Herbert Dudley (Schooner), 15 Nov 1886

      From Out Of The Storm - The HERBERT DUDLEY on the Lake Saturday - The BALTIC's Narrow Escape - What Vessel Captains Say
      Canadian vessel captains have long had a reputation for daring unsurpassed by any other class of vesselmen on the lakes. It would seem almost incredible that there could be found a man reckless enough to venture outside in such a storm of wind and snow as that which swept over old Ontario Saturday. But such, however, was the case.
      The schooner HERBERT DUDLEY, Captain Joe Parsons, with a cargo of barley, consigned to Gaylord, Downey & Co. of this city, lay safely moored at dock in Kingston harbor Saturday morning. The wind was blowing from the nor'east, and a blinding snow storm was raging when Captain Parsons ordered the crew up from around the forecastle fire to make sail and start for Oswego.
      The departure was witnessed by anxious friends, but Captain parsons is an old and experienced sailor and he had unbounded confidence in his ability to get through all right. It was 11 o'clock A.M. when the vessel left the dock and the stiff nor'east soon had her outside of Nine Mile Point. There was not much sea on the north shore, but the snow was falling fast. The schooner was headed south by half south and was making good weather until the "Ducks" had been passed and where, to put it in the captain's own words, "we found a good bit of a sea tumbling."
      The course was not altered and all the afternoon the schooner forged along with all headsail, a fore sail and a reefed mainsail set, and both anchors ready to be dropped at a moment's notice. About six o'clock Captain Parsons concluded they must be pretty near the harbor but he was unable to see land or the light which was burning brightly in the lighthouse.
      About 6:30 the captain who had been on deck all day "picked up" the light on the port bow about five miles away. The order was given to "jibe her" and at seven o'clock the DUDLEY sailed up the river to the astonishment of the tug men, who were comfortably lying inside of the east breakwater, never dreaming that a vessel had been outside in the snow storm looking for a harbor. She was picked up and towed to the North Western elevator where her cargo of barley was unloaded perfectly dry. It's only about three or four years ago the DUDLEY made two trips across the lake after navigation at this port had closed and the lights in the lighthouse discontinued.
      Oswego Palladium
      Monday, November 15, 1886