The Scientific American Boy by A. Russell Bond

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Transcriber's Notes:

The locations named are in western New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.
Lamington, NJ (pg. 20) is near exit 26 on Interstate 78, east of the
Delaware River. Lumberville, PA (pg. 24) is on the West side of the
Delaware River on Highway 32, about half-way between Bethlehem and
Philadelphia, 25 miles southwest of Lamington. The Pennsylvania Canal runs
along the west bank of the Delaware river. The Delaware and Raritan Canal
is on the east bank. Raven Rock (pg. 24) is across the river from
Lumberville, about a half mile northeast.

There are several large islands that may have inspired the story. About 5
miles north (upriver) of Lumberville is Walls Island and Prahls Island
where the river is aligned north/south, as shown on the map on page 16.
About two miles east (downriver) is Eagle Island and Hendrick Island.

The use of white lead indicates the lack of understanding of its poisonous
nature.

This is a glossary of terms that are unfamiliar (to me).

Balustrade A rail and the balusters (posts) that support it.

Belay To secure a rope by winding it on a cleat or pin.

Brad Slender wire nail having a small barrel shaped head.

Bulkhead An upright partition dividing a ship into compartments
to provide structural rigidity and limit the spread of
leaks or fire.

Clapboard Long narrow board with one edge thicker than the other.
Used to cover the outer walls of frame structures.

Dint Force; effort; power.

Drawknife Knife with a handle at each end of the blade.
A drawing motion shaves a surface.
Also known as a drawshave.

Fall and Tackle Apparatus for raising heavy loads.
A rope and pulley blocks.

Ferrule Metal ring put around a tool handle to prevent
splitting.

Freshet Sudden overflow of a stream caused by heavy rain
or a thaw.

Gunwale Upper edge of the side of a vessel.
Gunnel Could serve as a gun mount.

Journal Part of a rotating shaft that turns in a bearing.

Keelson Timber fastened above and parallel to the keel of a
boat for strength.

Percaline Lightweight glossy cotton fabric used for book binding.

Pintle Pin on which another part pivots.

Scantling Small timber for construction.

Sheave Wheel with a grooved rim, used as a pulley.

Slab Outside of a log cut off to square it for lumber.

Spoke-shave Drawknife for shaping spokes and rounded edges.

Stay (a mast) Strong rope or wire used to support a mast.

Step (a mast) Place a mast in its step (block where the heel of a
mast is fixed).

Thole Device on to the gunwale (side) of a boat to hold
the oar. Acts as a fulcrum for rowing.

Trunnion Pin; two small cylindrical projections on a cannon on
which it pivots.
French "trognon" means "stump".

White lead Lead carbonate, a heavy white poisonous powder,
used in paint pigments.

End of Transcriber's Notes

THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY.

[Illustration: Fun in Swimming]

The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY

OR

The Camp at Willow Clump Island

By
A. RUSSELL BOND

NEW YORK

MUNN & CO., Publishers
1906

COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY
MUNN & CO., NEW YORK

PRESS OF
THE KALKHOFF COMPANY
NEW YORK

PREFACE

All boys are nature lovers. Nothing appeals to them more than a summer
vacation in the woods where they can escape from the restraints of
civilization and live a life of freedom. Now, it may appear to be a bit of
presumption to attempt to advise the boy camper how to spend his time.
Surely the novelty of outdoor life, the fascinating charm of his
surroundings, will provide him plenty of entertainment.

But, after all, a camp generally affords but two major amusements, hunting
and fishing. These have been fully covered by a vast number of books.
However, there is another side of camp life, particularly in a boys' camp,
which has been very little dealt with, namely, the exercise of one's
ingenuity in creating out of the limited resources at hand such devices
and articles as will add to one's personal comfort and welfare. It is,
therefore, the aim of this book to suggest certain diversions of this
character for the boy camper which, aside from affording him plenty of
physical exercise, will also develop his mental faculties, and above all
stimulate that natural genius which is characteristic of every typical
American boy. To this end the story contains descriptions of a large
collection of articles which can be made by any boy of average
intelligence, not only in the camp but at home as well.

