Jan, 23, 1904.J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
78 
as to the distance from the mouth of the Osage to the 
Niangua, but in a cruise to the Niangua in the nineties, 
tolh Gerhardt Guenther and myself, after careful esti- 
mates and information such as we could gather, agree"d 
that the distance was not far from 140 miles, or 120 allow- 
ing for overestimales. Just here I should state that the 
descent of the Osage to the Niangua is possible only in 
this manner, if one wishes to avoid a long portage by 
wagon over the roughest roads imaginable. . By rail to 
Warsaw, said to be 240 miles distant from the mouth of 
the river; or from Osceola, still further. As the ascent 
thus far is not difficult or dangerous, however, provided 
one goes slowly, it is preferable. The ascent of the Nian- 
gua, because of tlie numerous shallows, will be more 
tedious, though the current is not too rapid for easy going, 
and the natural beauties as well as the fishing in this al- 
most unknown stream, will repay all the efforts required 
in the ascent of the main river. Once there, too, one will 
enjoy a feeling akin to that which impels the small boy 
to walk a couple of miles in order to be able to ride 
back on a train, for the descent of the Osage can be made 
m.ost delightfully easy if one does not hurry. Then, in- 
stead of dodging into eddies and hugging banks, as in the 
ascent, he steers for mid-channel and goes with a rush 
through rapids that are for the most part devoid of stones 
and snags ; therefore, a safe voyage and a delightful one. 
The Niangua is bewilderingly crooked, a succession of 
tree-shaded eddies and tiny rapids where great channel 
catfish- lurk and bass are to be had when the wall-eyed 
pike are not hungry, though these voracious fish, known 
only as jack-salmon in these waters, will give one a 
lively fight before he can conquer them. Cold springs 
abound ; indeed, this river takes its source in great 
springs; and interesting caves and other natural forma- 
tions are to be found all along the river's course. Camp- 
ing grounds need not be sought, as the shores are well 
adapted to the purpose. The time for a cruise to these 
waters, in my opinion, based on many trips on the Osage 
and its feeders, should be one month, beginning October 
10 or 15. Even if cool days do come in November, one 
will not feel them, so guarded by hill and bluff are these 
waters. On the other hand, an earlier trip will be attended 
by many. little annoyances, not the least of which are mos- 
quitoes and licks and snakes, while several heavy frosts 
are needed to bring down the dense leaves and make the 
squirrel shooting good, as well as to ripen the nuts and 
persimmons. Frosts can be counted on October 15 or 
later, rains are not frequent at that time, and the calm, 
hazy, mild days are unequaled. The fishing is always 
good then, too, so that one may" carry and use both the 
rifle and red, although the season for turkeys is not open 
until November i, and squirrels are not now protected. 
Returning to our own recent cruise, the day we broke 
camp at Turkey Hollow was passed in loafing and in 
gathering pawpaws and persimmons. On the shingle at 
Harrington's Shoal we saw a bunch of ducks numbering 
hundreds, which, on our approach, arose with a roar and 
settled again less than a half mile away. And again, when 
we went ashore on the shingle a mile below Bloody 
Island, another flock was seen on a bar just opposite, 
and although we were in plain view and not 300 yard^" 
distant from them, the ducks remained all afternoon while 
we made camp. The next day was the sixth of October, 
marked by a gale of wind and a torrid temperature. The 
v;ater was so warm that our last swim of the season, 
taken that afternoon, was protracted. Nor did- the high 
v/est wind go down with the sun, but it grew cooler, and 
the fire built before the tent was appreciated. Immense 
banks of black clouds came out of the north, but these 
passed away and the full moon shone in a clear sky at 
bed time. Imagine our surprise, therefore, when, long 
after midnight, the roar of wind and driving rain roused 
us. It came from the north and with terrific force ; in- 
deed, had it not been for the fact that our tent was sup- 
ported by an unusually strong pole and pegs driven deeply 
into the gravel, while the upturned canoe was anchored 
fore and aft with huge stones, everything would have gone 
with the first blast. As it was we inspected our quarters 
by lantern light, and finding that the ditches about the 
tent were turning away the flood of water, and that all 
was dry, we went to sleep again, to awake and find the 
sun shining in a clear sky, a cold north wind blowing, 
and the narrow channel covered with miniature whitecaps. 
On breaking camp we found that water had made its way 
under the tent diiring the storm, but the duck floor cloth 
kept it from wetting any of the contents. So heavy had 
the storm been that the river was rising rapidly when, 
we put off that day, and although the high wind retarded 
our progress, we cared not, but idled along until noon, 
stopping for luncheon near a persimmon grove at Prince 
Edward's Island. For the balance of the day the wind 
was behind us, our course then being southeast. Snakes 
in hundreds were seen as we paddled along, and ducks, 
too, while we passed close to a gathering of turkey vul- 
tures which were sunning their feathers on Rice's Island. 
