Capt. E. Dunn

Capt. E. Dunn, of the Government ship Petrel was born on the 6th of January 1838, in Birmingham, England, and was brought to the vicinity of Owen Sound in 1843 by his mother, his father having preceded the family by about eighteen months. At that time that district was a wilderness, there being not more than half a dozen log houses in the town of what is now Owen Sound. The captain's father had settled on a farm lot about four miles from Owen Sound, then known as Sydenham, and there they remained until 1854. There being no schools in the country until a year or two before the family left the farm, the captain's education was therefore limited, he having graduated from a log school house after a short term.

"So you see." jocosely has Capt. Dunn said, "I am one of Whitney's 95 per cent."

Capt. Dunn was always naturally intelligent, however, and made such good use of his talent as to cause men to notice his marked ability. His grandfather was a petty officer on a British vessel, and his father was, as a boy, also in the navy, and afterwards in the coast guards.

Capt. Dunn began sailing in a yacht built by his brother and himself, and was afterwards in various vessels. About 1858 and until ten years later, he was in a tug, which was also built by his brother and himself. That tug was afterward converted into a small passenger boat, and Capt. Dunn sailed her until 1878, when she was burned. In 1879 he purchased the Chicago Belle, a small passenger steamboat, and ran her until the water trade was cut off by the railroad. He was afterward employed as a pilot, and as mate and pilot on a number of steamers carrying material and supplies when the C.P.R. was building along the shore of Lake Superior. Subsequently he had an interest in a small passenger and freight boat, which he ran from 1886 to 1890, when he was appointed to the Government Fisheries Protection yacht Cruiser. In 1893 he was advanced to the D.G.S. Petrel, which vessel he still commands.

In 1870, with the tug spoken of above, was employed by General Wolseley when that officer on his way to disperse the first Riel rebellion. Speaking of General Wolseley.Capt. Dunn says: "I found him to be not only a thorough officer and soldier, but a perfect gentleman to boot, loved and respected by his officers and men."

Before he began sailing Capt. Dunn was employed from 1854 until 1858 as deputy to his father, who was Bailiff of the Division Court at Owen Sound, and also later by Sheriff Snider. In 1866 he was a full private in the Owen Sound company sent to the front, and was under arms for three months, for which service he is about to receive a medal, having, as he dryly remarks, "outlived the slow movement of large bodies."

Throughout his sailing career the captain has had but one disaster. In 1882 he lost the steamer Picton through depending on a defective compass. She went ashore at Rondeau Point.

Capt. Dunn was married on the 11th of January 1871, to Miss Jane Hannah, and they have one son, Mr. John C. Dunn, now of Chicago, and one daughter. Miss Mary Dunn, who resides at home.

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