The use of a narrative to connect the various incidents marks a departure
in this class of book, and it is believed that the matter will thus be
made more realistic and interesting. In all cases full directions are
given for making the various articles. While it is not presumed that the
directions will be slavishly followed, for this would defeat the general
aim of the work, yet all the principal dimensions are given so that they
can be used, if desired.

I beg to acknowledge the courtesy of Mr. Daniel C. Beard and Mr. Henry D.
Cochrane in supplying a number of photographs. The directions for making
the lee boards (page 119) were obtained from data furnished by the latter.
Many of the details recorded in the chapter on Tramping Outfits are to be
accredited to Mr. Edward Thorpe. In the preparation of this book I have
received valuable assistance from my colleague, Mr. A. A. Hopkins.

A. RUSSELL BOND.
NEW YORK, October, 1905.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

"BILL"

The Old Trunk. Christmas Vacation. "Bill's" Skate Sail. Willow Clump
Island. Organizing the Society.

CHAPTER II.

SKATE SAILS

The Double Swedish Sail. The Single Swedish Sail. The Lanteen Sail. The
Danish Sail. Bat's Wings.

CHAPTER III.

SNOW SHOES, SKIS AND SWAMP SHOES

Chair Seat Snow Shoe. Barrel Stave Snow Shoe. Barrel Hoop Snow Shoe. The
Sioux Snow Shoe. The Iroquois Snow Shoe. The Ainu Snow Shoe. The Norwegian
Ski. The Swamp Shoe or Swiss Snow Shoe.

CHAPTER IV.

TENT MAKING

Farewell Meeting. Word from Uncle Ed. The Canvas Tent. Adjustable Ridge
Pole. Tie Blocks. The Annex.

CHAPTER V.

PREPARING FOR THE EXPEDITION

Tent Fly. Provisions and Supplies. Umbrella Rib Crossbow. Megaphone. The
Scow.

CHAPTER VI.

OFF TO THE ISLAND

A Unique Alarm Clock. The Trip to the Island. Preliminary Exploration. A
Rustic Table. The Small Filter. The Barrel Filter. The Klepalo.

CHAPTER VII.

SURVEYING

The Surveying Instrument. Spirit Levels. The Tripod. Surveyor's Chain.
Surveyor's Rod. A Simple Method of Surveying. Mapping the Island.

CHAPTER VIII.

SWIMMING

Swimming on a Plank. Shooting the Rapids. Restoring the Drowned.
How to Work over a Patient Alone.

CHAPTER IX.

BRIDGE BUILDING

The Spar Bridge. The Rope Railway. The Suspension Bridge. The Pontoon
Bridge. The King Rod Truss. Stiffening the Bridge. The King Post Bridge.

CHAPTER X.

CANVAS CANOES

Uncle Ed's Departure. A Visit from Mr. Schreiner. The Sailing Canoe.
Stretching on the Canvas. The Rudder. The Deep Keel. Canoe Sails. Lee
Boards. Indian Paddling Canoe.

CHAPTER XI.

HOUSE BUILDING

The Grass Hut. The Goblins' Dancing Platform. Dutchy Takes a Dare. A Path
Up the Fissure. Rope Ladders. The Derrick. The Tree House. Sliding Doors.

CHAPTER XII.

TROUBLE WITH THE TRAMPS

The Scow is Stolen. A Council of War. Vengeance. A Double Surprise.
Tramp-proof Boat Mooring.

CHAPTER XIII.

WIGWAGGING AND HELIOGRAPHING

Wigwag Signals. The Wigwag Alphabet. Abbreviations. Wigwagging at Night.
The Heliograph. The Single Mirror Instrument. The Sight Rod. The Screen.
Focusing the Instrument. Heliograph Signaling. The International Telegraph
Code. The Double Mirror Instrument.

CHAPTER XIV.

ICE BOATS, SLEDGES AND TOBOGGANS

Breaking Camp. The Ice Boat. The Sledge. The Toboggan. The Rennwolf. Ice
Creepers.

CHAPTER XV.

THE SUBTERRANEAN CLUB
A Cave-in. Excavating for the Cave. Covering the Cave. The Big Bug Club.
Midnight Banquets. The Club Pin. The Combination Lock.

