Sept. 3, 1904.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
20B 
ANOTHER AMERICA'S CUP CHALLENGE? 
Sir Thomas Lipton has again been in touch with Mr. 
George L. Watson, the Scotch designer, and recently 
made a visit to the Clyde. It is only natural that these 
facts should offer foundation for the rumor that he is 
again to challenge for the America's Cup. 
Of the three challengers Sir Thomas sent out to the 
States, the Watson- designed boat, Shamrock II., made by 
far the best showing. This craft was practically Colum- 
bia's equal. Watson can do better, and would have to do 
very much better in order to turn out a boat that would 
in any way equal Reliance. If a challenge is accepted 
under the new rule of measurement, the designers on both 
vides will have to work along decidedly new lines, and 
much of the experience gained from the older boats will 
not be available. 
The English designers are accustomed to turning out 
compact craft of the type which it is believed the new 
rule will produce, and for this reason alone they will be 
less handicapped than ever before. 
The present season has not been an active one, and as 
races for the America's Cup rather detract from the sport 
at large than add to it, we shall be sorry to see another 
challenge filed, as we do not want to see two stagnant 
seasons follow one another. It will be very instructive, 
however, to see what the new rule will produce. It needs 
a good practical test, and such an event would certainly 
afford it. 
British Letter. 
Harmsworth C«p Races. 
If the reliability trials for motor boats in South- 
ampton water were more satisfactory than was antici- 
pated, bearing in mind the comparatively short period 
since this type of craft came into being, the same can- 
not be said of the eliminating races for the British 
international cup, which took place over a course laid 
between mark boats off Ryde Pier and Old Castle, 
Point Cowes, on July 30. Last year, it may be re- 
membered, only three boats were entered, and there 
were no foreign competitors, all three boats being of 
British manufacture, the firms represented being Edge, 
Thornycroft and Wort & Beadle, and the cup was won 
with ridiculous ease by Edge's boat, Napier Minor. 
This year the entries were far more numerous. Five 
boats represented the British section, while France was 
represented by three and America one. Of the British 
contingent Edge entered two, last year's winner, Napier 
Minor, and a longer and more powerful boat, Napier 
II. Napier Minor is only 35ft. long with 55 horse-power, 
and Napier II. is 40ft.— which is the limit allowed — 
and has 90 horse-power. Messrs. J. E. Hutton entered 
a 40-footer, designed by Linton Hope, a boat whose 
appearance gave every promise of speed. She is fitted 
with a six-cylinder engine of 150 horse-power. Messrs 
Thornycroft were represented by a 40-footer, Cha'mpak, 
120 horse-power, and Lord Howard de Walden en- 
tered Fer de Lance, 40ft. long with a twelve-cylinder 
engine, whose horse-power has been variously esti- 
mated at from 150 to 300. France entered the lists 
with a 100 horse-power Gardner-Serpollet steam engine 
in a 39.3ft. hull; a 40-footer owned by M. A. Clement, 
and the little Trefle-a-Quatre, which is only 30ft. long 
and is fitted with a Richard Brazier motor. Trefle-a- 
Quatre has already given a good account of herself in 
the Mediterranean, and came with a good reputation. 
America sent over a Smith & Mabley boat, 40ft. long 
and 150 horse-power, designed by Mr. Clinton H. 
Crane, of Tams, Lemoine & Crane. 
This was quite a respectable entry, and had all the . 
