To the Rescue of the Schooner: Schooner Days CIV (104)

There is hope that the Lyman M. Davis will be saved. A tidal wave of correspondence is flowing in her favor. So many Telegram readers have written about her that it is not possible to published more than samples of their letters in this issue, but let the good work go on. Everyone will eventually get a hearing.

Col Alley, director of the Toronto Centennial has written thoughtfully to Mayor Stewart on the subject, and His Worship has lost no time in communicating with the Harbor Commissioners and the Sunnyside Amusement Company.

To the Sunnyside Amusement Company, the Lyman M. Davis is to a relic of sentimental value but an asset to stimulate the property of their concessionaires, even if it has to be burned in the process. They got the old schooner for that purpose, and paid god money for her. But they are reasonable men, and they have a sound regard for public opinion, and if pubic opinion is strong enough a way can be found for the rescue of the last survivor of the Great Lakes fleet.

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All correspondents deplore the prospective burning. Some point out what a waste of fuel it would be. That is so, but the idea that she should keep ‘”thousands of poor families” warm through the winter, instead of making a September bonfire does not seem to work. It would cost more to break the Lyman M. Davis up for firewood than it would to buy the same amount of cordwood cut and split; and oak that had been going up and down the lake for sixty years, burns poorly in the kitchen stove. Besides, the Lyman M Davis would be just as dead, if she were burned with relief vouchers as she would be if she had a bonfire at the business end of Major Goudy’s torch.

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Most correspondents are very earnest in wanting her preserved “as is or better” in such a way as to commemorate the picturesque pageant of sail which brightened Toronto and every lake port for a century. Many have offered money to help secure that. As said last Saturday, it is expression of opinion that counts, and this is coming out in full measure, as a glance at the subjoined columns proves.

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THINKS OF BOYS AND GIRLS

Sir,- I am very much pleased that you are taking up the question of saving the life of the old Lyman M. Davis, I hope that it may be saved to spend many good days in a safe and snug harbor. To be an interest and education to our boys and girls of the future.

G. G. Patterson

12 Harvard Avenue

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FOUR IN ONE

Sir,- the signature below wish to be recognized as expressing an opinion of disapproval at the burning of the schooner Lyman M. Davis.

Mrs. O. Strickland., Mrs. F. Rowe. G. Haynes H. Strickland.

H. Strickland

72 Scarboro Road

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NORTHWEST REVIVED

Sir.- I am with you in your effort to save from destruction the Lyman M. Davis, the last surviving sailing cargo carrier of the Great Lakes. Count on me if you open a subscription list. By the way, the Shebeshkong, which you mentioned last week, did not go to Chicago but is still in Midland, and has reverted to her original name Northwest.

F.C. Feeney,

Royal Canadian Yacht Club

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BURLINGTON SAYS “SAVE”

Sir- May I add my protest against the wanton destruction of the schooner Lyman M. Davis.

It seems to me a tragedy to burn the last surviving link with the old sailing days when she could be preserved for the benefit of many instead of making a bonfire to satisfy the taste of a few whose one aim in life is destruction. I sincerely hope you will do your utmost to prevent the passing of this fine old ship.

Ivan S. Brookes

Burlington.

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WHY PICK ON BAND STAND.

Sir.- I greatly appreciate your views in regards to the Lyman, and thank you. How unwise to destroy a fine piece of workmanship that has been on many lakes and done something noble in gone-by days!

If the so-called destruction class” wants to see a bonfire tell them to go into Queen’s Park and burn the band stand. But hands off the good old schooner which is art. Let the coming generation see things that have done duty, and improve their minds into something useful.

T. P. Collins

24 Roslin avenue

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COLLEGIAN ANSWERS S.O.S.

Sir- Accepting the invitation of the writer of the column “Schooner Days” I should like to add my name to the number of those opposed to the destruction of the Lyman M. Davis. I heartily approve of the suggested alternative and would subscribe to such a fund. I have recently seen the Shebeshkong under sail and realize how much of a beauty there was in the ships of the past.

G. De. B. Robinson

Dept. Of Mathematics

University of Toronto

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WILLING TO GIVE CASH

Sir- I was very pleased indeed to notice on your Schooner Days column of last Saturday your appeal for the preservation of the Lyman M. Davis and I am heartily in accord with your efforts.

It would surely be a crime if this fine old vessel were to be destroyed; and I hope that your efforts to preserve this valuable link with the past may be successful—if a subscription is contemplated I should be glad to donate to the best of my ability.

H. O. Brown

145 Carlaw Avenue

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OLD KINGSTON DISTRICT. MAN.

Sir- I heartily agree with your suggestion about the burning, or rather not burning, the Lyman M. Davis, which is now the oldest schooner on fresh water, having sailed the Great Lakes for sixty years. I think it would be a perfect shame to burn her. It would be good to preserve her at the Exhibition Grounds as a relics so at the million people coming annually from all parts of Canada to visit the great fair can see the sort of craft that sailed the lakes so many years ago. For my own part, I am very much interested in the fact that she hails from Kingston as I come from that district, and many others will feel the same. A reader of your paper for fifteen years or more.

Wm. Buck

23 Peel avenue

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PORT CREDIT LOVES ITS SCHOONER MEMORIES

Sir- Re article “Schooner Days,”SOS the Lyman M. Davis Sept. 2.