CHAPTER XVI.

SCOOTERS

A Sail in the Scow. Our Craft Strikes the Ice. The Scooter Scow. A
Sprit Sail. Scooter Sailing. A Meeting of the Society. An Interview
with Mr. Van Syckel. The Scooter Canoe.

CHAPTER XVII.

AN ARCTIC EXPEDITION

Willow Clump Island in Winter. Kindling a Camp Fire. The Outdoor
Fireplace. A Stone-paved Fireplace. A Cold Night in the Hut. Mountain
Climbing. A Poor Shelter. A Costly Camp Fire. A Friend in Time of Trouble.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TRAMPING OUTFITS

Sleeping Bags. Bill's "Mummy Case." The "A" Tent. A Camp Chair. A Camp
Bed. The Camp Bed in a Shower. A Nightmare. Pack Harness. Riveting.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE LAND YACHT

The Frame of the Yacht. A Simple Turnbuckle. Stepping the Mast. Mounting
the Frame on Bicycle Wheels. The Tiller. A "Leg-of-Mutton" Sail. A Sail
Through the Country.

CHAPTER XX.

EASTER VACATION

Bill's Cave. The Barrel Stave Hammock. The Barrel Armchair. The Summer
Toboggan. Tailless Kites. A Five-foot Malay Kite. An Eight-foot Malay
Kite. The Elastic Belly Band. Putting the Kites to Work. The Diamond Box
Kite.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE WATER WHEEL

The Water Wheel. Surveying for the Water Wheel. Towers for the Water
Wheel. The Wheel. The Buckets. The Paddles. The Receiving Trough. Setting
Up the Towers. Mounting the Water Wheel. Cooling the Filter Barrel. The
Canvas Bucket. Mr. Halliday's Water Wheel.

CHAPTER XXII.

THE LOG CABIN

Foundation of Log Cabin. A Logging Expedition. The Log Raft. The
Sail-Rigged Raft. Building the Log Cabin. The Roof of the Log Cabin. Door
and Window Frames. The Fireplace. The Proper Way to Build a Stone Wall.
The Floor of the Cabin. The Door Hinges and Latch. The Window Sash. Bunks.
Stopping up the Chinks.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE WINDMILL

Digging the Well. The Windmill Tower. The Crank Shaft. The Wind Wheel. A
Simple Brake. The Pump. Pump Valves. Action of the Pump.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE GRAVITY RAILROAD

The Car. The Flanged Wheels. Car Axles. Mounting the Wheels. The Railway
Truck. The Carpenter's Miter Box. Laying the Track. The First Railway
Accident. Testing the Track.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE

Frames for the Cantilever Bridge. Erecting the Towers. Setting up the
Frames. Binding and Anchoring the Structure. The Center Panels of the
Bridge. A Serious Interruption. Dispossessed. Farewell to Willow Clump
Island. Reddy's Cantilever Bridge.

[Illustration: Map of Willow Clump Island and Vicinity.]

THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY.

CHAPTER I.

"BILL."

"Bill," he was it, the Scientific American Boy, I mean. Of course, we were
all American boys and pretty scientific chaps too, if I do say it myself,
but Bill, well he was the whole show. What he didn't know wasn't worth
knowing, so we all thought, and even to this day I sometimes wonder how he
managed to contrive and execute so many remarkable plans. At the same time
he was not a conceited sort of a chap and didn't seem to realize that he
was head and shoulders above the rest of us in ingenuity. But, of course,
we didn't all have an uncle like Bill did. Bill's Uncle Ed was one of
those rare men who take a great interest in boys and their affairs, a man
who took time to answer every question put to him, explaining everything
completely and yet so clearly that you caught on at once. Uncle Ed (we all
called him that) was a civil engineer of very high standing in his
profession, which had taken him pretty much all over the world, and his
naturally inquisitive nature, coupled with a wonderful memory, had made
him a veritable walking encyclopedia. With such an uncle it is no wonder
that Bill knew everything. Of course, there were some things that puzzled
even Bill. But all such difficulties, after a reasonable amount of
brain-work had failed to clear them, were submitted to Uncle Ed. Uncle Ed
was always prompt (that was one thing we liked about him), and no matter
where he was or what he was doing he would drop everything to answer a
letter from the society.

