Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-09-22
RUNNING =BEFoRE THE WIND.
NY HY.L. HARVEY.

ny HY.L. HARVEY.
| Few persons who were familiar with the COM
mcrce Of Lake Erie during the years from 1880 to
834, will fail to remember small and rudey con-
structed schooner calledt hes "Swiftsure," owned
and commanded by Capt Freeman Judd, or the
lproverbiality CT her always running before the
wind, and making more trips and better time than
any other craft on that lake. In the opinion OF
many persons, Cnpt. Judd was the most lucky of
all the navi: atOrs of those inland seas. we have
seen hundreds of anxious spectators astonished at
| the success with which he has entered port with
his vessel under full sail, wing andwing, before
fwind little short of n terrific gale As contempt
pries with Capt. judd spme fecoliection twill also
be had of Capt. d., of the, and Capt. W.,
Iof. the --,( names are omitted from motives of
delicacy,) who were severally in many respects the
OPPOSITE of the former-at least they were always
siunlucky'' With them it usually FIJI out that
they were obliged to sten5hcad winds or wait in
port many days after they were ready to sail for
favorable breeze. If a gale occurred, they were
more likely than otherwise TO be out in the worst
part of it. If inquest of freight, they often found
somebody had foresalled them in securing the best.
They believed, and theft friends believed, they were
the victims of fatality that wisdom foresight
could guard against; and, in the .end, they were
compelled to abandon their calling, after losing
| years Of labor and all the means they possessed,
| besides involving others-owners in their crafts
| in heavy losses. .lm..
/ The history of these navgators Is an eptome Of
the history of large part of mankind, and pro5a-
bly, in the same proportions. Weoccaslonally find
one who is always sailing before the wind. He
catches right breezeS every time. Whatever he lays
his hands TO seems to prosper. But for every such
person there are at least two who never have any
u luck. They may plan well and work hard-are
often compelled to the latter: they may embark in
the same enterprises, employ the same means, and
have the same amount OF encouragement that 9TH
ers lave made fortunes from, and yet nothing but
adversely attends them. They often complain of
and are commiserated for their msfortunes some
limos in mt hnyi a1. fbnira prieac
at the favorable moments sometimes in meeting
disasters or shripwrecks after they had set out;
and sometimes in not receiving the same share Of
patronage which Others no more "clever' than
themselves have enjoyed. Their movements are
never timed so rs TO bring them before the wind.
Perhaps a further investigation of the charac
tiers Of the three men have named may illustrate
something of the causes for the difference in sue
cess which attends different persons in the pursuits
of life. In the circumstances attending these men
at the outset, the two last enjoyed advantages
the first. They had more capital, better scholas
} tic education, and position in society that made
them known to other men of capital, who, having
employment for shipping, readily invested means
in connexion with the young sailors, for building
vessels suitable to the then state of trade and their
own wants. Capt. Judd's whole wealth consisted
Of a few hundred dollars, to which lie added iron
nerves and untiring industry. With axe inland,
he entered the forest, hewed out his timber, and
constructed as large craft as he could put togeth-
enduring the months while navigation was sus-
penucu Dy tne winter Ice anu, us large as HIS
capital would furnish, rigging and outfit for That
{ his vessel was not beautiful may be admitted
3 Many then boy, but now grownup man, will re-
member the laugh he has had at the grotesquc,
axe-carvcd fgure-head, surmounted by skcep-
skin wig the figure presenting about as much
resemblance to the human form do Mr.. Stevens
stone images from Central America, now on dcpcs-
lite at the Smithsonian institution. Uncouth, how
ever, as the vessel and her appendages were, she
! soon proved her right to her name, by being
Syylft's and ssStre.'' So with Some
may have n rough and unseclny exterior, yet pos
sess the true metal that adorns the character of
manhood and tends to the advancement of human
welfare. - ~ N1Es Is ~ 20
Professor oEspy had not then promulgated his
theory of storms; but Capt. Judd, taking lessons
from higher teacher, had learned that the wind
lSeldom blows, i'll one direction, muchlonger than
would be required to make run of the lake, and
that after such blo,r out three to four days would
be much time could be expected to elapse be-
fore il would commence from an opposite quarter.
letting upon these deductions, il he entered Buff
falo larbor before westerly wind, he lost no time
in discharsng freight and putting himself in readi-
ness for return by the first swell of an easterly
breeze. Amusements and recreations were sus.
pended while work was on hand TO be done, how.
ever favofaby circumstances might indicate that
delay woul not be injurious. His movements were
neyer retarded, nor controlled by the private in
tcrests of partners. He seldom stood in fear o.
, gales, for he had learned that these seldom burs
forth suddenly, and by starting with favorable
breeze in any direction, Immediately after strong
wind had ceased blowing from the opposite, he
could generally Keep ahead of any violent storm
that may enSue. If, however, he found more, t
contend with than he had anticipated, he took thu
q helm in his own hands and his port was reached
r in safety. His prudence and success soon became
notorious, and the best freight, where any was Il
be had, was always at his control. s,us.
How far his competitors deyiated from him il
their practice, matters not much now. They wer'
as haid-w working men as he, active in thought an,
# industrious i'll execution; but they could seldom hi