I would like to add my name as a strong objector to the burning or otherwise destroying of the Lyman M. Davis.

This vessel should be preserved as stated in your article.

Shame on those who would be responsible for the burning of the last of the sailing fleet for amusement. What an object lesson offered by a few professing intelligence!

The heart of every deep-water man aches as he passes that graceful little vessel, flying a last request, “Come bid me farewell.”

Surely Sunnyside could offer some other attraction instead of destroying a relic of the past. Every sailing vessel possesses a soul of her own and the Lyman M. Davis should be made the pride of the port.

J. D. Creer

Indian Valley Trail.

Port Credit

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ACTON MAN WILL HELP

Sir,- If you think there’s any hope of saving the Lyman M. Davis call on me for a contribution. It is a great shame and also a sore spot in my heart to hear that the last old schooner is go to up in flames at Sunnyside. Now, to my way of thinking it is a crime. Why not save the old hulk, and, as you state in your paper, set her up as a part of a marine museum in Toronto harbor as a relic of bygones days, when wind and not steam was the means of carrying over. Let the younger generation see what our forefathers had to contend with in that lime.

I am not an old sailor, but I remember a great many of the old sailing vessels. I have made a few trips one of which I will remember long. We were coming from Port Arthur to Owen Sound on the Campana, an iron vessel (steam), John McNab, captain. A storm arose, we had to run under the lee of Silver Island and lay there two days. All aboard were sick with the exception of Chris Hanson, first mate. He was a Norwegian and a better sailor never sailed the Great Lakes. I shall never forget that trip. I take a great interest in your Schooner Days and I can recall a great many of the vessels mentioned.

James B. Chalmers

Acton, Ont.

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ANOTHER PROTEST

Sir:- I am glad to see that you are making an effort to prevent the destruction of the schooner.

It would be an act of vandalism.

Far better to keep this lonely survivor as an object lesson to this generation and their children that it show them the type of boat whose sails by the thousands, within the memory of many living today, whitened these inland seas, boats manned by a hardy breed of men ready to face anything from hell to high water.

And now what do you see? All this water and nothing on it except an occasional puff of smoke or silk-sailed yacht.

The destruction of this boat can serve no purpose except to pander to one of the worst instincts, the instinct to destroy, the same instinct to that swept the thundering herd from the face of the earth and is at present depopulating forest, field and stream of fin, fur and feather, an instinct worthy of the Bander-Log.

“Protest”

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A SHAMEFUL WASTE

Sir,- In the name of practical common sense, does it appeal to all that the proposed burning of the old ship lying at Sunnyside for mere crude spectacular effect, a shame and useless wastage. Could not the timber be cut down to supply poor people with fuel with cold weather prevails, and if necessary, make a small charge. In fact, the sale of the cordage and metal could all but cover the costs

This would mean a double benefit in giving work to a few as well.

D. Alexander.

165 Close avenue

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GREAT VALUE TO ART

“Sir,- I was pleased to read in “Schooner Days” in last Saturdays Telegram of your attempt to save the Schooner Lyman M. Davis from being burned at Sunnyside, and I wish to go on record as being heartily in favor of preserving her.

Beyond artistic, nautical and historical consideration the preservation of the Davis would be of undoubted educational value. In the past year several of my students at the Ontario College of Art have found the illustrations printed in “Schooner Days” most useful in aiding them to carry out some interesting problems. However, to students and to those interested but unfamiliar with shipping, who frequently do not know enough to understand fully a photograph or drawing, the opportunity to study a lake schooner “in the flesh” is one that i can assure you will be fully taken advantage of. If through your efforts the preservation of the Davis is assured. Yours Sincerely.

Rowley Murphy

118 Lakeshore Ward’s Island

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TORONTO CENTENNIAL 1934 APPROVES

Here is Col. Alley’s letter to the Mayor:

The publicity manager for the Toronto Industrial Commission. Mr. Cameron, was kind enough to send me the attached clipping (Referring to one from the Cleveland Plain Dealer commenting on the proposed destruction.)

While it is not a savage attack, the inference is pretty clear that Toronto is guilty of vandalism in destroying this last specimen of the great old fleets of the lower lakes.

Mr Cameron feels that this is very unfavorable publicity for Toronto. I agree.

The Americans, as a people, are interested in historical relics. Few things please them more, and they will go long distances just to look at buildings and objects which have picturesque historic background.

If we set any value on the tourist trade, and we would be very shortsighted if we did not, we would do well to preserve things of this kind rather than make bonfires of them.

As you know, I am firmly convinced that the Fort. If it is properly fitted up, will be a very powerful magnet for tourists. The same think would apply to a vessel of this kind. If she were beached and firmly shored up, perhaps, with cement supports and turned into a sort of nautical museum, in a very few years she would have attracted many thousands more sight-seers to Sunnyside than she will ever do as a bonfire. She would be talking point for our tourist publicity and Toronto would gradually acquire a reputation as a preserver rather than as a destroyer of things of historic interest and international significance.

I earnestly request that you will give this your careful consideration, and if you agree with my view. I respectfully suggest that you will get into touch with the Harbor Commission with a view to seeing whether a more far-sighted view cannot be taken of the possibilities for this old schooner.

Yours sincerely

H. R. Alley

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Under Sail

On Lake Ontario

And the Bay of Quinte, 1924-1930