Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1877-06-28
Boating Experience.

Alter the victory of the Ward Brothers
at Saratoga, last summer, | was possessed
by spirit of emulation, so to speak, and
for the first month after that event | did
nothing but study boating and develop my
muscle
| fingered fondly around lighthouses,
listening with deep interest to boat-club
slang, and to the marvellous achievements
of this one and that one with twenty foot
SHELF and single skulls" or "spoons,
as they are fondly called became
'spoony" to all intents and purposes with
boating
But ~ al this there was an object Was
not the h6n u of our great and spread-out
country "a stake? Should we allow the
sinewy sons Of Albion to develop more
champion and first-class oarsnan than A.
merica2 Never Not much
Wei, after had hoard ali this ts,le5s O.
yer for few weeks, during which time I
had swung clubs and dumb bells for an hour
three times per day, | at last resolved to
go for my conntry's reputation
] bought a twenty y-fye foot she'll boat, a
pair Of spoons" and a boating-drcss of
flannel, after the most approved cut and
color
My boat was to be delivered at boat
club house, at the foot of Thirty-fourth
street, and you may depend | was on hand
to receive it, dressed in my new rowing
suit
had selected this occasion for my debut
IN a shell, because | knew it was not prac-
tice day for the club, and there would, in
all probability, be nobody around to witness.
wanted to enjoy my first trial without spec
tators or jury.
In this respect was rather fortunate.
for there was only one member of the club
present, together with the keeper of the
boat-house. \ dollar placed in the hand
of this keeper made hila my friend, and a
drink at a neighboring saloon, took the edge
off the members criticism
Thus armed aud favored, returned to
the dock, where the keeper had taken my
boat, and where the members of the club
| loaded themselves into their shells. ] was
all pluck and confidence, for hadn't | wit
messed others do it, and wasn't always
good at doing what had seen others do
| should say SO.
Right this way, Mr.. Topp," said the
keeper, as he entered the boat-housc.
"Thats the correct thing, John" said
as stood in professional attitude of ad-
miraton, admiring my new shell.
nice boat, Brick" said the member,
who had followed me down to where it lay
like lath in the water. "Outrggcrs
rather too short; pitch a tride too much,
but it will do very well to learn in-I mean
to practice in
ooh, yes" l replied carclcssly, going
closer to my paper boat. "lt viii do for a
while"
With boldncss and confidence | stepped
into that shell while the keeper held my
skulls until got seated. My first appear
ancc was moist and unexpected sensation.
| may have neglected to mention that the
shell was only about fifteen inches wide. |
will just mention at this point that they roll
over very easily.
had carefully divided my change, put
ting an equal amount in each pocket. /
had also been careful about parting my hair
in the middle in order to keep my boat
evenly balanced but | must have neglected
something, for that balance was lost-was
lost overheard
The boat didn't sink it simply rolled
over like log, and | sunk On coming
to the surface | run my head into the man
hole which had got facing downward, and
there was quite lively time between that
shell and my skull for few moments as TO
which should get out of the water first
But with the assistance of the boat-house
keeper the boat was righted again and |
was drawn out of the water with boat
hook acknowledged that everything a
bout me was dampened, with the exception
Of my ardor; that was still dry.
But the keeper and that member whom
had 50 generously treated, were unciyi
enough to laugh, aud suggest that 90 in
to the boat house ana be run through the
: wringng machine. This offer spurned
with Indignation, and again loaped into my
she'll
This time the keeper kept it balanced un.
til had seated myself. and then handed me
the spoons"
Now, then, would just show those grin
n'ng monkeys what | could do. | would
+, show them much muscle had and how fan
removed | was from the ordinary novice.
placed my oars Chat is, ''skulls," that
is, spoons, } in position and carefully
S headed NV narrow craft towards the Jersey
, shore Little by little | felt my way, and
little by little let out my strength. had
t learned yeocipcding and felt that this pull
! ing about in boat twenty-five feet long
t and fifteen inches wide was very much like
t it But pluck was mine, and vent il
e with it.
t | went in until had nearly reached the
middle of the river, when attempted t.
/ spit to the leeward and the effort upset thC
S boat again, and | went in under water
d | felt hurt at my luck, | also felt wet, alsC
/ mad, but as there was no such a thing a
: getting into that boat again under the pres
cnt -irnmn-tn n..-s | allnmnl tLn snnnn. {.