The Red Cloud chief., 1881-03-10
ny First Ride on an Iee.Yacht.

- ~ vn -
THE speed of the fee boat is incredi-
bic. and il will when sailing acro.s the
wind 90 faster than the gale that pro-
pels it. This seeming paradox has been
so clearly shown that I shall rot take
the space to explain il now.
The reason for the amazing numbers
OF ice-boais Is because anybody with q
hammer aud saw and a few boards can
make one. Even the largest Of them
are not expensive except as far as the
sail is concerned
Toronto Bay Is about three miles wide
and sever or eight miles long. nj least
those were about its dimensions when 1
was there quit. a few years ago. A
long low sandy island keeps out the
wave Of Lake Ontario and a. there IS
no current the bay has nothing 10 do
when winter sets in. but freeze. and Il
generally stays frozen until navigation
is open every where else.
| / only had one ride on an ice-yacht,
but | remember the trip with tolerable
clcarness.
There is nothing quite so bright and
fresh-especially the latter-as a stu
dent who is taking in his first expert
encc Of city life. Two of US in this cal
! low condition had trUtted down the
crisp frozen street To the Esplanade,
where Toronto turns out To see the
skaters and the ice-yachts. Agay par
" of four were just hosting the big tri-
angular sail Of n yacht that lay on the
ice at the wharf. The Captain marked
us rs his prey.
Have a ride over to the island, gem
tlemen?"
The dclicately-applicd ilattery which
he disguised in the word gentlemen
| captured Us. and my comraic answered
for both and said: 1--WE would be most
happy"
We sprang down on the ice and took
our places on the triangular framework.
There were no seats, unless the cross
scantlings could be so called; some sat
on those and some on the flooring. One
of the men showed around the sharp
end of the triangle, which had fixed At
the point n movable skate attached To q
lever, after the manner Of the helm of
! n sail-boat. At each other point of the
triangle was n fixed skate, and from
between them rose the mast. The man
pushed the icc-yacht out from the lea
of the wharf and sprang on board. The
wind merely touched the sail. yet we
slid along faster than some boys who
were skating could keep with us. One
urchin asked if he might hang on. lie
was given a cordial permission, and he
held the point of the triangle. and
placing his feet together. skated along
without any cxertion. The instant we
were out of the influence of the ware
houses, the boat shot ahead like athing
of life. The man ut the wheel winked
ut his companions, and suddenly veered
the boat around. This was for the ben
Gilt Of the boy on skates. Instead of
tumbling over. however, he slid out ut
right angles, triumphant, kept his feet
like a little man, and found time TO
make Il derisive motion with his hand.
He had been there before.
Now that the gale struck usthe speed
became terrific. We two held on by
the timbers, but were laughed at by
our companions, who, accustomed to
the motion. sat ~unconcerned. Every
now and then a patch of snow would be
encountered that perceptibly lessened
the speed, and when n boat struck a
patch it was with difficulty that we
kept our places. We skinned among
the other yachts and threaded be-
tween . skaters in a way that
made freedom from accident marvel
Gus. Most Of the time me skate
rarely touched the ice, merely dipping
down on the crystal surface now and
then to tlirt a white fake of spun ice
from the glistening blade. l was in a
constant terror that the boat would up
set. which. 1 gathered from the con
versation of the bOatmen, was frequent
occurrence. W. now rapidly neared
the island
where do you wish to land, gentle
men?" asked the wheelsman.
My friend was past speaking, so
answered.: .'Oh, anywhere; we're not
particular"
.'All right" he cried. making straight
for the island until within a few rods OF
it, when he suddenly turned the helm
about at right angles.
Natural philosophy has taught me
that the icc-boat must have very hastily
left her course when the helm was
changed. l therefore firmly believe to
this day that she did change, but per-
sonally l have no knowledge of the fact.
| wasn't a-going to change my course
merely because the boat did. I kept
right on, and l will do my friend the
justice to say that he stuck by me.
We slid the remainder of the distance
to the island, rapidly assuming new
postures all the while, and, allowing for
increased friction, made almost as good
time as the yacht would have done.
The speed wasn't what we grumbled
about. We rolled over a good part OF
the way across the island before we
concluded to stop.
My friend. being a man of piety and
principle. was deprived of the consola-
tory influence that who had no such
scruplcs-proceedcd to surround my
self with. l gave him my opinion OF
our late companions in a style OF
rhetoric that l natter myself did justice
to the occasion. He silently brushed
off his clothes and quietly took q sort OF
inventory of the damages, listening all
the while, doubtless with some salts
faction, to my impassioned ~elOquence.
-.Luke Sharp" in Dttroit Free Press.
Tho late .John UiffSou- Cattle Eipy