The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-11
Terms Eight Dollars pen. AMMAN, d,, Advance.

time on record. He who rides in c,,,, .,.,,.,.,
must positively dress warm, or sulIar o.antI,-
The "Simon pure" voyager In ono of 10y
Crafts delights 70 step on board his vessel 49,,
cracking nor westerns blowing and the tber-
mometer marks zero. You will find his a..
encased in heavy boots and the boots encaseS
in fur-lined moeassins. He will have ON heayv
woolen under-cloihing, heavy pantaloons and
vest, the latter covered with a heavy woolen
knit shirt. Then comes his short pilot-cloth
coat, and over all the inevitable long oyercoat
His ears will be covered with the patent muf-
fers, and on his head viii rest a close-rigged
skull cap, with just enough front-piece to call
ii such. Add TO the above comforts two huge
robes, one to lie down upon, and the other to
cover himself up with, and the SAILING. master
OF the ice-boat is ready for fifty mile scud TO
the windward.
lee-boats cost from S15 to $500 each. When
we mention the SIS boats we refer to those Of
our school-boy days, built OF refuse boards
with three shilling skate runners. using bent
mans thrown away by carpenters. For a sail
we had recourse to the sheets and pilloW-cases
at nome, always returning them however dir
ty they may get. The S5OO ice.boat is tbe one
OF the present day, built triangular IN shame
with beautifully painted deck and rno,5;ngS
wirelrgging, A No. duck tor sails, brass claets
and blocks, full sets OF colors, splendid snars
booms, bowsprits, polished steel runners. hnE
falo robes, DC. Each boat weighs from SOO
to 1000 pounds, and all ice-boats are able 10
beat two points closer to the wind than SALINE
vessels on water.
Many would suppose that great danger ex-
lists in consequence of the vessels going with
such lightning velocity. Such Is not the case.
as nothing but extreme carelessness on the
part of the helmsman results in INJURIES
Witha light breeze the vessels will not carry
over three men each to advantage. In a heavy
blow, however, they will hold six or eight
What is meant by keeping them down is that
unless sufficient weight rests forward, the
bow, under which are two runners, will, when
the vessel is strcck by sudden and heavy
flaw wind, rise high in the air, the stern run
ner only resting upon the ice, while the end
Of the bowsprit stands at angle OF 45 degrees
In such case the helmsman loses all control
OF his vessel, as she does not at such times
mind her helm, but slides along like lightning
until the ierceness of the 1iaw is expended.
Another good reason for carrying heavy bal
last during high wind Is that it prevents the
vessel rom upSetting, although an upset is not
particularly dangerous. even while the vessel
Is daShing along at the Iate Of more than
mile minute. On smooth ice danger never
ensues when such mlshap occurs, because
the occupants, as soon as they feel the wind
ward side OF the vessel rise, suffer themselves
to roll to the leeward, and in amoment they
are sliding on their bodies 40 or 80 feet away
from the craft the unwilling excursionist thus
hndmg an upset quite enjoyable. Should the
vessel, however; turn over among ''ice hum-
mocks" or jagged pieces of ice, Injurious re-
suits might follow.