The Paper Canoe of
Nathaniel Bishop
The Maria Theresa
November 1874 Bishop
rowed his canoe down the Hudson River southward on a voyage
that would take him
through the coasta waters of Delaware. His canoe, the Maria
Theresa. Was
fourteen feet long but
really narrow, only 28 inches wide. It had sail, oars, and a
covered deck.
It was made of paper.
In late 1800's paper was
made that was strong, inexpensive, adaptable to many uses.
Americans used this paper
to make colthing, toys, dolls and other articles. Bishop was
convinced
that the flimsy material,
paper, could take the place of thin wood in constructing light
pleasure
boats like canoes and
racing shells. It would not be influenced to warping by the sun
and
moisture.
Upon reaching New Yotk
City, Bishop used the Rartain Canal to get to Delwasre River,
rowed south, past
Phiadelphia, into Delaware Bay. When off Bowers Beach he
stopped to make
minor repairs, and take
a nights rest. He expected to make Lewes by nightfall but a wind
storm
capsized the canoe. Able
to drag it ashore near Slaughters Beach. He spent another night at
the
Willow Grove Inn where he
described that night. “The winds had gone to rest with the sun,
and
the sharp frost that
followed left ice of ½ nch thick on the pools of water”.
He had much to be thankful
for as he enjoyed a warm soft bed at the Willow Grove Inn and
not the icy sands of
Slaughters Beach.
With help of Charles Todd,
who operated Willow Grove, Bishop was able to get his boat
carted to Milton for mose
repairs. While waiting for these repairs bishop visited Lewes and
declaired there will be a
fortification, a railroad to being coal to ships in the Beakwater
and the port
will become safe and
convenient. Bishops also was impressed by the peach crop and its
value to
Sussex county.
After visiting Lewes ,
Bishop had his canoe hauled to Loves Creek, as he did not wish to
risk another encounter
with the fickle waters of the Delaware Bay, and continoed his
voyage. It was
six miles down Loves Creek
to the inlet at Burton Island marsh and Indian River sound.
Bishopcontinued his way
across the Indian River Bay, up Whites Creek to Assawoman Bay, on to
his
destination, Florida.
Source: Michael Morgan's
Delaware Diary Novemner 8, 2007.
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