The Opelousas courier., 1894-10-13
DOWN THE POTOMAC
=
instructive Account Of a Oh Lrm-
ing Canoe Voyage. :
a Trip Which Must Prove \ Revelation ia
the Lover OF Nature - Some Isina
Samples of Local Nomenclature
Tho Aqua Quarries.
Especial Washington Letter.

Especial Washington Letter.
The Washington Canoe association is
an organization of which any chief o.
the old Analostans, Powtowmacks. Ac
comacs, or Susquehannas would have
been very proud. In the days OF the
abortgines the placid Potomac was
plowed by the dug-out. birch-barh
and RATED handicraft of ambitious COP.
p~er-colored sportsrnen and warriors.
They went a-ashing in those days, but
they did not go cunning. They had
BOWS and arrows and crude traps; but
such as they had they used for captur
ing or killing the reed-birds, ortolans
ducks, deer and other game. They IN.
vaded the fats and marshes, and
tramped over the islands for mere wan,
tonness. They had tribal fleets, too
and went to var as heroically and fero
ciously as did their white brethren be.
yond the trackless Atlantic waste. Blu,
they had no Armada, nor any panoplied
hotilla such as that in which Cleopatra
led Marc Antony to disgrace and in.
fanny
The modern feet Of canoes has Its
headquarters g the spot on which
the greatest battle was ever fought in
prehistoric times. The Analostans
Accomacs and Powtowmacks formed
confederacy; a sort Of t~ri-partite agree
ment for their mutual protection
against the invading hordes OF the
north, called Susquehannas. The lat,
ter tribe came down like wolves on the
fold. Their ranks were as the sands OF
the seashore in number. But, upon one
occasion, when they came by land and
by water, the southern confederacy OF
copper-colored warriors entrenched
themselves upon an eminence nov
them. drove them back. followed and
smote them hip and thigh; SO that they
never again approached the Potomac
region. Even until this day the bones
Of those slain in that great battle on
the river, as well as on the land, and
that on Analostan island, midway be.
tween the river banks. are occasionally
exhumed, when buildings are erected
on the spot where thousands Of dusky
warriors battled for supremacy. It is
near this battle-ground that the modern
feet casts and weighs anchor to-day.
But the complete crafts Of the pleas.
ure-seekers are models Of ease and com
fort. In such a safe vessel as the lit
tie Mariner, it is a great pleasure to
explore the bays and shores of the
lower river. For several days proceed
ing the cruise, active preparations had
been going on to insure o complete out
ct, and the tent, cooking utensils,
blankets and provisions were nov
snugly slowed u-der the deck in such
q manner as to ballast the cruiser for
her best sailing. Rapidly the familiar
shores of the river neal the city were
passed, and once under the long bridge
we felt that u cruise had really be-
gun. The temptation to stop for a
brief visit to the wooded bluffs Of the
Four Mile run, a favorite rendezvous
OF the Potomac canoeists, was resisted
by a desire to make camp as fardown
the river as possible the first night, SO
we kept our course in midchannel
past Alexandria, the former home OF
Lord Fairfax, and Jones' Point just be-
low, where on April Is, 1871, the initial
corner stone Of the present District OF
Columbia was laid by notable gather
ing of distinguished officials, in &C
cordance with President Washington's
proclamation Of March 80, 1791. an
nouncing the bounds Of the new feder-
al territory afterwards named the Dis
trict OF Columbia. The present light
house at Jones' Point stands on the
site of the interesting ceremonies, and
In the beginning OF this century it was
proposed to erect a strong fort there to
be called "Columbia"in commemoration
of the event.
The Mariner is so different In every
way from the original craft called
scanoe" that It seems to be q great
misnomer. In the first place no oars
are required for its propulsion, for 1t
has two large, light but strong sails
which make It leap through and over
the water like . thing OF Life Ia the
next place It has a keel, and one does
not have to maintain an absolute
enuilibrinm, as in the aboriginal canoe
I know how 1t is myself, for nee upon
time d dug-out canoe, without . mo-
ment's warning, dumped me IN the
middle OF the Mississippi river on the
Des Moines rapids, and tried to ride me
over the rocks. That canoe had no
deck. The Mariner has . substantial
deck and reqaires ballast. Il IS really
more fun for . young fellow to go
canoeing in 8 dug-out q birch-bark
affair. But . few years later q mod
ern canoe is much more enjoyable.
of Hunting creek our craft salis
through . large flock Of anchored de-
on, which from distance appear 50
ltfelixe as they feat on the glisten1ng
ware Forts Foote and Washington,
the cen Of many jolly camping par
ties, are left behind. and rounding
Sheridan point. where the river makes
its FIRST bend below the city the tau
shaft cf TIE Washington monument
disappears from view just as the his
toric mansion At Mount Vernon IS
seen. one and three-fourths miles
sway. All sail ii nov crowded On and
i boat beaded for this hpspitable
shors. whsre ~ knaw : h1arty web