Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-05-31
TO PADDLE 10000 MILES.
Messrs. James and holland Leave
Irvington In Skifr for New York.

lrvinStOn In SIKH Ter New York.
A goodly crowd assembled at the Irv-
ington Beach Hotel on Wednesday
morning TO witness the start OF the long
est canoe cruise on record. Cannons
were fired as the graceful little craft was
pushed from the shore and the two
young men left amid the cheers and best
wishes of all present.
Following is brief synopsis of the
purposed voyage, as furnished by Mr..
James, and Is along the line of an article
which win appear in June number of
Field and Stream, a monthly magazine
published i'm New York.
"Our course on the charts extends
over ten thousand miles of distance,
covering In general way the territory
from the Chesapeake Bay to the Gulf of
st. Lawrence ON the inside course.
Returning from the ST. Lawrence we will
hug the eastern coast of the United
States, into the Gulf of Mexico 10 the
mouth of the Rio Grande River.
To accomplished this our schedule calls
for year of time, and our boat will be
an open padding canoe.
"First of all we would like it under
stood that the venture Is not the result
OF hankering for notoriety, and under
taken for g lark to be given up when
the paddles become heavy and shipping
seas becomes an hourly duty. We are
going for the love of the sea, for love
of adventure, for an urquenchable thirst
for genuine sport and hardship; and
in conclusion, because we sincerely
believe we can make the trip, and il we
do so II will be something accomplished
that will be worth while. We will have
COPIED successfully with wind and water
for whole year, and covered ten thous-
and miles of territory, using only souls
and paddles in an open canoe on the open
sea, something, we believe, yet untried.
"Our boat is eighteen feet In length,
with beam of three feet nine inches. She
was built on the st. Lawrence River
solely for THE expedition, the features
of her construction being lightness in
proportion to strength, and adaptable to
SOULS and paddles in accordance with
thorough seaworthiness. Leaving the
Rappahannock River we win head south
and pass out through the Virginia capes,
turning north towards New York. When
we reach the Hudson River we will
begin the inside route to the Gulf of ST. |
Lawrence, going up the stream to ALBANY,
through the Erie Canal, through the
Lakes to the ST. Lawrence River, whose
rapids we hope to survive add reach the |
mouth in good season to start on the |
long southern end of the trip before the |
commencement of cold weather. The |
trip will END in Texas.
"In our equipment is a tent, and let 1t |
be understood that we never intend to |
sleep In the boat, but to camp on shore
every night, Bleaching and launching |
our boat through the surf whenever ii is |
necessary. Guns and fishing tackle have |
a place in the water tight compartments,
as well as cameras and typewriter. Our
baggage, as closely as we can estimate it,
weighs about one hundred and forty
pounds.
"We will write stories exclusively for
the Field and Stream magazine dealing
with incidents and adventures OF the
expedition, going into some detail con-
corning the sporting conditions all along
The coast as relating to cunning and
fishing.
I'VE are looking forward to work,
hardship, experiences and sport blended
70 such form that we shall partially for
get constant drcnchings from many
landings In many places. We shall
expect good days and bad ones; and
doubtless shall take the good advice
Of Lancaster friend who said: IF
were you when the good days
come I'd just make those oars and pad
dies sing tune, but on those other
days I'd stick closer TO the land than
pine tree, and read my Bible for dear life,'
and In his eyes was a get-there look as
though he was accomplishing distances
In his mind"
The success of this cruise has been the
subject OF much comment throughout
the Northern Neck and the concensus of
opinion is that it will never be completed.
There are few, however, who, knowing
The young men to be of true grit, are
that they will make a success
full finish.
Mr.. Alvah d. James, aged 90, Is the
grandson of A. James, ST., residing near
lrvington, and Is by no means novice
in the handling of boats. Mr.. Barton
Haxall holland, his companion, aged the
same. is 8 Virginian, having been born
at Middleburg, Loudoun county, Va.
and though knowing but little OF the
water, has had much experience In the
West In camping, and Is an athlete of no
mean repute.