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Telescope 43 The David Dows by JOHN F. MILLER The DAVID DOWS was built at Bailey Brothers yard at the foot of Ash Street, Toledo, Ohio, and launched in May 1881. She was 1418 gross tons, 265'4" length, 37'6" beam, with an 18' depth of hold. Iron strapped®, with two center boards, she could carry 90,000 bushel of grain, or 3,000 tons of hard coal. Her main mast was 160'; trucks 140' above deck. Her 18,630 square feet of canvas was carried in 18 sails. She was square rigged on her foremast.. She was designed and built for Captain John L. Skeldon c, of Toledo, and named for a New York grain broker who represented the Toledo grain dealers Craig and Casey.. The DOWS' equipment included a steam donkey engine and pump for the hoisting of canvas and pumping.. She was rated A-l in Lloyds and required a crew of 12 men, Captain, 2 mates, cook and cookee 7. Even with the help of her donkey engine it required anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to hoist sail and coil down.. A painting of the DAVID DOWS by an unknown artist. This photograph was given to the author by Captain John Kane of Sheboygan, Wisconsin It was reported that she made a fast trip from Buffalo to Turtle Light in eighteen hours; one of her best runs. There has been very little written about the DOWS, or for that matter about any of the schooners as they plied their trade during the season...unless they got into trouble. Little was mentioned in the papers, there was no radio, no marine reporting at Mackinaw City, and the marine post office was yet to be established on the Detroit River. The owners would hear from their captains when they reached a port. The crew would write or receive letters when the ship was loading or unloading. More often, mail and messages would be sent through their owners or agents. But, if a schooner got into trouble, she would be reported in the papers. The DOWS was thus well reported!