The Osceola times., 1886-04-17
LOVE ON THE LAKES.
4 Daring Sailor Wins Both q Race
and a Bride.

Among the many men who earn their
living on sailing vessels, there are none
more daring or skillful than the ''lakers"
or "fresh-watsr sailors The few
sailors who are not garrulous, and when
ashore between trips or in the forecastle
during a 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 more 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 men sat about big
stove industriously splitting tobacco
juice on every thing within reach, and
listening to tall, well-made man. who
was reeling of a yarn. The speaker
was dressed in sack suit of blue navy
cloth; a black silk handkerchief encir-
cled his neck under the large flap of
blue shirt, the knotted ends showing
above his tightly-buttoned coat, slouch
hat rested carelessly " on the back of his
head and shaded pair Of frank blue
eyes and as handsome a set of features
as were ever kissed by rude winds or
mostened by lying spray.
IL won't waste words in trying to
make you believe that lakers are Just as
good scamen as you are, he began,
but that is the truth just the same.
lou are apt TO sneer at them because
even in the darkest weather thoy must
be in peculiar locality if 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 iicrcest wind-storm | ever en-
countered came out of Manitoba.
struck Lake Erie and sent the water
bubbling and Kissing like the devils
cau!dron over Niagara. have yet to
sec 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
q zigzag course to keep in it. il is dan
gerous to attempt it when you're on
loaded vessel that draws much water
Even nature seems TO help Erie 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 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 i'll feeling
Two shippers may start out ut a 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 Genesta.
Among the best sailors in Erie, Pa.
Q few wears ago, were Sam Walker and
Josh Wilking. They had known each
other from childhood. Both owned big
lumber schooners that exactly resemblcd
each other in every respect. Even the
furniture in the cabins was alike. Both
men were childless widowers. and both
were courting buXom, black-eyed
widow, who received their attentions
with degree of courtesy that amused
everybody who understood the situation.
Josh. IN honor of the widow, had her
front name, Jeanette. painted ON the
stern of his boat. and Sam. not to be
outdone in gallantry, abbreviated the
name into Jennie, which, therefore,
adorned his craft. Sam differed from
Josh in some respects; he was more of
a free. easy-going fellow, and often let
a dollar slip through his fingers, and
was not backward in Boosting that he d
rather range alongside the widow for an
hour or two than make the most sue
cessful run ever heard of. Josh was
business all through; but when there
was no work to do then he'd dress him
self up In his stiff store clothes. that al
ways bore about them q sitting scent
Of camphor, sprinkle few drops of
peppermint over his handkerchief
aud proosnd shyly to the widows
Is was not Z rare thing for him 70 learn,