Year: 1879

Probably there is no sport so interest
ing, and yet SO little heard Of, as ice
boat sailing. The ice boat is light
contrivsnce for sailing over the surface
of the ice, and is constructed in the shape
Of an elongated triangle, the pointed
portion forming the stern. The deck
consists Of ordinary planking, resting
upon two steel rudders two feet in length,
one on either side OF the bow and one
supporting the stern. The latter acts as
brake and steering apparatus also.
Most Of the boats are rigged with a
single sail, but few carry a ji5 staysai.
With an ordinary wind it is astonishing
what speed they can make, a mile in two
minutes being an ordinary occurrence.
The dispatch with which they are han
died by the experienced hand is also
remarkable.


A few days ago reporter took a sail
upon one of these boats from Brides
burg wharf to Tacony and back. Two
men formed the crew, one taking charge
Of the sail and the other acting as
helmsman. There was sharp breeze
from the quarter, and with haRraised
sail the party soon cleared the little knots
of skaters who dotted the ice. Then the
sail was hauled taut. Soon the boat
began to skim the ice, and the passengers
tighten9d their grip gradually. The
speed increased until trees, houses and
barns vanished almost in twinkle, and
the banks Of the river rose up and rushed
past on either side until it seemed as if
the little craft was ploughing through
narrow channel scarcely wider than the
width Of the boat.


The entire run measured two miles
and half Two miles were made in
two minutes. Now and then it became
necessary to turn to the right and left
quickly 20 clear obstacles these shifts
were made with the greatest Of ease
and most wonderful dexterity. Without
the thrilling sensation which duls the
senses for awhile, the ride is pleasant and
invigorating. Although the boat appears
to be managed with such ease, it would
be dangerous for an inexperienced crew
to attempt the task. The lightning like
speed would blind pilot not accustomed
to such running, ana the sailor would be
powerless in handling the sheet.


An ice boat going at the rate ofa mile
a minute can be stopped in less than a
minute by means Of suddenly pressing
into the ice the stern, which is quite
short


The fastest speed made this year on the
Delaware was accomplished last Sunday,
when a boat with a spenkersail and jib
staysail ran two miles in triae less than
two minutes.


On the Hudson River, New York, these
boats are now used to carry cattle lrem
different places and the trade with them
IS becoming extensive. From little
station one mile above CatsKil nm ice
boat is used two and three days in the
week for carrying cattle. 1t carries ten
head each trip, and passes from the cattle
station to Catskill and back with such ra-
pidity that the trip is made before the
herder can tie another ten head preparatory
to being placed on the boat.


On days when brisk wind is blowing
it is not an unusual thing to see an ice
boat passing the express trains running on
tho Hudson River road. In 1876 formal
race took place between the mail train
and one of the boats for distance of
eighty miles. In the start the train left
the boat. But gradually the skipper
crept up until, amidst cheers, she passed
the train at Yonkers, and at the end ofthe
eighty miles, was eighteen miles in the
lead. The boat broke down three times
on the way, aud one of the crew was
knocked off by the sail and instantly
killed. .-FhHNde'phja Record.