Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-24
EXPERT CANOEMEN.
Maine Guides Know How to Handle
the Frail Boats.

Maine Guides Know How to Handle
the Frail Boats.
'sUp to the time that came to Maine
bad an idea in my head that l knew all
there was about the art of managing q
canoe, but now l know that there is much
that have to lsafn. ! tell you that the
msu that learns all there is to know about
handling a canoe upon calm placid river
or lake on clear day, is wonder, and
that is the way gained all my knowledge
concerning canoes"
The speaker was a prominent Massachu-
sets man, who is well known In canoeing
circles Of that state, but who is now on
his first trip to Maine. AS he tells 1t, the
first lar that his confidence in his own
ability to manipulate canoe received
was when the steamer on which he crossed
Moosehead lake picked up canoe in mid
lake, with heavy sea running. When ne
first saw that the canoeist was about to
board the steam boat, he made up his
mind that il the man got on board with
no further mishap than to capsize his
canoe, he would be fortunate. :,
The man in the canoe, who was well
known Maine guide, however, brought
his craft close beside the steamers side,
craft and then came aboard himself, after
which the canoe was swung on board, the
whole being accomplished in the space of
about two minutes and without bit OF
water entering the canoe.
This convinced the Massachusetts, man
that there were others who knew thing
or two about canoes besides himself. He
has since seen the Maine guides repeat the
trick with their canoes and in much
rougher weather. He has also seen them
shoot rapids in safety that he did not feel
that it was possible to navigate a canoe
through, and he now says, unhesitatingiy,
that the Maine guides are the best canoe
men in the world
That he is not far from being right most
auy one who has seen them handle their
sensitive crafts will acknowledge. They
do things with them that seem almost i'm
possible, and frequently put out with sea
running that forces other craft to stick
close to their moorings.
The writer once had Grand Lake
stream guide tell him that the only time
that he was ever frightened when fishing
was when he was in row boat, sallboat
or a small steamer. That on such occa-
sions, let sea begin running and he
wanted to get ashore, but that in canoe
he did not mind good big sea. Inquiry
among the guides brought forth the fact
that none OF them could remember time
when that part cular guide had ever hest
tated to cross the lake in his canoe, and
that he had on several occasions made
the trip when every other boat on the lake
was securely fastened, their owners not
daring to allow them out.
Undou btedly one great reason for the
fearlessness of these men in a canoe and
their great skill in the management OF the
small craft is that they have been
brought up in them, as it were. They
have teen using them from boyhood and
know their every mood and whim and
understand how to work them to the best
advantage.
The greatest testimonial to the skill of
the Maine guides as canoemen Is that,
though thousands of people are carried
each year by them in their canoes for
hundreds of miles, accidents are practical
ly unknown,