Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-10-02
4 SUMMER CRUISE ON THE
SHENANDOAH.
A UNION COMMODORE AND A
STA UNION FLEET.

A STA UNION COMMODORE AND 4
STA UNION FLEET.
The return of Commodore F. R. Webb
and his canoe fleet from their cruise down
the Shenandoah river to Riverton. has been
The party which left Staun-
ton with their canoes Oh August 18th, was
composed of Prof. f. r. Webb, Mr.. Charles
L. Cooke and MI. George Beall. Prof.
Webb, the Commodore of the fleet, has
kindly furnished us his report of the cruise.
1t will be found delightful reading, not only
for the novelty of the expedition described,
but for the manner of description
graphic description OF the night camp at
Strickler's brings to the mind the scene
with it's moving and still life us wildly as
photograph
We had, with confidence all misplaced,
taken passage for ourselves and canoes on
a local freight train on the B. & 0. r. r.
Which was to leave Staunton at about 5
O'Clock and which would land us at Mt.
Crawford station, on North River, at G.
IN good time to get the canoes down the
long hill to the waters edge and 90 into
camp for the night easily and comfortably
before dark the experienced cruiser and
camper dislikes making a camp after dark
and begin the descent of the river in the
morning. But the engine and train crew
had such an interminable amount of Shift
ing to do around the yard that 1T was long
after O'Clock before we pulled out of
Staunton at all; and by the time we had
laid by Is minutes at Verona to wait for a
belated passenger train, and had lost an
other Is OF 20 minutes at Fort Defiance
while the train men subdued a hot box by
means OF cold water and repaoking, season.
ed with much objurgations and plenteous
scriptural quotations, twilight was gently
stealing upon us and throwing it's shadowy
mantle over forest. field and mountain peak
as we sat on the top of the eaboose enjoy
ing deck passage; and by the time we had
reached our destination and were enjoying
a hearty supper Of ham and eggs and steam
ing hot coffee, after getting our canoes in
position on the sandy river bank and the
snug little tents erected over them, it was
quite dark and we had to dispatch our meal
by the light of our lanterns.
By happy thought we had disembarked
at the water station, mile OIL so this side
Of Mt. Crawford, getting the canoes off the
train while the fireman was engaged in
watering his iron horse; and we thereby
saved the long carry to the river at Mt.
Crawford, 1.-THE water station is Immediate
ly on the river bank as well as some two
OF three miles of intricate, troublesome
river navigation next morning
We got good early start next morning
for the beginning OF the trip, and had
delightfully."- pleasant days cruise down
North River, making Port Republic in
time for an early camp In the evening The
banks of North River, as rule, consist Of
bluffs, bold and high, with frequent lines
of cliffs and curious, isolated columns and
pillars of stone, and great shell-shaped
lodges projecting their knife-like edges far
out beyond the line of trees. Consequently
the scenery was picturesque and attractive
and afforded Beall some fine views for his
kodak, while the river, without being in
the least high, was at an elegant cruising
stage, affording us good boating water
down the numerous rapids and over the
frequent Lodges and fish dams-the shoot
ing of which was attended with great sport
and excitement, and at times considerable
Skill, promptneSs and address were required
to prevent wrecking our frail canoes.
s MI. Cooke S plenteous avoirdupois proved
to be somewhat in excess of the resisting
capacity of his rather too light canoe, and
in consequence of unavoidably too frequent
collisions with the ever present reefs, his
boat was soon found to be leaking, and on
our arrival at Rockland Mills, it was I'M
packed and turned bottom upward in the
hot sun to dry off, and an examination re-
vealed small hole through the canvas and
a couple of smashed rib-bands Repairs
were soon made and the canoes lifted over
the mill-dam and the cruise resumed.
A large church association was in pro-
gress at this place and during our deten-
ton here, we were surrounded by curl
Gus, interested crowd of spectators, in
which the irrepressible small boy element
predominated.
Our midday lunch was taken at the
mouth Of Middle River and our nights camp
made at Port Republic, as before stated,
and next days run found us in camp at the
Three Springs after a pleasantly exciting
oEu ofc
the Shenandoah.
1t was Saturday, and as it was our inten-
ton to remain i'll camp he-e over Sunday,
we put everything in shape before eating
our noon lunch, including the erection
of the tents. mess-table and dining fly. Our
movements in putting up our camp were
somewhat accelerated by the rapid ap-
proach of heavy rain storm which broke
upon us while we were eating our dinner,
but sheltered by our fly we were in no wise
incommoded by the rain.
Our camp here was picturesque and
pleasant one. Rising steeply from the riv-
Ell was high rocky bluff, at the foot of
which the water gushed out in a great cold
flood, from not merely three, but dozen
springs, falling into the river in volume
equal to large creek; while a narrow level
shelf of tree-shaded turf lay along the foot
OF the bluff between 1T and the river on
which the tented canoes were placed in a
line one after the other, with the river flow
ing broad, swift, and full of rocks in front;
its pleasant murmur, mingled with the
musical brawl Of the flood from the springs
sounding it's lullaby in our ears day and
night.