entrants been in perfect working order, some most 
interesting racing must have followed. As it turned 
out, however, the whole affair was disappointing. Two 
of the British boats, Champak and Fer de Lance, were 
not in condition to run and the Gardner-Serpollet boat 
did not turn up. The eliminating races were to have 
been run in three heats: Napier II. and the Thorny- 
croft boat were drawn for the first; Napier Minor and 
Fer de Lance for the second, and the Hutton "boat 
drew a bye. Napier II. and Naoier Minor both had 
walkovers, and the Hutton boat did not get round the 
course, breaking down soon after the start.. For the 
actual cup race there were five heats down on the 
programme, but they were in a great measure disap- 
pointing. In the first heat Napier II., the Smith & 
Mably boat and M. Clement's Bayard were drawn to- 
gether. Bayard had something wrong with her pro- 
peller soon after the start and gave up. Challenger led 
Napier II. for a time, and then she partly broke down, 
Napier II. eventually winning by im. 44s. In the 
second heat Napier Minor had a walkover, the Gardner- 
Serpollet boat not having turned up. Trefle-a-Quatre 
had a walkover. The fourth race was between the 
two Napiers, Napier II. winning by 16s. She came 
to grief, however, directly after, through starting some 
of her plates, so the honor of defending the cup fell 
to Napier Minor. The final race for the cup, which 
was between Napier Minor and Trefle-a-Quatre, was, 
at the request of King Edward, postponed until 4 P. M., 
so that their majesties, the King and Queen, could 
personally view the struggle from the Royal yacht 
Victoria and Albert. The two boats started punctually 
at 4 P. M. Napier Minor soon drew ahead and made 
a steady gain over the course which she completed in 
23m. 3s.; Trefle-a-Quatre taking 24m. 27s. The result 
was hailed by cheers and whistles from the steam 
yachts, and the jubilation was great when it was known 
that Britain held the cup for another twelve months. 
According to a report, which, appeared in one of the 
leading daily papers on Aug. 10, Napier Minor has 
since been disqualified, as the result of a protest by 
Trefle-a-Quatre, the contention being that since Napier 
II. beat Napier Minor, she alone had the right to de- 
fend the cup. If this is so the Harmsworth cup goes 
to France; but if the report of the disqualification is 
true, it has not had the wide publicity it should have 
had. 
Cowes Week. 
Cowes week opened on Aug. 1 with the usual matches 
of the Royal London Y. C, but the weather was paltry 
and spoiled the racing to a great extent. Eight boats 
started in the big handicap, in which the German Em- 
peror's Meteor was placed at scratch. Both she and 
Ingomar were called upon to give the others a very 
liberal allowance, but in the prevailing light airs and 
calms Meteor could not stem the tide and she subse- 
quently gave up. Ingomar gave a very fine light 
weather display for a schooner, and she and White 
Heather were in close company throughout the match, 
the schooner leading the fleet home but only saying her 
time for third prize. She was, however, disqualified for 
fouling White Heather, which was the winner, Bryn- 
hild taking second prize and Therese third. The new 
Fife 52-footer, Maymon, was the winner in her class, 
Camellia being second. , ; ... 
Royal Yacht Squadron Regatta.a 
On Aug. 2 the Royal Yacht Squadron opened their 
regatta with the usual race for" club boats for His 
Majesty's cup, when eight boats came to the line, of 
which only three can be classed as even modern fast 
cruisers, the others being slow or obsolete. It is a 
pity that this race is not made an open event, for, 
owing to the dearth of fast boats in the squadron, the 
race is becoming, more or less, of a farce. The owners 
of Glory and Brynhild, two of the three efficient starters, 
have only been members of the squadron for two or 
three years, and if it had not been for the presence of 
their boats, the only yacht with any pretensions to 
speed would have been the German Emperor's Meteor. 
The weather was again paltry, and although Meteor 
sailed well whenever there was any wind and actually 
had all her time off the fleet during the part of the race, 
she was badly served over the last portion, and lost _ 
the King's cup to Brynhild, which saved her time from 
Glory by the narrow margin of im. 20s. This is the 
second King's cup Brynhild has won at Cowes in three 
years. Lucida and Maymon were the winners in the 
52ft. class. On the following day there was a big 
entry for the German Emperor's cup, thirteen boats 
of all sizes, shapes and ages taking part in the race. 