Camp was made under the big hickory tree near Upper 
Westphalia Landing, where we had camped our first night 
out, and it was well that we had decided to stop there, 
for the tent was hardly up when a terrific squall came 
out of an almost clear sky and blew for fifteen minutes 
in a fashion worthy of a young hurricane. _ In fact, the 
hickory nuts were driven out of the trees with such force 
that all hands were compelled to remain in the tent until 
the storm passed, although but few drops of rain fell. We 
had not until that time supposed hickory trees bore nuts 
in such abundance, but a welt or two at once convinced 
us. If the wonderful hailstorms one hears so much about 
in the West in summer- are so severe as that hail of sharp- 
pointed hickory nuts, we trust they will not pass our way 
while we are cruising. Out from our camp the Osage was 
barely 300 yards wide, but in a few minutes immense seas 
were running that reminded us of a rough winter day on 
the Hudson River. An hour later the sky was clear and 
a deep red glow lighted the western hills. We went to 
sleep listening to the sweet music of hounds on the trail 
of 'coons. 
On turning out in the morning we found that the river 
had been, kind to us and was still rising rapidly, for where 
there had been a gently sloping shore on our arrival, 
necessitating a carry of almost fifty yards, now there was 
scarcely a third that distance to lug the heavy outfit and 
the accumulation of hickory nuts to the canoe. And 
while we were making ready to depart an inquisitive old 
farmer plied us with one question after another as fast 
as he could talk — and he was by.no means slow. As 
usual, he began with the cost of the canoe — a stereotyped, 
question of the Missouri backwoods concerning anything 
novel to the visitor. Most of his questions we parried, 
for your backwoodsman has during his uneventful life 
come in actual contact with so little cash that he doubts 
any statement involving a larger sum than he is accus- 
tomed to handling when "the crops" have been sold; but 
this old fellow put us through the mill in a fashion that 
would have made a fortune for him had he chosen the 
law instead of agriculture. Beginning with the vapor 
stove and, going through the list of air beds, and blankets 
that were neither wool nor rubber, yet would turn water; 
my wife's camp chair, which was large and comfortable, 
yet he saw it collapsed and stowed away in the canoe like 
a bundle of slender sticks ; an automatic rifle with a "spy- 
glass" to look through — it was entirely too much for him, 
and he went away to tell his wife about it. We couid 
not hear what she said, for the wind was rustling the 
leaves of the trees under which she was picking hickory 
nuts, but if her gestures were as eloquent as they seemed 
to be, without doubt she believed the old man had sud- 
denly parted with his senses. We could not help laugh- 
ing over the pride with which he had informed us that 
the little stern-wheeler Romana, just departing for Osage, 
made two trips a day to Westphalia Landing. 
The day was clear and beautiful, but with a strong 
northwest wind which made our progress slow. The Big 
Marais was ascended several miles, but it, .too, was rising, 
and its usually clear waters were yellow with flood water. 
This is a stream well worthy the canoeist's investigation. 
It is navigable for miles, v/inds here and there, is shaded 
by many trees, springs, as well as fine camp sites, abound. 
while squirrel shooting is above the average, and fishing 
for bass, crappie and jack-salijioii is good until thick ice 
comes. Passing down again, we were fortunate eno'ilgh 
to kill several ducks before making camp for the last time. 
A place less than two miles from Osage was chosen, but 
on the eastern shore, among the ovei-lianging willows. 
That night the air grew cold and the morning saw 
white fi-ost and a heavy mist. We had hoped for several 
heavy frosts to clear the woods of their dense leaves and 
make it possible to see the squirrels when they barked at 
us, but it came too late. When camp was broken every 
article was packed securely for shipping. Nomad was 
launched less thafi ten feet from the tent, as the rising 
river had covered all the slope that had intervened be- 
tween the river's edge and our tent the evening previous, 
and when we paddled out into the stream it was to find 
a goodly current and a mass of floating drift hurrying 
toward the Missouri. 
At Osage all the negroes in the village lined up on the 
piles of railway ties on our arrival and helped carry the 
duffle to the station. There Nomad was again wrapped in 
burlap and shipped home by express, together with the 
four bundles containing our duffle, and two duffle bags 
filled with hickory nuts. These, two, on being weighed, 
reminded us that we had gathered an immense quantity of 
riuts, which accounted in part for the slow speed of 
Nomad against head winds, ballasted as she was with so 
much dead weight. The agent at Osage deserves a far 
better position with the railway company than he at 
present holds. He was kind, considerate, and obliging to 
us in many ways. . Not every railway station agent can 
say as much. 
In conclusion, this cruise, though not a long one, was 
most pleasant in many respects. We did not kill much 
game, as some persons measure their success, but we had 
enough. It was rather a feast for the eyes — and a bounti- 
ful one, too — for in few places can the woods lover find 
more of the things beautiful in nature than along this 
same old Osage. There is an old Indian legend to the 
effect that if, on leaving the Osage for a journey, one will 
lie at full length and drink of its waters, he will live to 
come again to its shores. If you, brother" canoeists and 
lovers of God's own temples, visit this charming water- 
way, follow the advice of the Osages ; for that you may 
see it again and still again is the wish of three persons 
who so lately found rest and happiness on its bosom and 
its shores. ■ 
Red Dragon C. C. 
