The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-01-04
LAKE PERILS.
Reasons Why SO Many Vessels are Lost on
the Great Lakes, and Erie in Particular.

heasons why so Many Vessels are Lost on
the Great Lakes, and Erie in Particular.
A we'll known skipper gives the following
very interesting particulars of the cause OF
so many perils and causes of disaster on the
chain of great lakes:
~ would rather cross the ocean twenty
times at this season of the year than make
one trip from the st. Lawrence river to Chi
cago on the lakes" said Captain Ira Brown,
an old Lake Erie skipper. "The annual loss
Of life and property on the lakes is propor-
tionately very much greater than 1t is on the
Atlantic Ocean, and you may always expect
to hear of disasters on the great lakes fol-
lowing the reports of every severe storm.
Lake shippers will take risks that would ap-
pail the bravest ocean sailor. They will start
from port with vessels that are hardly sea-
worthy in the calmest weather, and more of
them are afoat during the most dangerous
part of the year than during any other time.
This is because the months of October and
November are the most profitable to vessel
owners, cargoes then being plenty and freight
rates higher.
"Grain shipments are liveller as the season
draws to close, and every vessel can com
mand cargo. The sailing season is very
short on the lakes. as 1t is late in the spring
before the ice embargo is removed, and early
in the winter when 1t again closes naviga-
tion. The skipper's desire is to take advan-
tage of every hour Of his time, and notwith-
standing the fact that he Is liable to be over
taken at any moment by storus ofgreat vio-
lence, he takes no precauiion that will
subject him to the least delay in port.
"This reckless disregard for life and prop
erty enlisted no interference on the part even
of shippers, who are the parties most inter
ested, until few years ago, when move
ment was made to have inspectors appointed
by the Government to examine the vessels
In the grain trade of the lakes. But, from
all accounts, there are still many worthless
hulks plying between Oswego and Chicago.
"The dangers of lake navigation are 30
great that even the staunchest vessels are
unable to escape them. Storms
sweep over the lakes without any warning.
The November storms on Lake Erie are
and the sailors depend to great
extent on landmarks as guides in navigation.
The binding sleet that nearly always accom-
panies the storms obliterates these marks
'ometimes for days; and, as the sea room Is
limited, vessels caught In these storms are
in constant danger Of going to pieces, either
on the rocky shores or on some of the islands |
hat stud these inland seas.
:" Lake Ontarios shores arc especially |
nenacing TO lake craft during storms, but |
this lake is not so liable to be |
,wept by gales - some Of the others In the |
,hain. If vessel heaves to In 1 storm, Il ii |
almost certain 10 be drifted ashore, or II It |
uus down the lake toward the 81, Lawrence
liver, It is endangered by the many Islands |
hat abound there.
"Many skippers have wrecked their vessels |
p the risky effort to make OsHego harbor In
storm. The entrance to this harbor Ia very
,arrow. and the vessel that Il steered for It |
Ind does not make II, 10 almost certain to 20 |
q pieces on the rocks under Fort Ontario" |