Evergreens of Two Ports: Schooner Days DCXIII (613)

by C. H. J. Snider

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NOT that we would put an oar into anyone else's boat, but if we had the privilege of nominating one sponsor for H.M.C.S. Cobourg when she visits her nameport to be "adopted" during the Victory Loan drive, our prompt reply would be Capt. Dan Rooney, born in Cork Town, Cobourg, near eighty years ago, and still flourishing in Cork Town as vigorously as the trees which surround his handsome home.

He represents three generations of Cobourg men who have "followed the water," and followed it to the general advantage of Canada, as they say of expropriation proceedings. And all of them Rooneys.

His uncles, Dan and Hugh, owned and sailed their own vessels out of the port—the Mary Taylor, that was re-christened the Loretta Rooney, the Annie Falconer, the Annandale, and the big Jessie Drummond, lost forty years ago at Cobourg, but not in their ownership. Uncle Hugh was then the harbormaster and he was also the coxswain of the lifeboat which took off the wrecked crew, on Dec. 2nd, 1902. Little Dan had made port safely a few hours earlier with the Annie Falconer, of which he was captain.

Cork Town and Kerry Town were those parts of Cobourg where the sailors' families moored, and Giddy Town was the swell section. Little Dan, as he was soon and long known, in contra-distinction to Uncle Dan and Uncle Hugh, was the son of John Rooney, of Cobourg. Little Dan took to lake water like a herring gull and throve on it like a lake trout.

He went sailing in the schooner Hannah Butler of Cobourg when he was fifteen. When he was twenty-one he was captain of the Eliza Fisher, out of Port Hope. Then first officer and qualifying pilot in the steamers of the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Co. Back to sail again as master in turn of the Picton, Annandale, Annie Falconer, Jessie Drummond, Sophia J. Luff and Charlie Marshall, which he owned outright. In partnership with the late George Plunkett, of Cobourg, he built up a large coal importing business in Cobourg, employing some of the vessels already mentioned, besides the Wilfrid Plunkett, rebuilt from the Kate of Oakville, and the steam barges Ralph Campbell and City of New York.

His first marine experience was a high-class sporting one, connected with that Blue Ribbon of the yachting world, the America's Cup. He had a stand-in with thp carpenters who were building the Countess of Dufferin on the edge of the harbor in the winter of 1875-6. The Countess, as befitted a cup challenger, was built of the best, and the chips that flew from the adzes of Alex. Cuthbert's shipwrights were the best kindling in Cobourg. One of the men used to let Little Dan carry home a basket of chips, and in return Little Dan would call at the hardware store and ask for "No. 2 bottle" for so and so, and thus quench the cravings of the chip producer.

The hardware store kept this kind of hardware.

One evening when Little Dan produced No. 2 as required the thirsty carpenter drew the cork, gurgled, gargled, let a yell out of him that split the port garboard strake of the Countess to the bearding line, and pursued the startled Daniel with murderous intent for four blocks and a half.

All unknowingly Little Dan had brought him No. 1 bottle, by the hardware man's mistake. No. 1 was kept filled with spirits of turpentine for which the carpenter had occasional use. The spirit of No. 2, for which he had even more occasional use, was of the same hue. From which it may be inferred that the carpenter favored spiritus frumenti in its natural uncolored state.

Thus Little Dan had his share in the millionaire's game of the America's Cup. He won this first heat with the carpenter, and they were good friends afterwards. He became a smart yacht hand perhaps thanks to that sprint when the Countess was building—who knows?—and sailed in Hugh C. Dennis' large centre-boarder Cygnet. In distinguished company, too, for pulling with him knee to knee like the Ancient Mariner, or racing him to the spreaders or bowsprit end with flying canvas to set, was young Herrick Duggan, who since bridged this continent with steel. His greatest feat been building the successful Quebec Bridge when two others had collapsed. "Young Dan" treasures a photograph of a water-color of the Cygnet which "Young Herrick" painted when they were shipmates in her.

Yachting came at the beginning and end of Capt. Rooney's sailing career, for after he had made good as a schooner captain and become a substantial citizen, with his own three-master and interests in other schooners and steam barges and a coal business in Cobourg, he continued to act as master for the late Mr. Schoonamaker, to whom he was indispensable, in his fine fast power yacht. But he has always been, in waterfront language, a vessel man. His heart is still in sail. With a great big area reserved for the Royal Canadian Navy of 1943, with its fairmiles, minesweepers, corvettes, frigates and destroyers. You see, his son Jack, a fine big strapping business man. is Lieut. John Rooney here in H.M.C.S. York.

THE ANNIE FALCONER—"Little Dan" brought her in safely a few hours before the Jessie Drummond was lost.

CAPT. DAN ROONEY

Master of seven schooners in turn and owner of several schooners and steam barges, he has kept Cobourg warm for two generations with the coal he has carried.

LIEUT. JOHN ROONEY

Son of Capt. Dan, and now in the Navy, he can be relied upon to make it hot for Hitler.

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"Ninety happy birthday wish to my captain in the schooner Oliver Mowat forty-seven years ago and inspiration for Schooner Days ever since. May he still have a fair wind in his raffee when he has 100 years in his wake and may his life partner always be beside him."

This was one of many congratulatory telegrams received by Capt. Jas. H. Peacock of Port Hope and Mrs. Peacock yesterday, upon the occasion of that grand old lakes-man's ninetieth birthday anniversary.

Born in Cat Hollow, now politely known as Lakeport, Oct. 22nd, 1853, and orphaned at eight when his fisherman father died, he shipped as cook when he was thirteen, was master at twenty-one. became an owner, and sailed until sixty-five, when he retired to a coal business. But at 89 he piloted H.M.C.S. Port Hope into Port Hope, Aug. 5th, 1942. Capt. Peacock married Miss Margaret Matthews of Lake Port when he became master of the schooner Octavia, and on Aug. 5th this year they celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.

Captain Peacock has one son, Capt. W. H. Peacock, and two daughters, Mrs. J. W. Jamieson of Toronto and Mrs. R. Clarke of Port Hope. A sister, Mrs. A. Bennett resides in Miami. Florida.

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69 YEARS WEDDED, CELEBRATE 90th BIRTHDAY

CAPT. JAS. H. PEACOCK and MRS. PEACOCK, nee Margaret Matthews, Port Hope residents for fifty years.