Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-18
Big Thing on Ice.

wind 60 faster than the gale that pro.
pels ii. This seeming paradox has
been SO clearly shown that I shall not
take the space to explain it now.
The reason for the amazing numbers
of ice boats is because anybody with q
hammer and g aw and 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 seven or eight miles long, at
least those were about its dimensions
when was there quite few years ago
A long low sandy island keeps out the
waves of Lake Ontario and as there is
no current the bay has nothing to do
when winter sets in, but freeze, and it
generally stays frozen until navigation
is open everywhere else.
! only had one ride on an ice yacht,
but remember the trip with tolerable
cles rnees.
There is nothing quite so bright and
fresh-especially the latter-as o stu
dent who is taking in his first expert.
ence of city life. Two of us in this cal
low condition had trotted down the
crisp frozen street to the Esplansde,
where Toronto turns out to see the
skaters aud the ice yachts. A gay party
OF four were just heisting the big tri-
angular sail of yacht that lay on the
ice a. the wharf. The captain marked
as as his prey. ..l..
Have ride over to the island, gen.
tlemen ~
- The deiicately applied AAtiery which
he disguised in the word gentlemen !"
captured us, and my comrade answered
for both and said: s. We would be most
happy" at t- a.
We sprang down on the ice and took
our places on the triangular frame
work.
There were no seats, unless the cross
scantlings could be 50 called; some sat
on Theses and rome ou the flooring. One
q the men showed around the sharp
end of the triangle, which had fixed at
the point q movable skate attached to q
lever, after the manner of the helm of
Q sail boat. At each other point of the
triangle was fixed skate, and from be-
tween them rose the mast. The man
pushed the ice yacht ont 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. He
was given o cordial permission, and b Q
held The point of the triangle, and
placing his feet together, skated along
without any exertion. The instant
We were ont of the influence
Of the warehouses, the boat shot
ahead like . thing of life. The
mar at the wheel Einked at his COM
,panions, and suddenly veered the boat
around. This was for the benefit of
the boy on skates. Instead of tumbling
over, however. he slid out at right
. angles, triumphant, kept his feet like q
little man, and found time to make q
derisive motion with his hand. He had
been there before.
Now that the gale struck us the 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 patch OF snow would
be encountered that peroeptibly less
ened the speed, and when boat struck
Q patch it was with difficulty that We
kept our places. We skinned among
the other yachts and threaded between
skaters in q way that made freedom
from accident marvellous. Most of the
time one skate rarely touched the ice
merely dipping down on the crystal
surface now and then to firt white
fake of spuR ice from the glisienine
blade. I was in a constant terror thai
the boat would upset. which I gathered
from the conversation of the boatmen
was a frequent occurrence. We nov
rapidly neared the island.
"Where do you wish to land gentle
menf" asked the wheelsnan.
Ny friend was past speaking, go
answered: "Oh, anywhere, we're mo-
particular"
"All right" he cried, making
straight for the island until within
few rods of it, when he suddenly
turned the helm about at right angles.
Natural philosophy has taught me tina,
the ice-boat must have very hastily left
her course when the helm was changed
I therefore firmly believe to this day
that she did change, but personally
have no knowledge of the fact.
wasn't going to change my course
merely because the boat did. I kept
right on, and l will do my friend the
ustice to say that he stuck by me.