The Old Trunk.

But hold on, I am getting ahead of my story. I was rummaging through the
attic the other day, and came across an old battered trunk, one that I
used when I went to boarding-school down in south Jersey. That trunk was
certainly a curiosity shop. It contained a miscellaneous assortment of
glass tubes, brass rods, coils of wire, tools, fish hooks--in fact, it was
a typical collection of all those "valuables" that a boy is liable to
pick up. Down in one corner of the trunk was a black walnut box, marked,
with brass letters, "Property of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I." On my
key-ring I still carried the key to that box, which had not been opened
for years. I unlocked the box and brought to light the "Records and
Chronicles of the Society for the Scientific Investigation, Exploration
and Exploitation of Willow Clump Island." For hours I pored over those
pages, carried back to the good old times we used to have as boys along
the banks of the Delaware River, until I was brought sharply back to the
present by the sound of the dinner bell. It seemed that the matter
contained in those "Chronicles" was too good to be kept locked up in an
old trunk. Few boys' clubs ever had such a president as Bill, or such a
wonderful bureau of information as Uncle Ed. For the benefit of boys and
boykind in general, I decided then and there to publish, as fully as
practicable, a record of what our society did.

[Illustration: Fig. 1. The Old Truck in the Attic.]

[Illustration: Fig. 2. The Black Walnut Box.]

Christmas Vacation.

This was how the society came to be formed. Bill, whom I met at
boarding-school, was an orphan, and that's why he was sent to
boarding-school. His uncle had to go down to Brazil to layout a railroad,
I believe, and so he packed Bill off to our school, which was chosen in
preference to some others because one of the professors there had been a
classmate of Uncle Ed's at college. Bill roomed with me, and naturally we
became great chums. When Christmas time came, of course I invited him to
spend the holidays with me. My home was situated in the little village of
Lamington, on the Jersey side of the Delaware River. Here we arrived late
at night on the Saturday before Christmas. A cold wind was blowing which
gave promise of breaking the spell of warm weather we had been having, and
of giving us a chance to try our skates for the first time. True to our
expectations, the next day was bitterly cold, and a visit to the canal
which ran along the river bank, just beyond our back fence, showed that
quite a thick skim of ice had formed on the water. Monday morning, bright
and early, found us on the smooth, slippery surface of the canal. "Us"
here includes, in addition to Bill and myself, my two younger brothers,
Jack and Fred, and also Dutchy Van Syckel and Reddy Schreiner, neighbors
of ours. It was the custom at the first of December every year to drain
out most of the water in the canal, in order to prevent possible injury to
the canal banks from the pressure of the ice. But there was always a foot
or two of water covering the bottom of the canal, and this afforded a fine
skating park of ample width and unlimited length, while the high canal
banks on each side protected us from the bitter wind that was blowing.
Toward noon, however, the wind shifted and swept at a terrific rate down
the narrow lane between the canal banks. We could scarcely make headway
against the blow. It was too much for Bill, who wasn't as used to skating
as we were. He sat down in a sheltered nook and commenced to think. When
Bill sat down to think it always meant that something was going to happen,
as we soon learned.

"Say, Jim," said he to me, "have you got any canvas up at the house?"

"No," I replied. "What do you want it for?"

"I want to rig up a skate sail. If you have an old sheet, that will do
just as well."

"Well, I guess I can find you an old sheet. Do you think you can make
one?"

"Sure thing," answered Bill, and off we went to the house, where I
received my first lesson on the practical genius of my chum.

[Illustration: Fig. 3. Laying Out the Sail.]

"Bill's" Skate Sail.

