Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-25
LOVE ON THE LAKES.
A Daring Sailor Wins Both a Race
and a Bride.

hhiOlp Nho many lHCh WIZ cal II lhSl
living on sailing vessels, there are none
more daring or skillful than the "lakers"
or "fresh-wator sailors" The few
sailors who are not garrulous, and when
ashore between trips or in the forecastle
during brief respite from labor. yarn
after yarn is spun and listened to with
Difference seldom paid to more distin-
guished men. Along South, Cherry
and Water streets, there are many poor
looking buildings, presided over by
men who have grown tired of the sea,
and who have started in with moro or
less success in entertaining sailors who
want home until all the money earned
on the last trip is squandered. In one
OF these the other day group of
swarthy-faced mon sat about big
stove industriously splitting tobacco
juice on every thing within reach, and
listening to a'tall, well-made man, who
was reeling oil yarn. The speaker
was dressed in sack suit of blue navy
cloth; black silk handkerchief encir-
cled his neck under the large flap of a
blue shirt, the knotted ends showing
above his tightly-buttoned coat, a SLOUGH
hat rested carelessly on the back of his
head and shaded a pair Of frank blue
eyes snd as handsome set of features
as were ever kissed by rude winds or
moistened by flying spray.
"I won't waste words in trying to
make you believe that lakers are Just as
good seamcn as you arc," he began,
"but that is the truth just the same.
You are aptto sneer at them because
even in the darkest weather they must
be IN peculiar locality il they can not
see an odd light or two twinkling on
shore. But there is Just where their
greatest danger lies. Talk about gales.
Why, the iiercest wind-storm ever en-
countered came out of Manitoba,
struck Lake Erie and sent the water
bubbling and Kissing like the DEVILS
cauldron over Niagara. Ihave yet Ia
see the chart that will help a man
much to keep his vessel away from
the shoals and rocks and bars
that make Lake Erie a very dan
gerous place indeed. OF course there s
a channel, but when you've got to sail
a zigzag course to keep In il, 1t is dan.
gerous to attempt 1t when you're on a
loaded vessel that draws much water.
Even nature seems to help Eric to be
contrary, for in the spring when nearly
all the freight is going up the lake the
wind always blows down or across the
lake or don't blow at all. In the fall,
when every vessel has loads for Buffalo,
the wind just acts the other way. There
is a good deal of pleasant rivalry be-
tween the skippers on the lake; all are
well acquainted with each other, and as
there is work enough for all there is
nothing to give rise to any Ill feeling.
Two shippers may start out at q certain
time and pick up loads, and will indulge
in a friendly race so as to see which Is
the faster vessel. | have seen more
spirited races on Lake Erie than saw
even when all the clamor was made
about the Puritan and the Gencsta.
among the best sailors in Erie, Pa,
few years ago, were Sam Walker and
Josh Wilking, They had known each
other from childhood. Both owned big
lumber schooners that exactly resembleC
each other in overy respect. Even the
furniture In the cabins was alike. Botf
men were childless widowers, and botf
we're counting buxom, black-dS Sec
widow, who received their attentions
with a degree Of courtesy that amused
everybody who understood the situation
Josh, in honor of the widow, had hel
front name, Jeanette, painted on tht
stern of his boat, and Sam, not to b.
outdone in gallantry, abbreviated tht
name into Jennie, which, therefore
adorned his craft. Sam differed from
Josh in some respects; he was more o
a free, casy-going fellow, and often le
a dollar slip through his fingers, anC
was not backward in boasting that he
rather range alongside the widow for al
hour or two than make the most sue
cessful run ever heard Of Josh wa
business all through; but when Their
was no work to do then he dress him
self up in his stiff store clothes, that al
ways bore about them sitting seen
of camphor, sprinkle few drops o
peppermint over his handkerchie
and proceed shyly to the widows
1t was not q rare thing for him To learn