LANDMARKS OF TORONTO
VOLUME V.
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CHAPTER I. YACHTS OF A CENTURY Old Time Sailors—An Interesting Article on Some of the Yachts and Yachtsmen of Sixty Years Ago.
For over a century have there been yachts on Lake Ontario. It is only since 1850 or thereabouts, however, that the white wings have been very numerous upon the blue waters. The Duke of Rochefoucault de Liancourt, writing of the marine of Lake Ontario in 1795, mentions "a small yacht of eighty tons, mounting six guns." She was probably only a revenue cutter. No particulars are given about her, other than that she was attached to the fleet at Kingston. In the Upper Canada Gazette of Sept. 14, 1799, the following announcement appears:— "The Toronto Yacht, Captain Baker, will, in the course of a few days be ready to make here first trip. She is one of the handsomest vessels of her size that ever swam upon the Ontario, and if we are permitted to judge from her appearance, and to do her justice, we must say she bids fair to be one of the swiftest sailing vessels. She is admirably well calculated for the exception of passengers, and can with proprietry boast of the most experienced officers and men. Her master-builder is a Mr. Denison, an American, on whom she reflects muc credit." What the Toronto Yacht was like or where she was built, we are not told. She is frequently mentioned in the Gazette. On Saturday, May 17, 1800, we are told of the arrival of "his Excellency Peter Hunter, Esq., Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the province, in the Toronto." She is mentioned in a similar connection several times afterwards. On October 11th, |
1806, we learn that Governor Gore cross from York to Niagara, in the Toronto Yacht presumably, in four hours, a smart passage for a sailing vessel even to-day. The Toronto Yacht went ashore on the Island sandbar early in the summer of 1812, and her frames remained protruding from the sand for many years. She was commanded successively by Capt. Baker, Capt. Earl and Capt. Fish. On June 7, 1828, the Loyalist mentions another yacht. "His Majesty's schooner Cockburn, bearing the broad pennon of Commodore Barrie, entered this port on Monday last. The yacht Bullfrong was in company with the Cockburn." No description of the Bullfrog is given. In October, 1828, the arrival of Sir Peregrine Maitland in the Bullfrog is noted. She appears to have been a vessel used for the same purposes as the Toronto yacht. "The Bullfrog yard boat, of about 60 tons, nearly new and completely rigged, and well furnished in every respect," is advertised for sale in 1834, among an extensive assortment of naval stores. In the Toronto Courier, of May 28, 1836, the following advertisement appears: "The well known Government built cutter, Bullfrog, about 40 tons burthen, with all her running and standing rigging complete, and in good sailing order, will be sold very low for cash or approved endorsed notes for half the purchase money. For particulars apply to Burke & O'Neil, Toronto." This cutter may or may no have been "the Bullfrog yard boat, of about 60 tons burthen," before referred to. In the public sale of naval stores at Kingston dockyard, June 27, 1836, "the Cockburn schooner, 70 tons, paid off in 1834, with her masts and spars; also the Bullfrog, tender of 60 tons, with her sails and rigging in store," are offered for sale. |