The twentieth annual meeting of the Red Dragon C. C. 
was held at the Hotel Hanover, Philadelphia, Pa., Friday 
evening, January 8. There was a large attendance of 
members and the following officers were chosen : Com , 
J. C. Maclister ; Vice-Com., W. C. Thompson; Purser, 
W. H. Logan, Jr.; Quartermaster, H. W. Fleishmann; 
Fleet Surgeon, F. O. Gross, M.D. ; Meas., Harry Blum- 
ner ; Correspondent, Will K. Park ; ?Iouse Committee, 
W. H. Wolstencroft, M. D. Wilt, P. F. McMichael, and 
H. E. Davis; Trustee for three years, Joseph Edward 
Murra}^ A number of new members have joined the 
club within the past three months, and the Red Dragons 
were never in a more flourishing condition. Several new 
canoes have been added to the fleet, and next season's 
cruises are already being planned. A run, down the 
Delaware in May will have a large gathering of canos- 
ists, and Commodore Maclister promises several short 
cr-'ises of an interesting nature. 
The Red Dragons have been quite active at the club 
house during the past month or two, new sleeping quar- 
ters being prepared and . other improvements added to 
their home. 
The trap shooting contingent have found additional en- 
thusiasm in the advent of new blood, and the traps on 
the end of the wharf are in use every pleasant Saturday 
afternoon. 
The annual club mess was held at the club house at 
Wissinoming on the Delaware on Saturday evening, 
January 16. W.- K. P. 
Cruise of Mblem. 
BY GEORGE E. DARLING. 
The Story Which Won the Second Prize of $50 in 
"Forest and Stream" Cruising Competition. 
{Concluded from page 51.) 
At 2 o'clock called Sam, and just to show that we were 
well and happy we had a good square meal, hot coffee and 
plenty of it,' as the night was cool, huckleberry ginger-, 
bread, cold corned beef, etc. Passed Shelter Island at 
2:15 and made a new course to pass east of Cape Ann. 
At 4:30, broad daylight, Thatcher Island lights were 
about six miles away, three points on our \yeather bow, 
and we swung her off south by east for Cope Cod light. 
This gave us the wind -abeam. Put a reef in the spin- 
naker, and using the pole for a bowsprit set it as a bal- 
loon jib, and maybe she didn't dust for "Home Sweet 
Home," Heeling to a breeze that m.ust.have been made 
to order, she flew on past Thatchers and. out to sea. Evi- 
.4e|ice$ of Boston shipping were- loap^j coasters lipund'to 
the northward, a liner just in from across the pond, and 
a tow of barges from around the Cape, beside a half 
dozen fishermen, made quite a line of "sail" in sight. 
Two of the fishermen had evidently sailed from Cape Ann 
that moi-ning bound around the Cape. We were within 
three miles of them for a long time, both sailing the 
same course. With everything set they looked yachty 
and beautiful. 
At 10 o'clock we made out the' sandy beach of the Cape 
through the haze on our weather bow, perhaps four miles 
away, and a half hour later Cape Cod light opened up 
dead ahead._ Off the light we ran into a doldrum, abscfr 
lutely no wind, and getting tired of hearing the sail slat, 
we lowered it and waited for a breeze. It; was past 2 
o'clock before it came southeast, and we began beating to 
windward down the beach. At 4 o'clock the wind 
changed to southwest very light, and we . were able to 
la,y our course without tacking; but if 'is a long .road 
-around the Cape, and I "don't wonder that many a fine 
Graft wjth her sturdy crew has found it 'a "death trap. 
I^oks. innocent enougli wit|i ' smooth sea an4 wi|a4 off 
shore, but fifty miles of sand bank is a long stretch to 
weather. Off the wireless telegraph station we inet four 
fishing schooners bound for Boston with fresh fish. 
E-\ierything, set, including bunting; this was a race for 
fair, and a beautiful sight. Just before we met, two of 
them had a luffing match'. The hindmost quickly won her 
point and passed clear of the others and showed them, 
her heels in great style. We wondered at this until we 
were abeam of her when we heard the familiar puff puff 
of an engine exhaust under her quarter. She was bowl- 
ing along throwing" a wash like a steamboat while her 
brawny crew took life easy. We . made Chatham bar at 
,8 :30, and as I had had some experience with its treacher- 
ous bars aH<l shallow channel, anchored off the beach a 
short distance- to the north of the bar for the night. 
July 18.— Saturday morning we took a good long sleep 
and did not get up'until past 9 o'clock when we got under 
way. Sailed in over, the bar and picked our way up the 
crooked and shallow channel to Pleasant Bay, and 
an|^ored d^.,the Pleasant Bay Y. C., glad to again rest 
qufetly in stftopt^ water. Went ^shore and enteH4 fe? 
