586 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[April io, 1909. 
was, we were rapidly filling and just succeeded 
in reaching a landing. 
Once at the shanty, we were not much better 
oflf, as there was a large padlock on the door 
and no shelter outside. By this time it was 
dark, and a fine rain had begun, which soon had 
us shivering and in bad shape. There was noth¬ 
ing to do, but to break into the deserted shack, 
so we put our shoulders to the door, and it 
gave away with a crash. Once inside, we lit a 
candle which we found in our waterproof grip, 
and inspected our new home. It was a typical 
fishing outfit we found—nets of various kinds, 
anchors, floats, a few decoy ducks and a rusty 
iron stove. By the dim light of the candle we 
ate our supper, such as it was. It consisted of 
a few apples, with which we had filled our for¬ 
ward bulkhead, when driving through the coun¬ 
try during the day, some canned beans, and 
water-soaked crackers. We saw it was no use 
trying to make shore that night, so we rolled 
up in our blankets and turned into a bunk 
which was nailed along the wall, like pictures 
of Chinese quarters. We were particular to 
take the lower berth, as the roof was leaking 
badly, but it could not soak through the berth 
above. 
In the morning we were away at daylight. A 
light rain was still falling, but it soon cleared 
up and a west wind gladdened our hearts again. 
We paddled and sailed so as to make the best 
possible time until Port Dover was several 
miles astern. Then the wind suddenly fresh¬ 
ened, and we were obliged to devote our entire 
attention to handling the canoe. We were mak¬ 
ing short cuts across bays sometimes four or 
five miles offshore, and watching our charts 
closely for reefs. It was on this day that we 
began to realize what a well built canoe can 
stand, in the way of large waves. If I should 
attempt to tell you how large they were, I am 
afraid you would not believe it. Only those 
who have traversed Lake Erie in a small boat 
can believe what a sea picks up in a very few 
hours. They would come along about three- 
quartering after us, big seas that would break 
with a foaming roar, enough to shake the 
stoutest heart. 
We had a system for taking these seas, which 
worked beautifully. First we tied the sheet 
halliard in a split-knot, which could be let off 
instantly, then we both sat in the bottom to 
get the weight below the waterline. When the 
seas broke along the side, we grasped the sides 
of the canoe and at the right moment, just as 
the sea was about to break, tipped to leeward, 
and as the sea broke beneath us, leaned quickly 
back to windward to avoid filling on the other 
side. Sometimes we went so fast that we would 
duck down forward and bury our nose under a 
wave, shipping enough water to completely soak 
me much to the delight of my partner in the 
stern. The laugh would be turned on him later, 
however, when an after sea would catch us and 
break on both sides of the stern. The water 
we quickly bailed out and were ready for the 
next. 
Having been successful so far, and with 
Buffalo almost within reach, we became a little 
over confident and began cutting points too 
close. After leaving Peacock Point, we made 
across a large bay for what is known as 
Miller’s Point. This narrow stretch of land 
runs far out into the lake and is very shoal for 
probably a mile out. We could see the large 
combers piling up out there as far as the eye 
could reach, but felt we could cut through them 
to quiet water on the other side. This was a 
sad mistake, for in another moment, we were 
among the angry breakers roaring all around. 
One especially big one took a notion to pile 
in on top of us, and although we at once eased 
off the sheet and swung around with the wind, 
another sea followed quickly, and in an instant 
we were sinking. I remember hearing Tom say, 
“Hit it up for shore,” and turned around to see 
him just going out of sight, paddle poised for 
a stroke. As we jumped clear of the rigging, 
we turned the canoe bottom side up, and I hung 
on with one hand to the canoe, and with the 
other grasped as much of our baggage floating 
all around us, as possible. Tom, who is an 
expert swimmer, struck out for our belongings, 
which were drifting rapidly away. He reached 
the shore ahead of me—we were about a half 
mile out—and had great fun watching me come 
in. I would watch my chance, and when a big 
roller would strike me, I would jump up as high 
as possible and it would carry me, canoe, 
wreckage and all on its crest toward shore. In 
this way we made our acquaintance with 
Miller’s Point. This was about noon time on a 
bright sunshiny day, and we rather enjoyed the 
excitement of it, it being the first canoe cap¬ 
sizing we had ever gone through. 
[to be continued.] 
The Wilkin Incident. 
New York, March 31.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: We desire to draw the attention of 
members of the A. C. A. to Judge Wilkin’s 
letter recently published in Forest and 
Stream, which speaks for itself. For the bene¬ 
fit of those who have not read the same, it may 
be explained that Judge Wilkin regrets the 
action of the committee in obtaining subscrip¬ 
tions for a testimonial to be presented to him, 
and is sorry this “intended compliment should 
have taken a form distasteful to him, and 
create an unpleasant sensation in the minds of 
rnany of the members.” He also draws atten¬ 
tion to Chapter II. of the by-laws of the A. C. 