The old sheet which Mother furnished us was laid out on the floor and two
corners were folded over to the center as shown in the drawing, making a
triangle with base 7 feet long and sides each about 4 feet 6 inches long.
The surplus end piece was then cut off, and a broad hem turned and basted
all around the edges of the triangle. Bill wanted to work the sewing
machine himself, but Mother was afraid he would break something, so she
sewed down the hem for us. Then, under Bill's supervision, she re-enforced
the corners by sewing on patches of cloth. Along the diagonal a
strip of heavy tape was sewed, leaving loops at intervals, which afterward
were cut and provided means for tying the sail to the mast. Tie strings of
tape were also sewed at the corners, as shown in the illustration, and
then a trip was made to the garden in search of suitable spars. A smooth
bean pole of about the right weight served for the mast, and another stick
with a crotch at one end served as the boom or cross-spar. The spars were
cut to proper length, and the sail was then tied on, as illustrated, with
the crotch of the cross-spar fitted against and tied to the center of the
mast. A light rope, long enough to provide plenty of slack, was tied to
the ends of the mast to assist in guiding the sail when in use. In the
meantime I had procured another sheet from one of our neighbors, and Bill
helped me make a sail for myself. It was not until long after dark that we
finished our work.

[Illustration: Fig. 4. The Tape Tie Strings.]

[Illustration: Fig. 5. "Bill's" Sail Complete.]

Willow Clump Island.

The next day we tried the sails and it didn't take me very long to learn
how to steer the device. The wind had changed again and this time blew up
the canal. We took the line of least resistance, and went skimming up the
ice lane like birds for several miles before we realized how far we were
getting away from home. As we rounded a bend in the canal, much to my
astonishment, I saw just before us the bridge at Raven Hill, eight miles
from our town. We started to go back, but the wind was too strong for us,
and there wasn't much room in which to do any tacking; nor could we make
any progress when the sails were folded. I began to get extremely tired
and rather exasperated at Bill for not having thought of the return trip
before he led me such a hot pace up the canal. But Bill was getting tired,
too.

"Look here, Jim," he said, "we haven't covered a mile, and I'm worn out."

"Why in thunder didn't you think of this before we started?" I returned.

"How much money have you with you?" was the reply.

"What's that got to do with it?"

"I'll tell you in a minute. How much have you?"

A careful search of my dozen odd pockets netted the sum of twenty-seven
cents.

"I have fifty-nine," said Bill, "and that makes eighty-six altogether,
doesn't it? Isn't there a railroad depot near here?"

"There is one at Raven Hill, and the next is at Lumberville. That is about
eleven miles from home."

"Well," said Bill, "at three cents each per mile that would amount to
sixty-six cents. Let's sail on to Lumberville and then take the train
back."

On we sped to Lumberville, only to find that the next train was not due
until noon, and it was now just half past ten.

Time never hung heavy on our hands. Out on the river we espied an island.
I had heard of this island--Willow Clump Island, it was called--but had
never been on it; consequently I fell in with Bill's suggestion that we
make it a visit. Owing to the rapids which separated the island from the
Jersey shore, we had to go up stream a quarter of a mile, to where a
smooth sheet of ice had formed, over a quiet part of the river; thence we
sailed down to the island along the Pennsylvania side.

"What a capital island for a camp," cried Bill, after we had explored it
pretty thoroughly. "Have you ever been out camping?"

I had to confess I never had, and then Bill gave me a glowing account of
his experiences in the Adirondacks with his uncle the year before, which
so stirred up the romance in me that I wanted to camp out at once.

"Shucks!" said Bill, "We would freeze in this kind of weather, and
besides, we've got to make a tent first."

We then sat down and made elaborate plans for the summer. Suddenly the
distant sound of a locomotive whistle interrupted our reveries.

"Jiminy crickets!" I exclaimed. "That's the train coming through
Spalding's Cut. We've got to hustle if we are to catch it."

We were off like the wind, and a merry chase brought us to the Lumberville
depot in time to flag the train. We arrived at Lamington at half past
twelve, a trifle late for dinner, rather tired and hungry, but with a
glowing and I fear somewhat exaggerated account of our adventure for the
credulous ears of the rest of the boys.

Organizing the Society.

