Yachting in Scarlet and Pith Helmets: Schooner Days MLVII (1057)

by C. H. J. Snider

Old Warior's Young Cruise - III.

THOSE SEVEN R.M.C. cadets who went for a Lake Ontario cruise with the brother captains, Nick and George Henderson, of Kingston, in the yacht Mary sixty years ago were just like us boys today. Only in addition to being short of money they had no radio, movies, television, gasoline or sports clothes to spend it on. They went sailing in their cadet uniforms, helmets and all. Major J. J. B. Farley, late of the North Staffords, originally a Belleville boy and now living retired in Kenya Colony, thus describes the cruise in a letter to his cousin Fred B. Meyers, UE, in Toronto:

Crossing from the False Ducks on the way to Charlotte, N.Y., Osler, one of the cadets, was doing a tight- rope act on the bobstay of the Mary's long projecting bowsprit when the yacht gave a sudden lurch.

"I always suspected George Henderson, at the helm, knew why," comments Major Farley.

Osler just saved himself from going in, but his helmet went floating astern. It was picked up later and provided a write-up for the American papers. As it was marked with the broad arrow and Osler's college number, it started the myth that a party of British soldiers had been making a secret survey of the American shoreline of Lake Ontario and one of them had been drowned or at least lost his headpiece in the attempt.

On arrival at Charlotte all hands trooped off up to the city of Rochester, nine miles away. The first preoccupation was to find the best restaurant and go all-out in a dinner to celebrate. All studied the menus with the greatest care, and at Gibb's advice each ordered a different dish. As the portions were lavish each had a sample of every dish and so dined sumptuously. They went back to the Mary, moored at Charlotte with stomachs full, but pockets nigh empty, but returned to the charge next day.,

HOSPITABLE CONDOR

The Toronto yacht Condor was moored hear the Mary at Charlotte, and Gibbs, the cadets' livewire, consulted her skipper about a good — but economical — place to dine. "Come with me," said he and led them to the best hotel in the place. He ordered seven dinners, the best the house could produce. They thought he was standing treat, but he thriftily excused himself, saying he had an engagement, and toddled off. In dismay, they turned pockets out. "All I could dig forth was 37 cents and the others were not much better off,"' chuckles Major Farley. "There was just enough to pay for three dinners, so, having chosen three by the odd-man-out method, the unlucky four canceled the order for their dinners, explaining gracefully that it was a mistake, "as they had already dined (the day before)."

On the way back to the yacht — hungry—-one of the four ran into a very pretty cousin, from Canada who was nursing in Rochester, and had run down to Charlotte, with a friend, for the day. As his last thirty-seven cents were at the moment pulling their weight at the hotel he could not treat them to more than the spectacle of his uniform. He had put on his college recreation kit—blazer and white flannel trousers with rod stripe - and took turns with the rest on the jetty, which appeared, to be a favorite promenade.

FATAL ATTRACTION

He was irresistably attracted to the pierhead lighthouse, resplendent in a gorgeous coat of red lead, and went and leaned against it, feeling very decorative. Presently some kindly soul came up with the confidential information that the light-house had just been painted! The girls insisted on staying to see the cadets off and it took considerable maneuvring for him to back all the way from the lighthouse to the yacht facing them to protect the damaged rear. In fact it might be called a major rear-guard action.

So, bravely masking the tears — or smears — of parting with smiles and waving handkerchiefs — the young ladies wafted the Mary and the young soldiers of the Queen on their way. Toronto was the next stop. How they got there and what befell will be told next week.

The good yacht MARY of KINGSTON as drawn by Major J. J. B. Farley when he was a R.M.C. Cadet sixty years ago.