A., viz: “No assessment shall be levied for any 
purpose whatever.” 
The general endorsement of the committee’s 
idea of presenting this testimonial is shown by 
the letters received from a large percentage of 
Judge Wilkin’s friends, whose friendship, we 
have no doubt, he prizes most highly. It has 
been difficult for the committee to hold the 
offerings down to the limited amount named in 
the circular. No official significance could be 
attached to the circular in any way. 
In order to make a popular subscription, it 
necessitated the sending of a circular to each 
member of the A. C. A., so as not to slight 
any one who might feel disposed to share in it, 
and the members were simply asked to “send 
not more than one dollar, should they care to 
subscribe.” 
The idea of this testimonial was suggested 
and originated during the gathering of the 
members attending the executive committee 
meeting of the A. C. A. in October last; among 
whom were a number of ex-commodores, who 
expressed their desire to form an informal 
committee, requesting the undersigned to do 
the necessary work. 
The committee has decided under the cir¬ 
cumstances, to drop the entire affair and return 
all subscriptions, and at the same time, express 
its regrets that the proposed testimonial, which 
was only intended as a slight recognition of 
Judge Wilkin’s many services to the associa¬ 
tion, should have met with his disapproval as 
expressed in the ' above quotation from his 
letter. 
F. L. Dunnell, 
(Signed) H. L. Quick, Sec’y-Treas. of Com. 
Chairman. 
[Remittances have in all cases been returned 
with thanks.— Editor.] 
Central Division, A. C. A. 
On April 17 the Central Division of the A. 
C. A. will hold its annual banquet at the Fort 
Pitt Hotel, Pittsburg, Pa. Commodore John 
A. Berkley will be the guest of honor, and 
other prominent men in the association are ex¬ 
pected to be present. Plans for the coming 
meet at Pittsburg on June 25, 26 and 27 will be 
discussed, and the Central Division committees 
will be announced. 
The committee is arranging for a number of 
special features and no one who can be in 
Pittsburg at that time should fail to be present. 
Men from other divisions will receive a hearty 
welcome. 
A. C. A. Membership. 
NEW MEMBERS PROPOSED. 
Atlantic Division—Edward Jaeger, 140 Fifth 
avenue. New York city, by H. N. Wilson. 
Eastern Division—William L. E. E. French, 103 
Roger Williams avenue; John E. Brady, 71 Up¬ 
dike street; Homer Tatro, 93 Cranston street, 
all of Providence, and all by Arthur E. Neill; 
William C. Crabe, 177 Plain street. Providence, 
R. L, by Fred G. Valpey; Arthur G. Henrick- 
son, 43 Knowles street. Providence, R. I., by 
Edgar F. Garland; J. W. Lunden, 31 Gilmore 
street. Providence, R. I., by Edgar T. Sellew; 
Walter E. Jordan, 163 Progress avenue. Provi¬ 
dence, R. L, by Wm. A. Heath. 
Northern Division—J. H. Dewolfe, Ganan- 
oque, Ont., Can., by J. G. McCarney. 
NEW MEMBERS ELECTED. 
Atlantic Division—5723, F. E. Ahrens, 224 
Church street. New York city; 5724, John F. 
Ahrens, Jr., 71 Fifth avenue, New York city; 
5726, Robert J. Romlein, 540 West 159th street, 
New York city; 5727, Jos. M. Romlein, 540 
West TS9th street. New York city; 5738, Henry 
L. Jones, 307 Church street. New York city. 
Central Division—5720, Ernest C. Emrich, 
703 Homewood avenue, Pittsburg, Pa.; 5721, 
Henry H. Martindale, 6805 Kelley street, Pitts¬ 
burg, Pa.; 5728, W. J. Clawson, 541 Clawson 
street, Pittsburg, Pa.; 5729, 464 Ellicott square, 
Buffalo, N. Y.; 5730, E. V. Dunlevie, Prudential 
Building, Buffalo, N. Y.; 5731, J. P. Wright, 
402 Fidelity Building, Buffalo, N. Y.; 5732, Ray 
B. Kurtz, 214 D. S. Morgan Building, Buffalo, 
N. Y.; 5733, W. A. Bissell, 380 Franklin street, 
Buffalo, N. Y.; 5734, E. Michael, 618 Brisbane 
Building, Buffalo, N. Y.; 5736, Arthur Amsler, 
5510 Margaretta street, Pittsburg. Pa.; 5737, 
George Rector, Fulton Building, Pittsburg, Pa. 
Eastern Division—5722, Eugene T. Field, 10 
Porter street. Providence, R. L; 5725, Crosby 
J. Wells, I Whittemore place. Providence, R. I. 
Western Division—5719, Martin Guest, 1127 
Elizabeth street. La Fayette, Ind.; 5735, Fred 
Gardner, 125 Michigan avenue, Chicago, Ill. 
The Forest and Stream may be obtained from 
any newsdealer on order. Ask your dealer to 
supply you regularly. 
having fun en route. 
