New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-04
CANOEINGS MANY CHARMS.
DAINTY WAYS OF THE MINIATURE CRAFT

SCENES IN A CLUBHOUSE -RsCiNG AND CRUISING.
There few inannate objects animate with
grace than a canoe. Not the canoe Of the Indian
the barge of the South Islander but TIE Of
civilization and Of science. Few misconceptions are
widespread than the common notion thar all
canoe men. from Rob Roy down, have padded
through life in biz ch bark sk Poetry and the
lists untrammelled gnation have done Tor the
birch bark OF the noble red man. but the reality
is and always a cranky and less mis-
shapsn vessel whose "ttructural weakness "
more serious quantity than that which the famous
experts discovered in the Dolphin. II had its good
points which fitted it for the conditions and TO
which subjected but to-day its place is the
museum and II the noble red don't want TO lose
all standing as maritime nation they viii order
navy CON posed OF the excellent M0tican canoes
turned ont by white builders The modern canoe with
ts outfit Is the outgrOwth Of science and experience
II the result Of prolonged effort 10 Put the most
things in the smallest space. to get the greatest
strength with the least material. ~ produce the
utmost speed with the smallest power. ana yet keep
all the time within the bounds of personal safety And
no one who has DAINTY little craft sailing way
under the command Of sun Drowned skipper with
tent and oilers food and cooking utensils all slowed
away in dark and unknown corners. everything tant
and tidy about her cruising rig she dDs into the
pie behind no sag that the effort has been in
VAIN OF the result unworthy Of the effort.
The beauty and charm Of the canoe lie this tina.
il is the delightful of Daythnss and yet is
tremely useful. The orawny canoe man experiences
all the pleasure Of ering with and trusting his lite
and the of Subsistence for many days a little
fabric which be really holds in the hollow Of his
hand. II is much as though grave business man
should get into the train OF tin that his four year
Old son is dragging about the nursery floor and lie
be fred the engue with hand and ged the
brakes and punched his own ticket with the other
should run limited express 10 Albany. A stranger
who wanders into the house OF canoe club has
vague impression that he has gotten dolls ship
yard The vsrusheo canoes with tin rudders
aud centre boards siung in their berha aong the
wall or sire wed about the floor The sails are role,
Up and slowed away IN the corner hang iron the
niasts that stepped in of holes bored tie
floating stage that serves as a pier The stalWar
canoeman picks up his little craft and drops her into
the water with splash. He hauls her hack aud
forth With finger Us easly CULVER hauled the
navy of the Lillpuuan monarch. The mast stepped
In lts hole the staging and the sail hoi-ted The
running gear Of twine through little nickel paed
blocks is overhaulrc 10 see that everything clt ar
ami straight. " hen All is TO the satisfaction OF the
skipper be picks the Whole apparatus up bodily and
ste pps the mast N its place 10 he little vessel The
only rope in the entire outfit large enough FOR a
cloihes-lne is tie main sheet which must bear tbt
tug of the siXty or seventy square feet OF SAL.
When the eauOe-man cruising. or when he l. beat
ing up IN light wnd race. ne sits with only bis
head and shoulders above the gunwale But when
the winc - piping iree even though II doesn't
bappen TO he " u-sou-ee." the skipper has 10 be
rirht on deck all the time. In the iOrmer case be
steers with nis feet by means ~ ack and an ange
ment of tler ropes like that by which the bow oars
man of "a Dared she'll laws his course when there
IL no coxswain. Wien the wind freshens however
boa ard
quarter the skipper seats himself with one hand
behind him the tiller BY aiding bach and forth
on this get up u wndward and make biz
iftle vac BIT stand az the wind tn stiff breeze
the canoes shoot through the water with great
rapidity Thirty tive miles have been sailed In four
hours winch Ia q record that with time allowance
ba.sd On msasuremsn would leave the Puritan far II
the rear The experts hate got TO cracsing on sail at
q great rate carrying sometimes 1oD or lZO square