The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-09

New Berlin fishing boats Jumped out af-
ter us, but not catching us gave up the
chase. The most delightful sail. so far,
making twenty-five miles-tifteen of
them in two hours. Reached Jackson
vile at $3.50 p. IN. and made fast to the
old Geo. NJ. Bird.
Sunday, August 29.-Scrubbed decks
and cleaned cable chains. \ light wind
coming up at 1880 a. m, with the ring
ing of the church bells, we let go our
lines from the Bird and drifted slowly
past the city with the tide. We only
made Black Point by night, six miles
from jacksonville. At 2:3O p. IN. we en-
countered a severe rain squalI. Antic-
ipating il, we lay In wait at anchor with
our tent up. When the storm burst we
had TO take down our tent and take IL
oil coats.
Monday, August 3O.-Rain all morn
ing until 1890, at which time we left
Black Point with light west wind and
flood tide. This las been the worst day
of our experience. We believe that rain
can come up quicker and kick up bigger
seas i'll fewer minutes on the st. Johns
than on any other body of water in the
weird, and then quickly subside into a
dead calm, with look as serene and
pleasant in the next few minutes If
nothing had ruiiled its placidity. y day
of rains, hurricanes ana calmS. One
hurricane struck us Just off Orange
Park with such violence as To cause us to
drop sail and anchor III midStream. The
pitching of the boat and hard raining
decI1ed Us To put IN two reefs into our
sail making IL as small as IA Initten and
stand for the lea shore. With our sheet
trimmed flat aft and our diminished sail,
we made with same, pItchy and tuSSy, a
bee line into the eye Of the wind some
thing we did not think our boat would
do with two reefs, holding up under the
lea of Mrs. Stoves beautiful place at
Mandarine, we dropped sal ami put up
our tent, lighted our oil stoYe, made cot
fee and dried our clothes. Stopped rain
ing at i;30 p. m, and with light wind
we made ii few miles above Orange
Park, in all only fourteen miles from
Jacksonville iii two days. Noticed large
quantities OF muliet coming down river.
tuesday, August 3l.-Irospect of bet
ter winds and weather. Left cur an
chorage at 80 "a. m, light west wind to
Magnolia Point. Wind increasing and
looking like "A blow, we took IN reef
and close hauled made long dash for il
over the Green Cove Springs cove into IA
heavy sea. Approaching Picolata and
getting smoother water, we dropped an
chor To eat dinner and take n rest at , 80
p. III. Rained from to / p. IN. Picked
up our mud hook ami started up river
again on the port tack, with only "a light
wind, continued To heat slowly up
against an old swell caused by the morn
ing's wind, to within two miles of Tocoi.
Anchored for the night at : y. m. Made
thirty miles to-day. Begin to feel like
we are getting near Palatka.
Wednesday, Sept. lst.-UP anchor at
$3.50 a. m, wind fair but very light"
| died out opposite TOcoi; more winds
of same kind again at 1890 from y. w. =;
reached Federal Point at l p. m; wind
shifted to- y. w, coming up strong and
fairly steady; passed Palatka at 2:l0 p. IN. :;
began to beat our way up Devils Elbow
| at p. m; at Roiieston we had "A strong
fair wind blowing right up the narrow
| river; river higher and current running
up cup SOUTH" right way tins time);
| bowled right along, but dropped mud
! hook at Dunn's Creek on account of rain;
| left Dunn's Creek at 300 y. M; made
bridge at Buffalo Bluff at 5:35: man on
\ bridge opened the draw fof Us but looked
| ''cuss words on our diminutive craft;
wind blowing lightly and current with
us, we decided II ~ and make Horse
| Landing, but, " mi keeping up, made
Satsuma at y. m, making a run of 40
miles, the best day ; work yet.
Thursday, Sept. 2d.-Left Satsuma at
| q a. m, wind far aud light; wind in
| creased at Welaka: we gave the steamer
| Welaka a lead over the lake To show her
| the way; made final anchorage at $50 a.
m. in raSIy rain and y. f.. wind that has
| been blowing ever since. We would adj
| wise some other season for cruising on
the st. Johns. The latter part of Aug
| ust and first s.f Sep rmher usually are
ny and winds blowy and generally
bad squaily weather. This closed our
log for the maiden cruise of the Eva on
the st. Johus of iCJ miles or more,
and IA plea at nip of three weeks
| barring some disasrceable weather. Sun
shine aud ladies, si'hng days. are not
always the lot of cruisers; the bitter
must be taken a well - the sweet. The
| Eva VIII tIkc other cruises from time To
t:me, end " I'll keep you posted. Some
time. if you like, we VII give You a
thorough description of the "Barnegat
cruiser Eva" She has come up To every
requirement of the superintendent and
builder Mr.. Ii. Il. Smith, of EIutland,
who knows what II good boat Is, and has
demonstrated what an eleven foot boat
can do, and how cOmfOI ably two men
can live in So small a space, cook, eat and
sleep, and still stow month ; provisions
! in her. The lines of the Eva and sail
plan were taken from the Forest and
Stream, the nest authority on boats and
boating in America and Europe. The
first thing heard - we stepped ashore
was, Did you feel the earthquake
! No. we did not. We were too accustomed
to the tossing of our boat 10 Eotice a
small matter like an earthquake. We
have had one since our return, and il
| never disturbed our dreams of gently
tossing tn and fro. moored on the peace
full bosom of the st. Johns in our canoe,
with the starry sky and perhaps an over
| hanging giant live oak for Il shelter. \
pleasant voyage To YOU, good ship News.
over the editorial breakers, and may You
never ant Il fighting editor.
| CRUISERS.