still survives in the bosoms of some of the 
Old Guard of the W. C. A. There cropped out to-day a 
strong feeling for the old meets at Ballast Island. The 
question of a Division meet for 1902 was referred to the 
Executive Committee of the Western Division, and that 
committee is practically instructed to cast its vote for 
Ballast Island and a liieeting some time next summer. 
Every effort will be made to bring out the old-timers who 
made the earlier meets of the W. C. A. at Ballast so 
pleasant, and so successful. The Old Guard will be 
there, and if all goes well, it may be they will bring with 
them youjjger members and show them how things used 
to be done, and how they can be done to-day, in the matter 
of a sailing meet and a beautiful, social time. 
' No report of the Secretary-Treasurer was filed to-day. 
but Mr. W. C, Jupp, Vice-Commodore, from Detroit, ver- 
bally reported that the books show a membership of about 
sixty-six and a balance in the treasury of about $100. The 
new officials are very enthusiastic, and it seems agreed 
that the onlv hope for the sport in the West rests with 
some of these old-timers. It is therefore very well that 
a quorum of the Executive Committee goes to Milwau- 
kee—Messrs. Huntington, Fries and Dickens, Mr. 
On the eve of his departure for England, Sir Thomas 
Lipton states that he will not challenge for the Cup next 
year, but thinks it very probable that he may do so in 
1903. He intends, however, to put Shamrock II. in com- 
mission and race her in American waters during the sea- 
son of 1902. 
Shamrock II. is lying just outside the big dry dock at 
Robbins', South Brooklyn. She has been stripped of 
everything above decks, and all her spars, sails and other 
gear have been placed in one of the big storehouses. A 
shed is now being built in which the challenger will spend 
the winter. Capt. Sycamore will stay until his charge is 
in her winter quarters, when he will leave for the other 
side. Six of the boat's crew will be left in charge, and 
will act as watchmen and ship's keepers. Erin has been at 
Erie Basin for some time past, where the plates that were 
damaged when she was in collision with the revenue 
cutter Gresham are being hammered into shape, and some 
interior braces are being replaced. After filling her coal 
bunkers, Erin will leave for England. 
The following article indicates very clearly the grow- 
ing interest in the matter of house-boats equipped with 
auxiliary power in European waters. Up to this time 
there has been but one serious obstacle in the development 
of this delightful feature of outdoor life, and that has 
been the matter of propulsion of this type of craft, for 
hitherto they have been dependent on either an inadequate 
sail plan or on tow boats. Now they are independent 
of both, and it is to be hoped that American house-boat 
owners will come together and form a similar organiza- 
tion to the one that is now being promoted by Mr. Ernest 
Archdeacon, the account of which is taken from the Paris 
edition of the New York Herald, for in this way owners 
can be of great assistance to one another, not only in the 
development of the house-boat itself, but also regarding 
good cruising grounds. 
Mr. Ernest Archdeacon, a well-known chauffeur and 
balloonist, who spent his honeymoon in a house-boat, an- 
nounces his intention of forming a house-boat club. The 
members are to form a caravan of floating domiciles to 
visit French, German, Dutch and Belgian rivers and 
canals. 
Mr. Archdeacon declares that the gasolene motor, which 
has been perfected through the impetus of long-distance 
automobile racing, has revolutionized the house-boat. It 
can be adapted astern without loss of space, thus dis- 
pensing with the nuisance of towage companies. 
Design for a 2 1 ft. Raceabout. 
The plans of the 2ift. raceabout which appear in this 
issue were drawn by Messrs. J. F. Small & S. N. Small 
for Mr. C. H. Chapin. of Boston. The boat was intended 
primarily for afternoon sailing, and nothing was sacri- 
ficed for speed; but she has proven fast and comfortable 
under all conditions of weather. The construction plan 
shows so clearly how splendidly the boat is put together 
that no further comment is necessary. The cockpit is 
water tight, and is very roomy, with transoms running 
around three sides. There is considerable room in the 
cabin under a low house, and, although the centerboard 
trunk extends into the cabin, it is a conevnience rather 
than an objection, as it gives a place for a folding cabin 
table, and the trunk is so short one can cross the boat 
either fore or aft of it with perfect freedorn. 
Aft on either side are good-sized hanging closets, and 
the space under the step leading from the cockpit to the 
cabin is utilized as an ice box. The transoms are 12ft. 
long on each side, giving room to sleep four very com- 
fortably — two on a side. Considering the boat is only 21ft. 
long on the waterline, she has a remarkably large amount 
of room, both on deck and below. There is 4ft. 4in. head- 
room under beams in the cabin. The dimensions are as 
follows : 
Length over aU 31ft. 
L.W.L 2ift. 
Overhang, bow 4^t. 9 in. 
Stern " Sft. 3 in. 
Beam, extreme 9ft. 
L.W.L 8ft. 6 in. 
Draft, to rabbet ift. 3 in. 
Extreme 3ft. 
Board down 6ft, 9 in. 
Freeboard, bow 2ft. 8 in. 
Taffrail ift. Ii in. 
Least . . ift 85^in. 
Sail area, mainsail 462 sq. ft. 
Jib IIS sq. ft- 
Total 577 sq. ft. 
Ballast, inside ' Soolbs. 
Outside 2,000lbs. 
The English-built steam yaeht Tuscarora, which has 
been under charter to Mr. R. F. Ballantine during the 
past summer, has been purchased by Mr; Walter Jen- 
nings, N. Y. Y. C. The price paid is said to have been 
$165,000. Ttiscarora was designed by Mr. G. L. Watson 
and built by Messrs. Scott & Co., at Greenock, Scot- 
land, in 1897. She is 170ft. on the waterline, 26.8ftt beam 
and 14.55ft. deep. The yacht is lighted, by electricity, 
and has two decks. All deck houses, etc., are finished 
in teak. She has triple expansion engines, with cylin- 
ders i6in., 26in.. and 42in, in diameter, by 27in. stroke. 
