Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-10-03

is fully repaid Tor any effort by q
glimpse of this enchanting region. BY
This time il was dark, but the moon
came out and added still more splendor
to the scene.
Boating in the waterworlx's race is
not allowed but there is one on the left
which carried us down to good water
with only short drag. II was dark in
the shadow Of many trees gliding along
in the darkness, occasionally brushed
by an overhanging bough, with here
and there patch OF light where the
moon shone through the foliage, seemed
very romantic and adventurous, and it
was difficult to realize that we We're
passing through a thickly-populated
city. IL looked little doubtful when
we came to the long, low aqueduct
toward the end of the race, for being
strangers to this part of the city, and
unable to see through the tunnel it was
difficult to tell where il would take us.
There was Just space enough above the
water to admit the boats, and as there
seemed no other way to get by, We
lay down in the canoes and let them
go, half expecting to stick fast Or come
out on some big mill wheel After
| striking and catching for moment on
some large stones projecting from the
ceiling, which we had to push up on
to get the boats clear, and bowling
along for short time in darkness, we
emerged once more from the gloom into
| the open moonlight. Then again taking
| to the Brandywine, which below the
mills is broad and deep, it was clear
run past the city TO the Christiana, but
as the tide was wrong and no good
camping place appeared, we padded
our little barks back to town, ON the
other side, and put up for the night.
If the canoejst wants to catch the
tide going up the river he has some
| hard padding to do TO get out the
| Christiana, but once in the Delaware
he needn't do thing hut keep the
canoe head on to the swells from the
big steamers for the tide sweeps the
boat along at great rate. The little
canvas shells are tossed about like
chips in the rollers, but they are much
more difficult to capsize than one would
suppose and if handled with any judg,
ment at all they behave admirably. The
writer padded across to Lincoln Park
and back to the Pennsylvania side
without any trouble. 1t gets pretty
|
to change and the wind blows in your
face, and the canoe is apt to ship q
| little after when big sea breaks over
the bow.
1t took about three hours to run up
to Chester, u miles above Wilmington,
but with hard padding il could bC
done in much less time. As we en-,
tered Chester creek and made our way
up its muddy and unsavory courst
people along the wharves shouted
Here come the Indians" and anyone
who has been on the water long in the
hot sun without broad brimmed hal
is a red man sure enough. Over /
little camp-fir supper and breakas
were cooked after the fashion Gus
tomary in the absence of women and
the boats furnished hunks for the
night. 1t is better for the sake o.
morality not to say anything about thu
mosquitoes which infest this region.
Philadelphia is 1919 miles above Ches
ter and this distance makes a very com
Portable half days run, but when the
canoeist gets up into civilization again,
where countless craft are plying about
in all directions, making the water Sc
choppy with their cross swells that he
gets dizzy looking at it, ii is necessary
TO be very cautious to avoid an upset,
but it is possible to go as far as you
like
The whole trip from West Chester tc
Philadelphia, about 30 miles in length.
was very delightful and was enjoyed
immensely but as il affords unlimited
opportunities for 'roughing it, anc
requires considerable hard work it il
perphaps not to be recommended fol
people who don't like that sort o.
thing. Edward i. DARLINGTON.