Saturday Afternoon at Old Eastern Gap: Schooner Days DCCXCIII (793)
- Publication
- Toronto Telegram (Toronto, ON), 26 Apr 1947
- Full Text
- Saturday Afternoon at Old Eastern GapSchooner Days DCCXCIII (793)
by C. H. J. Snider
"LEAVING the old 'Grip Ltd.' bang on the stroke of noon was necessary to get to the ferry dock in time for the Point (Hanlan's) by the Island Queen or Ada Alice, as there was always a long freight meandering back and forth across the Esplanade at the foot of Bay street when time was short.
"The Bay would be dancing in a fresh easterly breeze and on the yacht club moorings at the foot of Simcoe street, or at the Island Club, the First Division would already have mainsails and clubtopsails hoisted and flying jibs set in stops, ready to break out and sheet to weather for casting.
THE HIDE
"Arrived at the Point, there was the fast ride on the trusty blue-framed Cleveland up the west shore sidewalk, always looking anxiously ahead for the massive police bicycle belonging to P.C. Miles, a 'safety' a boy would need a step ladder to mount, high and heavy as the present Royal York Hotel. Its ill concealed presence in front of some resident's cottage would indicate the 19th century police trap. Its blue-clad rider, complete in red-seamed pant-clipped uniform trousers and high helmet, would be hidden on the verandah, watching for "scorchers." Sidewalk riding was grudgingly tolerated but speeding more than 8 m.p.h. offended the majesty of the by-law. When the official wheel had been sighted twenty or more Islanders on their way home would ring down to dead slow or even dismount to walk past Paddy Miles' high-framed Planet, to indicate proper respect for the law, and then ride home like Jehu.
ON TO THE GAP
"A very hurried lunch was eaten in the then summer home of the family on McLean avenue, across the lagoon from the lighthouse, followed by the long walk or jog trot to the other end of the Island at the Eastern Gap, carrying camera, plate holders, sketch book, tripod and other gear too precious to be transported by bicycle along the Island breakwater.
"On arrival at the Eastern Gap one would usually see four or more cameras, tripods and black focussing black clothes already set up in choice pitches, but room was always made for "the little boy in short pants" (to quote Gustav Hahn) by the gentlemen of the Camera Club, who helped him join that organization and assisted him in every way - 'Try this developer of mine, and see how you like it,' and so on. Mr. Freemantle, whose work has been mentioned in recently in Schooner Days, would always be present, usually ahead of us, which was one of the advantages of being a bank messenger and closing at 12 Saturdays. Later Fred Baird would arrive in his rowboat, being able to pull around and bring his equipment with him.
THE SHOOTING GALLERY
The north end of the timber-decked west pier of the Eastern Gap —-made a perfect base of operations for photographing the R.C.Y.C. fleet, those days of sail-carrying, coming boiling out to the lake in a fresh easterly, after rounding the buoy in the Bay at the foot of Trinity street, where the old Oriole moored, off the old Gooderham residence. Any skipper who by choice or necessity was close to the west pier as they passed was amply rewarded for running the camera gauntlet, sometimes in next week's Saturday Globe, which was gingerly spreading itself on fine-screen halftones, on calendered paper, like the Dominion Illustrated.
"In those days of plates and plate-holders, however, some important decisions had to be made by photographers as well as skippers, whether, with the limited supply of plates, to take this one or wait for something better.
"After the Saturday afternoon cruising race was well on its way there were always stonehookers or coal schooners as subjects for beautiful pictures made by the camera. Outstanding among the photographs of such vessels is Mr. Freemantle's portrait of the Stuart H. Dunn and the tug Nellie Bly in the Gap. It was heartbreaking to have a sight as fine as this one presented when all plates had been exposed, so that the sketch book was often the most valuable part of one's gear.
AMPHIBIOUS ART
"Later in the afternoon the four or five artists of the camera and the writer would row over to the city side in Mr. Baird's rowboat and try 'stills' of schooners and reflections at Sylvesters', Conger's and Roger's docks at the foot of Church street and the stonehookers at West Market street. Then back to the Island on the ferry boat, with a huge appetite and great interest to see what the Imperial 220 or 225 H. & D.'s had recorded.
"All good wishes to Mr. Freemantle—his kindness, help and in-' spiring examples of the fine art of yacht photography are clearly remembered. Of course we never called him 'Rattlesnake Pete.' For one reason, he had not yet won that name on Salisbury Plain, but if he had we would as soon have called Lord Kitchener 'Kitch' to his face as be so familiar with this recognized poet with a camera."
So writes another friend of Schooner Days, his memories quickened by recent reference to the work of "Rattlesnake Pete." Rowley W. Murphy, ARCA, OSA, has gone far since boy-in-knee-pants times.
He is now an instructor in the Ontario College of Art and did valuable work in the Royal Canadian Navy during the late war.
CaptionsANOTHER OF "RATTLESNAKE PETE'S" LUCKY STRIKES
It was only recently that it is learned that this picture of the Conger Coal Co.'s schooner STUART H. DUNN towing out behind the tug NELLIE BLY which has been a favorite for reproduction for forty years, was a Saturday afternoon snapshot by Mr. A. O. H. Fremantle, now of Hollyburn, B.C. The Dunn, named for a Quebec timber merchant, was Toronto s largest coal schooner and became a tow barge in 1910. She was sunk in deep water in 1925, having outlived her usefulness. She had been built in 1876 as the W. R. TAYLOR.
NAVY, 1942
Later version of the "little boy in knee pants", here quoted.
- Creator
- Snider, C. H. J.
- Media Type
- Newspaper
- Text
- Item Type
- Clippings
- Date of Publication
- 26 Apr 1947
- Subject(s)
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
-
Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.63341 Longitude: -79.3496
-
- Donor
- Richard Palmer
- Creative Commons licence
- [more details]
- Copyright Statement
- Public domain: Copyright has expired according to the applicable Canadian or American laws. No restrictions on use.
- Contact
- Maritime History of the Great LakesEmail:walter@maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
Website: