The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-25
CANOOzERS ON DECK
One THOUSAND WILL ATTEND THE
A. c. AS ANNUAL MEET
CANOES OF VARIOUS KINDS.
Lovely GrindstOne Island I'm the st.
Lawrence VIII BE Transformed
Into a City of Tents.

One thousand canoes Of all kinds and
sizes, ranging from the IS home made affair
to the $500 racer and from the tiny ten
foot craft as light a summers zephyr, to
the great war canoe, viii make things hum
the third week in August among the Thou
sand Islands of the St. Lawrence The
particular center of the excitement viii be
Grindstone Island, one of the prettiest In
the group. and one that is peculiarly adapted
for the annual meet of the American Canoe
Association.
The A. c. A has managed to hold up its
mead In royal shape against the pressure OF
the bicycle tidal wave, for 1t is part Of the
doctrine OF the organization: "Once a
canoozer, always e canoozer." The battle
cry Of the A. c. A. is We're no snoOzers-
we're canoozers. we belong to the A G. Ar
But the bike will play an incidental part
in this. the seventeenth annual meet OF the
Canoozers. Many Of the members will
journey to Grindstone Island by wheel,
sending their canoes by rail- and it is quite
possible that before the meet is over some
genius will have invented the bicycle-canOe-
Something unique always happens at these
meets, and to predict the invention Of q
bike-canoe is a very mild prophecy.
Sixteen years ago the first meet Of the
association took place al Lake George, and
twenty canoes composed the feet. The
next year there were one hundred Of the
little fellows. and each succeeding year has
shown a great increase. There are some
back number, but the records of the asso-
citation emphaticauy contradict this The
reason OF its continued popularity is that
it is essentially a poor man g sport. Only
millionaire. or a person closely akin to
one can own yacht, but man or woman
Of very humble financial means can own
a canoe and have Just much fun. But
from this it must not be judged that only
poor folks are canoozers. Many rich men
who are quite capable of owning big yachts
belong to the A G. A, and this class large
ly makes up the canoe fiends." They are
the ones who search the earth for new
wrinkles, who build costly racers. and who
appear at the meets with craft of the most
outlandish kinds.
THE THREE TYPES.
Of the boats there are three distinct
species, and these are individually sub
ject to further variations. First, there is
the open padding canoe, an improved re-
production in cedar. or Eastwood, Of the
original craft, with little, if any, deck,
and propelled by single blade paddles
after the Indian fashion. These are SER
VlceabIe only in smooth water. They are
easily carried for short distances and are
especially adapted for cruising upon shall
low inland waterways.
Next We have the racing decked canoe
in which comfort OF itinerant usage is
completely ignored. 1t is overlooked,
Over-sparred and over-centerboarded, de-.
signed solely for the brief hour of racing
and valueless apart from the cheering of
crowds and a similarly equipped opponent.
Then there is the conventional cruising
CauUG II mas q cockpit OF SuIuCl6HL lGHB III
to serve as sleeping quarters for the skip
per and fitted with folding centerboard
that leaves the room all free and clear
1t has hosting and reehng sails, supple
mented by a pair of jointed double blade
paddles for use in spruce" DreeZes, and a
water-tight storeroom at either end for
provisions. Nearly all the boats of this
class are able to stand any weather, and
their devotees make long coastWise cruises
and in the great lakes.
WIDE VARIETY IN COST.
MI
where from $50 up. A crack racing craft
will cost from $3.50 to $500, and a cruising
canoe with complete equipment will cost
about SIPS. In second hand boats a really
irst-class type of open or cruising canoe,
little, the worse for wear. may be picked
up at a ridiculously low figure Racing
canoes without cup-winning capabilities
are practically yalueless to their builder
out are good for ordinary cancers.
The war canoes form a distinct class.
They are the mammoths Of their kind, hold
ng forty or fifty people and able to weather
stim blow or a nasty sea- Some OF these
war canoes cost as much as 81 ,000 and only
he richest clubs in the association attempt
@ sport one.
In addition to his canoe each member
Will bring to the camp his own tent. Some
lines two three chum together and use
he same tent. while quite a number rig
Up a canvas covering and use their canoes
or sleeping purposes. These tents form a
picturesque festure of the annual meets
The whole camp is governed with the
discipline maintained in the army, and a
esult everything is systematized and neat
less prevails.
MANY STREETS OF TENTS.
The tents are arranged in streets, which
re designated by various appropriate
la1nes. There is headquarters tent, with
,ost office, signal station and writing facil-f
ties; and reveilIe and retreat are sounded
nd colors raised and lowered in accord
nee with military usage. Regular details
re made for the night and day patrols, and
1afa 1fftla within fha
sased precincts Of the camp is exercised
y the commodore of the association.
Squaw Point is invariably most attrac-
i've place at the meets This is the section
ct apart exclusively for the use of the
-oren canoozers, who are numbered by the
undred. No matter where the meet is
ED, the Women's section IS always called
quaw Point. The same rules which gov
m the masculine end Of the camp prevail
n the feminine side. but the tents on the
litter are much gayer, Astounding with dec
ratiOns and an endless variety of things
hitch are totally absent across the barrier.
THE RACE PROGRAMME.
Twenty odd races have been arranged for
t the coming meet. The most important
re padding and sailing Combines padding,
ailing. club sailing, limited and unlimited
ailing, cruising, go-as-you-please. novice.
andem, club fours, padding upset. sailing
pset, hurry-scurFy and unclassined- Then
lere are the various record and trophy
aces. and in all these there are many
asses and divisions.
The great race on the programme is tho
International affair in which some foreigner
les to wrest from the association the in
irrational challenge cup presented in 1886
V the New York Canoe Club. Many races
ave been sailed and each time the chal-
niger has been bowled over. Last year
auI Butler of Lowell. Mass, defended the
ID successfully against Charles Archibald.
the Mon Canoe Club. Mr.. Butler's
moe, the Wasp, holds the record for the
stest mile under sail. covering the dis
nee in four minutes and twenty-five SEQ
Ids.