"Help Wanted"-150 Years Ago: Schooner Days MXLIX (1049)

by C. H. J. Snider

NOW WHERE was this?

It's no $64,000 quiz, question, but a frank appeal to all lake sailormen of the long voyage for guesses or opinions or information.

It looks to us as though it might be a little man-of-war schooner approaching Fort Malden, built at Amherstburg on the Detroit River after the British naval establishment was moved over from Detroit in 1796. The wooded shore to the left might be Boblo (Bois Blanc) Island, now a picnic park. The high land ahead does not look right for the Amherstburg Channel up towards Windsor now but as none of us was around when the picture was taken it is as difficult to contradict as it is to confirm. Perhaps some of the gallant tars of the Ontario Historical Society may be able to assist.

Although the print cannot show it the picture is full of interesting detail. The vessel is full of animated figures, with an officer in a cocked hat on the quarterdeck leveling his telescope at the landing place. Both canoes have little sails, and their occupants, white or Indian, are more concerned with shooting ducks than with the solitary vessel. She is towing her landing boat, with one hand in it steering, which was naval practice at the time. This would be after rather than before 1800, from the rig of the vessel.

There is no signature or date on the original painting. It was sent to the late Commodore Aemelius Jarvis for identification, many years ago, but he could not find who painted it.