Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-21

she go ashore there, we determined to
beach her as soon as we could spread sn
improvsed jury sail, which we did in a few
minutes, utilizing our jib for the purpose.
We soon gathered Roadway and at what
seemed a favorable point Just below a lit
tie headland we raa ashore in the tumbling
breakers. Two of us jumped overheard
at the bow and endeavored TO steady the
boat while the third member of our party
gathered I'D our dry clothing and some
food ard matches and leaped ashore A
thicket to the waters edge retarded our
efforts greatly. and soon the surf catch
ing the canoes stern swung her around
broadside. and as we knew she would fill
with water in a few minutes, we devoted
our energies to saving as much of our car
60 possible.
We succeeded fairly well, and after half
ar hours hard work had nearly all Of our
outfit ashore, but ell our bread, fresh
water and ice and "a large portion of our
provisions. charts, blankets and spare
clothing disappeared in the angry waves.
This was not the first shipwreck in the ex-
perience Of cur party, and. taking matters
philosophically, We built a big fire on the
beach, got on our dry clothing and watch
ed the dawnirg of the day. AS 1t got
lighter we saw, less than a mile below
US, the frowning cliffs of Chesapeake
Beach. and we were truly thankful that
our accident had not occurred there. After
resting few hours and enjoying a good
breakfast from our remaining supplies. we
devoted ourselves to getting our boat afloat
again. As the tide and sea had gone down
this was attended with some difficulty. but
we finally succeeded in launching her and
found that no injury had resulted from the
Bleaching in the soft sand.
After drying our sails and clothing We
hastily slowed our boat with the articles
We had saved, and, spreading sail again,
we shaped ou" course for Point Lookout,
many miles to the southwark of Us. AS we
passed Chesapeake Beach we noticed its
hz1f
sign Of habitation save deserted house
in the distance.
Fer hours We sailed along an unbroken
and almost uninhabited coast, and We had
to look toward the eastern shore and Its
passing steamers for signs of life. Just
before reaching the mouth of the Patux-
ent river, however, we passed a settlement,
and the sight Of the neatly built houses
and pier was most welcome one. After
doubling Cedar Point we sighted Drum
Point light house, few miles to the
southwark and our course from point to
point often took ns many miles out into
the bay and almost in the track of the
ocean going steamers. Hurryins onward,
across the mouth of the PatuXent river,
We laid our course for Point No Point and
Point Lookout, about ten miles distant
and, as we approached near enough to See
the cottages and tents, which afford such
pleasant summer homes for many citi-
zens of the nations capital. we felt that
we were almost within reach of our beau
tiful city, but We had still 1O4 miles to sail
over.
Rounding Point Lookout just after sun
set. we passed into the Potomac river. and
running up alongside the government pier,
made things snug for the night. We had
been all day without fresh water, and the
Clear cool water of the artesian well tasted
Ike nectar to us. Many of the Washington
mans at Point Lookout had taken the
steamer for home the evening before, but
those who still remained gave us hearty
welcome. After good nights rest we
oa1n soil Of tho f@yI1
and were soon lacking across the broad
river, past the mouth of the historic st.
Mary's river and past st. Georges Island.
We sailed almost to the Virginia shore and
then, with a fair wind, headed directly up
stream by Pfney and Ragged points and
Nomini cliffs, reaching Blackstone Island
at pm, and landed at Colton's, where
we stopped a few hours to see friends and
to lay in a new stock of provisions. While
there, a strong southwest wind sprang up,
and we determined to sail all night and be
at Washington, seventy-seven miles up the
Potomac, in the morning.
We passed through Dukehart's channel at
OILS pm. and sailed at almost steamboat
speed by the Wicomico river lighthouse
and soon afterward passed Colonial Beach,
Its lights twinkling far off on our left. Soon
Lower Cedar Point was reached, and here
we overlook and passed two large schoon-
ers bound up stream. Occasionally a steam
er would be seen moving rapidly in the dis
lance. On we sped, lacking through the
famous Nanjemoy reach, which sailors
dread so much, and then, with flowing
sheets, around Maryland Point lighthouse
and up by Smiths Point, Douglass Point
Liverpool Point, and Sandy Point, Mary
land
Then came Chicamuxen creek and Stump
Neck, and on the Virginia shore, Quantico
and Potomac City Dawn found us off Mat
tawoman creek, just below Indian Head
and the rest of the trip Is we'll known to
Washingtoniars.
We reached our berth at 9th street wharf
at 10 am. Tuesday. just fifty-nine hours
from the time we left Annapolis, having
spent twenty hours on shore during the
took and passed every sailing vessel from
Point Lookout to this city. O. B. G.