Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24
IWRITTES FOR TIE STAR
THE CRUISE OFTHE "BLUE BIRD. -
Tie Leg Of Canoe Voyage on the Potomac.


We had been talking for two seasons of a trip
In the canoe blue Bird" from Piney Point to
BlakistOnc's Island. LsonaI dtOwn. and return.
1--WE" comprised the writer and, at most. two
others, fer the "Blue Birds" accOmmods atoms
were limited, and the contemplated voyage not
without its Perils. Indeed, the old fishermen,
those who had been in a canoe, as it were de
clared our craft unfit for such a trip, aud our
friends, one and all, advised US not to under
take IT, think this opposition was what finally
hurried Us OF one morning, without a moments
preparation, and with every indication of
stormy weather. In the first place, however, /
had faith and pride in tire canOe / had sailed
for 50 many months. 1 knew her strong and
weak points. Smaller than the average canoe,
she had been rugged for racing in smooth waters
rather than cruising, and she WAS so sharp for
ward a. 70 bury under a pressure of canvas.
Then. having no center board, she did not work
well TO wiEdwaTd, except under the most favor
able circumstances. With the wind in the quar-
ter, there were few canoes that cOuld keep her
carry sail longer in p gale, provided there Eas
plenty Of live ballast 70 windEsrd ami q good
hard a. the bailer.
TIE PKRILs OF TIE POTOMAC.
Now, the most periOus portion of the Potomac
river Il said TO be that from PIney Point to
Blskistone's Island, a distance of fifteen miles
by the charts, but nearer twenty to sail over
The river - about eight miles wide here, aud on
the Mary land shore there is DO shelter, no har-
Dor save AZ one pOiRt, the mouth OF Herring
Greek Then We were warned of the reefs about
Blakistone's Island, and Of the shoals and bars
10 be encountered in BrittOn's bay. These warn
ings were Of no avail, and while a. breakfast on
the 9th OF July Ben said: We've been talk
ing about going to LeOnardtOwn long enough;
let's start now" "AgTced," responded the
others, and. jumping up from the table, we
STATED tor the wharf. Let me introduce Won to
the party. There was Jack, a tall sineTy fell
low. sdOT6d by the ladies, an expert Osrsms an,
~ INN and NE ~ n
Ben, who had lost a leg IN ''ths late unplsas-
sntn6ss,' bat i better man, gamer anu more
neEt Of limbs The writer Was merely the skip
per of the "Blue Bird" MOdesty fOrbids him
to say more But light here let him say of his
companions. that shOult he ever be called on 10
led a fsE,oTn hOpe-which heaven fOrbid-he
sfeuid place Jack AID Ben At the head OF the
column.
PLYING START"
As our daily costume consisted OF blue fisnuel
shirts and trOvssrs, We did not ind it necessary
TO change cur dress, and the extent Of our pre-
parstiOns setting the " Blue Birds" calls,
putting an extra paddle on board, and laying in
asuppiy OF "Chil preventative" obtained from
Major Belts an Old-time Virginia gentleman,
who uinistered at the shrine OF Bacchus. We
did not take a mOuthful of food, q change of
clothing, or blanket A number of our lady
friends collected on the wharf 10 see ia start
and With us bon r0ydGs, and a. we stood across
the St Georges they waved their hand kerchefs
after Is vigorously. ON the second tack we
passed through the straits into the Potomac,
and with The wind on the quarter headed up
that noble stream under full sail. When we
had passed Piney Point light the river opened
out before us like an inland sea, and for the
first time the fnsignihcance of our craft and
the perIls OF our projected voyage were real
lied. The % tue Bird" was little more than
chip on this waste of waters, and caused ons to
feel something OF the sense Of loneliness expe-
Iieneed At sea in larger crafts However, We
were not much given to meditation, and ''splic-
ing the IT Ain brace" we continued our course
in rid river Uith the full fNpectstiOn OF dining
thar Cay az Blackstone Island. But where vas
the lslanC2 Not one OF US had ever sailed to it,
What appeared 70 be Islands were continually
appearing before rs, farther and farther on,
While those first seen proved az we drew nearer
land.
ROUGH WEATHER.
Before II O'Clock the wind had freshened so
that We were compelled % take in the lib and
msinsail and run under the foresail. The water
was growing rough, too, and the ''Blus Bird,
would now ana then dive into a wave, and so
keep one man busy b1ling. The wind CON
finued 20 Increase and the waves 70 run higher
and We finally decided to head for what APP
peared % be q thickly wooded island some four
or I'VE miles 70 leeward. The sheet was Stacked
OF, and away We few before the wind, but al
not gone fsr when our island was transformed
into headlAnd. We decided to keep on, how
ever, and were fortunate enough TO dni little
hsrbOr inst wide enough 10 admit our snug
srait' sEd IN which there was perfect shelter
from The storm.
FORBES POINT.
After furling the sails and slowing every
thing snugiy We climbed a steep bank aud
found ourselves IN a field OF stu5ble with corn
fields in tie distance. A short distance below
was an orchard, and toward that We directed
our steps, naturally expecting to and there the
residence Of the proprietor. But there was
only negro cabin, with little picsnniniss at
the door, and al old C0lOTed man, " bite he AIDED
and bending under the weight Of years, chop
ping wood outside. He was a capital subjec.
for W l. ShsPpefd's pencil De touched his
ragged hat as We approached, and in response
u Cur inquiries tod rs that We we're on Colonel
FORBES place, and that the colonel's residence
Wa a nile distant, beyond the orchard and the
corr neds, through which ran path. Having
the day, Gnd indeed any number of days before
u, We decided to pay our respects 70 the colo
nell Helping ourselves to some early windfalls
as We passed through the orchard, and pluck
ins some OF the rich clusters of blackberries
which oordered the cornheld, we finally struck
out through the corn for the house the Chin
neys OF which eo1ld be seen n the distance.
Hail an hours walk orOug-t az ont of the Isby-
EiDth Of tall green stalks into a clearing before
spacious tSO-s.ory residence with a broad We
randall IN 'front.' and surrounded by 81 bstsntial
handsome blooded horse was prancIng and
eavOrting about sray-haired, gray bearded
Colonel FORBES. and to whom we presented our.
selves He received rs courteously and Invited
Us TO his house.
FARMING IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND.
Here we conversed for . while, our hos
giving rs anything but an encouraging accouR
Of farming In Southern Maryland. His farm Of
500 acres had. he informed Us, been cultivated
AZ loss even since the war. This year his
gram Was . failure, tobacco very backward
and save In one neld his corn had also been
fahure- AT this and other points a new worm
has attacked corn this year doing graat dam.
sge. But despite the d0leful picture drawn b,
cur eost r re n01ss vas evidently the abode o
s-d tuiAt!s, seese, ducks, hens and chicken