The camping idea met with the hearty approval of all, and it was decided
to begin preparations at once for the following summer. Dutchy, whose
father was a member of a geographical society, suggested that we form a
society for the exploration of Willow Clump Island. By general acclamation
Bill was chosen president of the society, Dutchy was made vice-president,
Reddy was elected treasurer, and they made me secretary. It was Dutchy who
proposed the name "The Society for the Scientific Investigation,
Exploration and Exploitation of Willow Clump Island." It was decided to
make an expedition of exploration as soon as we could make skate sails for
the whole society.

CHAPTER II.

SKATE SAILS.

The duties of the secretary, as defined in the constitution which Dutchy
Van Syckel drew up, were to keep a record of all the acts of the society,
the minutes of every meeting, and accurate detailed descriptions of all
work accomplished. Therefore, while the rest of the society was busy
cutting up old sheets, levied from the surrounding neighborhood, and
sewing and rigging the sails under Bill's direction, I, with pad and
pencil in hand, took notes on all the operations.

The Double Swedish Sail.

Bill evolved some new types of sails which differed materially from the
type described in the first chapter. One was a double sail--"the kind
they use in Sweden," he explained. One of the sheets which the foraging
party brought in was extra large; it measured approximately two yards and
a half square. This was folded on itself, making a parallelogram seven
feet six inches long and three feet nine inches wide. The sheets we had
were all rather worn and some were badly torn, so that we had to make our
sails of double thickness, sewing patches over the weak spots. A broad hem
was turned down at each end, and heavy tape was sewed on, leaving loops as
before, to attach them to the spars. This reduced the length of our sail
to seven feet three inches. The end spars were spaced apart by a light
pole about ten feet long, to which they were tied at the points of
intersection. The spars were also braced by halyards looped over the ends
of the pole in the manner indicated in the drawing (Fig. 7). It took a
crew of two boys to manipulate this sail. In use, the pole of the rig was
carried on the shoulders, and the sail was guided by means of ropes
attached to the lower corners of the vertical spars. These ropes in
nautical language are called "sheets." The boy at the rear was the pilot
and did the steering, because his position behind the sail gave him an
unobstructed view in all directions. When changing tack the sail was
lifted overhead to the other side of the crew.

[Illustration: Fig. 6. Dimensions of Double Swedish Sail.
N. B.--The mark (') means feet and (") means inches.]

[Illustration: Fig. 7. Halyards Looped onto Pole.]

[Illustration: Fig. 8. The Double Swedish Sail.]

[Illustration: Fig. 9 Changing Tack.]

The Single Swedish Sail.

[Illustration: Fig. 10. The Single Swedish Sail.]

Another sail of similar form, but for use of one boy only, is shown in
Fig. 10. This had a height of six and one-half feet at the forward end and
three feet at the rear; and its length was five feet. This sail was very
satisfactory in light winds, owing to its great area. In use we found that
it was very important to keep the lower edge against the leg, as indicated
by the arrow. The rig was manipulated just like the double Swedish sail,
lifting it over the head when it was desired to change tack.

The Lanteen Sail.

[Illustration: Fig. 11. The Lanteen Sail.]

The lanteen sail we found to be a very good rig. It was made in the form
of a triangle, measuring eight feet on one side, seven and one-half feet
on another side and six and one-half feet on the third. The six and
one-half foot side was secured to a boom, and the seven and one-half foot
side to a yard. The yard and boom were hinged together by a leather strap
nailed on as shown in Fig. 12, and to this hinge a rope was attached,
which served as a sheet. These spars were secured to a mast erected
perpendicularly to the boom and intersecting the yard a little above its
center. We had had some trouble with the first sails we made in keeping
the base of the sail against the body, and to overcome this difficulty
Bill proposed tying the bottom of the mast to the leg. This was a rather
risky thing to do, as we learned later, for in case of accident it would
be difficult to get clear of the sail. It was Reddy who finally solved the
problem by rigging up a step for the mast. It consisted of a leather tag
tied to the leg, and provided with a hole into which the bottom of the
mast was fitted. To prevent the mast from slipping too far into the step
the lower portion of it was whittled down, leaving a shoulder which rested
on the leather. Bill later devised another step, which consisted of a
wooden block (Fig. 14) strapped to the leg and formed with a shallow
socket to receive the end of the mast.

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