Ingomar again distinguished herself by brilliant sailing 
under conditions by no means suitable for schooners, 
but the handicap was too' much for her, though she was 
fourth boat on corrected time, and only im. 18s. be- 
hind the winner. Col. Bogot's famous old Watson 40- 
rater, Creole, was the fortunate boat, securing the 
trophy by 6s. from White Heather, while Merrymaid 
beat Ingomar for third prize by 41s. On Aug. 4 the 
big boats were kept by themselves. Ingomar won the 
Cowes Town cup, Valdora taking second prize and 
White Heather the third. The squadron regatta was 
brought to a finish on Aug. 5 with a handicap for 
yachts exceeding 100 tons and races for the 52-footers 
and the South Coast one-design class. Ingomar won 
the chief event, Merrymaid just saving her time from 
White Heather, which took third prize. Maymon and 
Moyana were winners in the 52ft. class and L'Am- 
oureuse was first of the one-designers. The weather 
during the week was paltry and disappointing, especially 
for the big ships, but Ingomar performed well enough 
to make it clear that she has no peer among the 
schooners on this side. 
E. H. Kelly. 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
For advertising relating to this department see pases ii and iii. 
Power Boat Races for the Gold Challenge Cup. — 
The challenge sent by the Manhasset Bay Y. C. for the 
gold challenge cup was accepted by the Columbia Y. C. 
The races will take place on September 22, 23 and 24, and 
will start at 2 o'clock on each day. The launch Shooting 
Star will represent the challenging club. Mr. E. J. Stone 
will act for the Columbia Y. C, and Mr. F. A. Hill will 
represent the Manhasset Bay Y. C. 
Challenge for the Seawanhaka Cup. — The Royal 
St. Lawrence Y. C. has received a challenge for the Sea- 
wanhaka cup from the yacht club located at Oshkosh, 
Wisconsin. This place is the home of Messrs. Jones and 
La Borde, the designers and builders of White Bear, the 
boat that made such a strong bid for the cup this year. 
— <•> — . 
Vacation Days in a Canoe. 
The canoe is the original American craft, the in- 
vention of the Indian. It is as native in its essence as 
the buckskin shirt, the snowshoe and the moccasin. 
It is the craft of the man of the woods, hunter, trapper, 
fisherman and explorer. It penetrates into the wilder- 
ness on shallow and intricate waterways where no other 
boat can travel. 
Then, too, how handy it is, how it answers like a 
live thing to the twist of the paddle! Rowing seems 
mechanical by the side of the free movement of the 
single blade. 
The canoe is well adapted to our rapid rivers and 
inland lakes, east and west. One need not go to the 
wilderness streams of Maine, or northern Wisconsin, 
or Canada to enjoy the sport. In all parts of the 
country there are swift little rivers, dashing down 
mountain valleys or winding through the farms and 
villages of the lowlands, which afford plenty of sport 
for the canoeist. 
la New England are the beautiful reaches of such 
rivers as the Connecticut, while Pennsylvania can boast 
of the Susquehanna, the blue Juniata and, above all, 
the Delaware, each with its peculiar charm of scenery 
and association. 
The Delaware is an ideal stream for the canoe, as 
it is very rapid in its upper course and passes through 
a region of unrivalled natural beauty. An interesting 
trip may be made from Port Jervis, N. Y., all the way 
down to Philadelphia. As far as the Delaware Water 
Gap, where a range of the Blue Ridge crosses its 
course, the river flows through a wild valley bordered 
on each side by mountains and cliffs, which seem far 
below to form an interfolding barrier. On the New 
Jersey side rise the lofty ridges of the Shawangunk 
range, and on the right tower the steep cliffs of the 
uplands of eastern Pennsylvania, shaggy with ancient 
forests and indented with deep ravines where mountain 
streams have worn their way, and where waterfalls, 
pouring down the heights, roar among the rocks. 
The river winds through the rich bottom lands, or, 
where the valley contracts into a woody vale, rushes in 
a deep, narrow channel. Green islands with shady 
groves and sandy beaches occur frequently, offering 
cool retreats from the noonday sun and camping places 
for the night. . The river is for the most part shallow 
and stony, and roars down long series of rapids, broken 
by riffs and obstructed by boulders, but here and there 
it sleeps in long, deep, placid stretches. 
If the canoeist is also a fisherman, there are gamy 
black bass to be taken in the dark water of the swirling 
eddies at the foot of the riffles, and pickerel along the 
shallow reedy shore. Bald eagles may often be seen 
sailing out from their eyries high in the cliffs or perch- 
ed on some dead tree rising above the forest. 
