The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-18
CANOE cAPERs.
What One Skilled and Powerful SWIM
mer Has Been Able to Do.

Fl. d. Jones In August St. Nicholas.
Water sports during the past few years
have come to be among the chief
events" on the holiday programmes of
many seaside and yacht clubs. Some Of
these sports call for no small amount of
skill and strength.
The fitting" on canoes Is familiar to
most young folks; but I want to tell you
of some novel stunts done by clever
member of a lakeside club, a trained
canoeist and expert swimmer. AS every
boy knows, or ought to know, no one,
young or old, has any business in a
canoe who is not a sl1illful. and powerful
swimmer, and quite able to take care Of
himself in the water under any and all
circumstances.
Moreover, no canoe tricks should ever
be attempted by any one, except in COM
paratively shallow water, not far from
shore, and even then there should be
companions close at hand, in boat,
ready and alert to give immediate aid in
any emergency
The canoeist began his tricks by falling
out of the canoe sidewise, overturning
the canoe with him. This was easy
enough or seemed so, although the knack
of falling out of a canoe SO that the craft
tits after you is only acquired by prac-
tice. Next the young man climbed back
into the canoe, after getting it on an
even keel. This was not SO easy 1t re-
quired some skill, lot of agility and a
practical acquaintance with the eccentric
tiles of boat of the lightness and del
icacy of build of a canoe. 1t was not
difficult to capsize the boat again in
climbing back. II this was done too
many times the performer was not I'M
likely to become exhausted. For this
reason he was careful not to go too far
from the banks when attempting his
aquatic practice, for 1t might have been
necessary to swim ashore, towing the
canoe, to rest for while before making
another attempt. When the difficult
! knack of righting the canoe, climbing
back again, and falling overheard once
more had been thoroughly acquired and
the wabbly tendencies of the little craft
had been overcome, then the real feat
was attempted.
The feat was to take back flip from
tNhe side of the canoe, holding the hands
on one side of the boat and balancing
| with the feet on the other. AS the canoe
list went over backward into the water he
still retained his firm hold on the side OF
the boat with his hands and kept his feet
firmly planted in the original position.
In this way he went into the water
with the canoe turning with him. AT
first it was found essential to comfort to
! release the hold on the canoe as the
water closed over the canoeist- 1t was
sufficient for time to turn the canoe
completely over until it was resting on
the water Immediately over the head OF
the performer. When this lesson had
| been learned, then a step further was at
tempted. The object to be ultimately
gained was to keep the boat turning,
emptying it of water during the process
until 1t had turned completely, over again
to its original position. 1t will be seen
at once that this feat was not an easy
| one.
The impetus of the first backward fall
went far toward carrying the boat into
the position where it could be rishted'