Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-28
IN A NOVEL RIVER CRAFT
A Year to Be Spent in q Kansas House.
boat.
Capt. Curtis Long Trip TO the Gulf
From Topeka-Thc Most Extensive
Undertaking of His Life.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
TOPEKA, Kan, March 20. 1894.
trip from Topeka to the Gulf of Mex.
leo by boat may not be a journey that
would be appreciated by the average citi-
zen, but Capt. Charles Curtis, father OF
Congressman Curtis, will test its pleasures
and hardships. A few days ago this old
gentleman cast off the lines which moored
MS queer boat TO the banks of the Kansas
river and started on his long voyage to
New Orleans. The boat was built by Capt
GURUS expressly for this trip. IL is forty
elsht feet long, Of ten-foot beam and fat
oottomed, being so constructed that the old
captain guarantees that she will float on a
damp sand bar On the deck OF the boat
is cabin, which contains two stoves the
usual lockers and cooking utensils and
sleeping accommodations for three persons.
The boat is not TO depend wholly upon the
tickle currents OF the Kaw, Missouri and
Mississippi rivers for its motive power, but
viii carry sails, to be used when winds are
favorable.
For nearly forty years Capt. Curtis has
been making annual voyages over western
rivers, but he never before started out with
so elaborate equipment. and he looks upon
his present trip as the most important he
ever made. He never before ventured out
in anything save an open boat, and the
luxury Of a cabin was unthought of before
his son was elected TO Congress.
When a mere boy the captain came to
Kansas and found home with the In
dams. He led an idle, rowing life, dividing
his time between hunting. fishing and horse
racing. he was never long away from the
rivers, and was completely lost when rot
within easy reach of a boat. He took a
boat in which to enter the Cherokee strip
at the time Of the opening, and while others
were racing madly over the dust-covered
prairies, he fioated down the Arkansas
river peacefully and serenely, fishing end
hunting on the journey. No creek has been
too shallow and no stream too small to
deter him from his explorations.
am growing old now" said the old
man, as he chatted with q few friends on
the river bank prior to his departure. I
feel little more comfortable under shelter
than in the open. That's why / have put
a cabin on this beat. I've been Pretty
hardy all my life, but lately rheumatics
have got into my legs, and il 1 get a good
Wettlng they give me trouble. unless / am
where / can get thawed out. i don't ex-
pect to reach New Orleans for a year for
L am going TO take my time on this trip.
You know l most always travel alone but
this time l am going TO take along a crew
of two to do the work. / always was a
little lazy. but somehow I have always
managed to get along on my hunting and
fishing trips. ] have two good guns along
with me and will DO some shooting. hut
don't expect to fish much. I've a patent
animal trap and some liniments which I
expect to sell on the w2-. AMI I'll stop
at all the towns on both sides Of the rivers
Yes. that Lawrence dam is a nuisance. and
l don't know whether I'll drift or skid over
il. l have taken beats over il seven times,
[ so l guess l can do il again"
Capt. Curtis ambition was TO make lis
| son Charley an expert horseman and SOCK
| ey. He taught him to ride at races In
! the summer the boy followed the small
/ circuits and in winter ne drove hacks. He
| was determined. however. to make for HIM
\ sH,,v, 1.
/ father had mapped out for him. so. instead
/ Of TALK & horse with his fellows during
his idle moments, he devoted his time to
! study. He finally entered law Office, was
! admitted to the bar and. when thirty-fcur
| years old. was elected to represent the To-
/ peka district in Congress. He is now serv-
/ ing his first term and Will be renominated
/ by reclamation by the republican district
! convention.