Along this stretch of river there are no railways, no 
factories and no towns of any size to foul the air and 
taint the stream. There are only summer resorts, fish- 
ing camps and hamlets, while a fine hard shale road 
follows the right bank at the foot of the cliffs. 
After the river has forced its way through the 
wondrous triple gate of the Water Gap, with its moun- 
tain barriers rising sheer and grim above the water, 
it flows through a flatter and more settled country with 
fewer features of natural beauty. 
The Susquehanna in some respects resembles the Del- 
aware, but the coal mines and factories along its banks 
have changed its aspect in many places. Its course 
through the Wyoming Valley, once a scene of sur- 
passing natural grandeur and primeval loveliness, is 
now marked and marred with huge culm banks, tower- 
ing black breakers and more or less squalid miners' 
villages and factory towns. 
Its upper reaches flow through a still beautiful region, 
and fleets of canoes are often seen on its waters. Each 
town of any size along its banks has its canoe club, 
which takes its annual outing on the river, starting 
usually from some place on the upper waters in New 
York State. 
Then there are little streams or creeks which con- 
duct the canoeist through quiet pastoral country and 
quaint villages, under old stone bridges, past cattle 
grazing, lazy fishermen, hard-working haymakers. Such 
a stream is the Conestoga (it migh well be called the 
Meander, so much does it wind and twist and involve 
itself in labyrinthine mazes), which flows through Penn- 
sylvania Dutchland in Lancaster county. 
In contrast to the wild forest along the Delaware, 
here are toy trees, Noah's Ark cattle, quaint farmhouses 
with huge barns, picturesque old water mills, solid stone 
bridges, built in the early days of the Republic, over 
which the coaches used to rumble on the Philadelphia 
pike. 
The people, the Amish, Mennonites and other sects 
in flat felt hats and long coats, and women in bonnets 
and plain drab dresses, with their outlandish dialect, fit 
in with the foreign aspect of the country. The canoe 
is always an object of mild-eyed curiosity to these 
peculiar people of Ephrata, or Eden, or Paradise, as 
they love to name their villages. 
In the vast network of lakes and streams in the 
forests of northern Wisconsin and about the headwaters 
of the Mississippi there are unrivalled opportunities for 
the canoeist for roughing it in earnest in the real wilder- 
ness. There are, too, in the more settled parts of the 
west innumerable streams fit for the canoe. 
The writer recalls with especial pleasure a journey 
down a northward flowing river of Minnesota. It was 
in early summer, and the river was in flood, and was 
racing down its valley with breakneck speed, spreading 
itself over the lowlands and dashing against the sand- 
stone cliffs along its bank. The exhilarating tonic of 
the air on these bright summer days, coupled with the 
speed of the descent, fairly intoxicated the senses. The 
canoe flew past the banks, sometimes taking a short 
cut through the flooded forest, dodging overhanging 
limbs, fallen trees and submerged stumps. The ridges, 
clad in low forests of birch and oak and other hard 
woods, seemed scarcely to have felt the touch of man. 
A few rude cabins among the hills were the only signs 
of human habitation. 
Descending any of these swift rivers, the canoeist 
has plenty of chance to display his skill with the paddle. 
As the canoe slips down the turbulent waters of the 
rapids there are hidden reefs to be avoided, rocks and 
sunken logs to be cleared, and a course to be picked 
out where there is safe going. There is hardy pleasure, 
too, in working with strength of back and arm up 
stream against a stiff current, following the eddies and 
slack water along shore or poling up inch by inch in 
the rapids. 
There is no better way to spend a week or ten days 
of vacation than by taking such a canoe trip. Almost 
any river will do; each has its peculiar attraction. You 
launch out upon the stream, carrying your all with you 
leaving your cares behind and abandoning yourself to 
the current of adventure. You can speed your way or 
loiter along as you choose, loafing at noon under the 
water-loving elms and bathing in the cool stream At 
night you pitch your tent within sound of the mur- 
muring water and launch out again in the cool of the 
morning mist before the sun has risen above the east- 
ern ridges. And you come back to the ordinary world 
tanned and hearty after your contact with the river the 
sun and all out of doors.— New York Evening Sua.' 
