The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-20
AN OARSMAN,s JOURNEY.
From Boston to Detroit In n small Boat by
Ocean, River, Canal, and Lake.

nom ne Detroit NEE ITess. Aug. 49,
James II. Gay, the oarsman who had
undertaken to row In small boat from Boston
to Detroit by way Of the Al ,ntic coast, tho
CUFF Of ~ Lawrence, the st. Lawrence river,
the Lakes Ontario and Erie, the Canadian canals,
and the Detroit rNer MAIDS his appearance in
his light hut swift aud "tnunty" srallop, the
Grace H.. on Wednesday. He said ABOUT two
years since a person went from Portland TO
Mexico IN SIX a. using Ootn sail aud oars; but
made very slow tune. | thought | could make
the distance from Boston to Detroit in lao days,
and at last the bets were made az 10 DAYS.
There may be moe bet. now than when |
started, out have positive knowledge OF waRers
to the aggregate OF x2O,UO have no bets on
the result myself, out am to receive S2.OOO. Ny
canoe IL only nueen feet long, and It's ngh,lng
weight IA but li1 pounds or 100 pounds win
oars, cushions, &c 80 Of course could not
take very lsrKc stock with ne. i began bust
mss win cpil on SUI Trying pau lour caus
OF meat six Of s,rtincs. eight cans Of fresh
bread, tour OF cOndt used mix, two pounds OF
coffee. one OF tea, hve pounds of sugar four
pounds OF corn meal, and four pounds " pork,
besides canned Ueachts oysters, Holsters. and
other fruits; sex ant. = chronometcr, spirit
COMPASS. anchor, besides trunk with some
clothes. &c.
~ started from Chelsea beach on the 81 OF
May. On the second DAY out stopped at smut
ty-Nose Island Isle OF Snolls-t the scene Of the
Wagner trigedv NV next stopping place
was Portland. Crossing CISCO BAY IN front Of
Portland was my first serious stretch OF open
water. which was tuir.N miles across. The coast
In this part is completely iron bound. without
even beach at which a small skin could be
landed. just before reaching Permaquid Point
met the Canadian Yacht Countess OF Dunerin
on nef way To tho New 1Ofk yacht contest IN
the race for the Queens cup hauled up along
SHE and answered all the Inquiries OF those on
board relative to the trip. urn back shouted
the taptAin. 'lts no use going further. and
you'h have To turn at last or be crowned. De-
feat Is certain, and perheps death When |
reached Petit Manan Point. struck across the
BAY of Fundy for Cape sable, and here real dan
ger set Ia. soon got out OF sight OF land. aud
had To depend on my compass; ] knew me i'm
pottunCc Of hurrying over the DO miles Of omen
sea beiore me. So | rowed all day and all night
without stol ping, Keeping up an even gait Tor
the first day. anu then toward the evening OF
the next day, the wind being IN my favor, | lay
down IN the BOAT aud slept and driftei. | drift %
ed aud rowed alternately for i've days, out OF
sight Of liud. Then II began TO blow hard
toward the land, and, anxious as was to get
there. had to struggle three days more TO keep
away irOm II while the storm lasted. Tho coast
was rocky and precipii Gus and lined with break
ers. ON tue eighth day the storm iulled, leavin..
/ heavy swvlls. when cross wind sprang up and
made cnopIiug waves that knocked INV boat
around Just is II pleased. At last an Immense
'comber struck the SKIN, diled IT, "a set II. and
rolled II over several times. | went down about
nfty feet and Then cine up TO see how toe SKIN
was getting along.
Gull Of IT Lawrence, where on the 5th OF j uiy
a squat struck me about two miles from shore.
aud over We went. | left the boat TO its fate.
ana swan ashore, Out was ast onishud to nnd
tHat IL mad urited IN almost As quick as -wan.
made very good tnc a. the river -. Law
renee, stopping on my W ~ Less trd, taiert,
on the norm SHORE ui the river, Goose Island.
Queuec. Is ,tiscI Three Rivers. Monire i, COru-
wall. HeuvrltOn Alexln 4rlt bay, and the Thou
sand Island House, using the canals to escape
| the rapids. had to pass through about thirty
/ locks. aud pad 81. 80 or every lock.
:" varied the time 10y trolling. In the 81. Law
renee river clught one muse ilOngc that weigh.
! ed thirty two pounds. In trying to haul him IN
! he overma,tcred ne for some time. aud spun he
boat hroud ike a top. The NIGHTS while | was
] on Lske Ont RI we've moonlight ana generally
ruwed all night and slept during the day. OPP
posite the town OF Wilson the most original up
set OF the voyage happened. was rowing ne Il
shore, and tue lake was piling up its waves con.
sideribiy, when suddenly wave left mo hg b
and dry on the top OF n stump. IL WAS tue
etrangest thing YOU ever saw. My boat and
were balanced as neatly ON that stump as IL a
year had been taken to do II In. Arriving al
! Port Dalnousie | found that the Nsllaud 4 ma
Collector mad heard of my coming and had
pass made out for me, and bv his good viii
managed 10 get through the Wclaud Canal ~
about nftern hours. On Lake Erie tlere wa.
nothing opened worthy Of note, aud | was
about week trIversing 1T
Nj. H41 boat !. propelled with oars Taste ned
with "A nm In the gIuwaie Of the boat. lne oar
are ther, fore rgG. and Incapable Of being featn-
cred. -Four pairs ~ oars were worn out on tns
! voy sc. When he | lnde1 IN Detroit he Ia
win hin only small valise, containing tot ie
articles, kedge anchor. boat cushions, Il padc lie
and a pair Of oars.