Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-06-20
PLEASURE IN A CANOE.
THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN VoTA-
RIES OF SAIL AND PADDLE.
The Growing Popularity of the sport
Suggestions for Amateurs Who Would
Like to Emulate the Example of Noted
Canosists-Notable Trips.

Canoeists-Notable Trips.
Canoeing is one of the earliest Of
human inventions. and is undoubtedly
of American origin. Up to a decade
ago its development was not rapid, but
since that time wonderful strides have
been made, both in the construction Of
canoes and in the number Of people who
indulge in the sport. The increased in
terest in the sport may be traced to the
efforts of the American Canoe associa.
ton. When it was first established in
1879, thirty-fve canoes participated in
the annual meet at Lake George. Now
the association includes nearly one
hundred clubs, divided into four divi-
sions, and has membership of several
thousand canoeists. There is also a
Western Canoe association, in which
about twenty-five clubs are represented,
and there are many clubs whose mem
bers belong to no association.
The delights Of canoeing are as varied
as could be desired. The pastime is as
safe as any other outdoor exercise, and
if the canoeist is good swimmer he
practically runs no risk whatever. AL
/ most any one can learn to use the pad
dies in half an hour. An hour or two
more will suffice to render him familiar
with the working of the lines or foot
gear, and few days spent on the water
in company with canoeist will teach
him all he needs to know of navigation.
Then he is ready to essay his first voy-
age.
! PREPARATIONS FOR A CRUISE.
In choosing u canoe, the purchaser
will do well to consider the locality in
which he intends to cruise. Large, stiff
canoes are adapted to the great lakes, bays
and harbors where portages are unneces-
ary; but for ordinary lakes, rivers and
bays everything bulky or weighty should
be avoided. Old canoeists advise be-
ginners to secure for their first season a
second hand canoe which has been tried
and not found wanting. Such boat
can be readily obtained atprices varying
| from $25 TO $50. For the latter figure,
or less, first rate canoe may be bought.
Canoeing is only another term for
roughing it, and the canoeist will, of
course, sleep on board and cook his own
| meals. a tent is necessary, and very
nice one, fitted with top piece, to be
slung between the masts, and port hole
and side door, may be obtained for about
50. A small alcohol stove viii do all the
cooking required. and two quarts of the
fluid will last fortnight Such kitchen
utensils as a frying pan, tin pail and
deep boiling pot will be found necessary.
A field glass, some mosquito netting, eX-
ira cord, screws, nails, plenty of copper
wire and pair Of strong plicers are also
They can be had for a small outlay. A
very handy weapon to carry on such
cruise is the combination shotgun and
rifle. \ good, light, fishing rod will
often assist in supplying the larder.
Some ginger and quinine should be taken
along-not to season the fish, but to re-
press any stray stomach aches and colds
A trip can be made to cost most any
thing but on an ordinary cruise IN out
lay Of s. or So week will provide ali
necessaIies.
SOME FAMOUS CRUISING GROUNDS.
Some of the favorite cruising grounds
of canoeists are the Kennebec, Megan-
tie st. John and Delaware rivers; the
stretch of lake and river from Kingston,
Ont, to the mouth of the Richelieu'
river, a two weeks trip; the Mississippi
river, from the Minnehaha river to Clin-
ton; the Mississippi, from st. Louis to
the gulf of Mexico, wonderfully pic
turesque and delightful cruise Lake
Memphremagog and the Magog, the
Richelieu river. the Rideau canal and
the Oneida lakes; the Connecticut river,
the Mohawk river and the Erie canal.
Canoeists in this vicinity have the
beautiful Eudso1, ever changing and
ever new, on which to indulge their
favorite pastime. A pleasant days
cruise is down the bay to Sandy Hook,
hugging the Staten Island and New Jer-
sey shores.
"Rob Roy" McGregor's 1000 mile
cruise in European waters, made many
years ago, still stands as one of the most
remarkable canoe trips ever made. He
started from London, and, when near
the mouth of the Thames, landed and
sent his boat to Namur, where he again
launched her in the Sambre. He en-
tered the Meuse and dropped down past
Eiege and Marstricht, in Holland, to
Cologne. At the latter city he shipped
the canoe to Aschaffenlong and sailed to
Frankfort-on-the Main.
He traversed the Danube as far as
Ulm and then returned, came upon
Lake Constant on the north side, and
entered the Rhine where the river is
very narrow From Lake Constant he
went to Lake Zurich Lake Lucerne and
the River Reuss, and again sought the
Rhine, passing through Basle and draw
ing up at Mulhouse, in France. He next
proceeded to Paris by the Moselle, the
Meurthe, the Marine and the Seine.
An equally notable trip was that made
by the Italian canoeists, Barrucci and
Ferrari. They sailed from Roma for
Paris on July 20, and reached their
destination on Oct 1s. On the way
they stopped at Livorno, Geneva, Nice
and other less important places on the
Italian coast, anC arrived at Marseilles,
where they entered the Rhone. The
river had too strong a current for their
frail craft and they took the canal to