Capt. William R. Wakely

Capt. William R. Wakely, master of the schooner Antelope, trading on Lake Ontario, was born at Cranberry Marsh, on the outskirts of Port Hope, Ontario, in 1854. Educated in the schools of Port Hope, he began sailing when he was eleven years of age. His first position was as cook on the schooner Enterprise, in 1865, a vessel sailed by his father. He remained three seasons on the Enterprise, one as cook and two before the mast. The following year he shipped before the mast on the schooner Otonabee. The next he was a sailor in the brig Cavalier, going the ensuing season into the schooner Annie Minnes. He sailed in her for three years as mate.

Having become an efficient navigator, Capt. Wakely took charge as master in the opening of the season of 1873 of the schooner Little Kate, of Oakville. For one year he sailed her. The next season he accepted the position of chief mate on the large schooner W. J. Suffell. Again he returned to the top and sailed as master in the schooner Wave Crest for five years. After that he abandoned sailing for six months, which satisfied his desire to be ashore, and he went that fall into the schooner Delaware. He remained in her the following season. The subsequent season he took command of the schooner Jamieson, remaining in her for three years. Then he had charge of the schooner Flora Carveth. From her he went into the schooner Antelope, of which he is still master.

Some interesting and exciting incidents have occurred in Capt. Wakely's career on the lakes. When he was in the schooner Little Kate, bound from Toronto to Kingston, she was driven ashore at Snake Island, near Kingston. She was released without any loss, except that a small part of the cargo got wet. It was feared at first that she would go to pieces, and with difficulty the crew got ashore. Many of them were washed off the rocks several times whilst endeavoring to make their way to the beach, but eventually every one was saved. Capt. Wakely has lost only one man, a sailor named William Foster, who fell overboard and was drowned in Oswego harbor. On another occasion the Captain's ship was overtaken at night by a terrific equinoctial gale, and one of the men sent out on the boom to furl the jib was knocked off into the water. He swam well, however, and managed to keep himself afloat. Rising and falling with the sea, the man watched his opportunity and grabbed the bobstays. Almost before any one realized that he was overboard, he had climbed aboard again. During an electric gale on the lake another man was struck by lightning and rendered insensible. The vessel happened to be not far from shore, a doctor was soon procured, and as a result of the physician's exertions, the man revived.

Capt. Wakely was married in 1876 to Miss Mix of Port Hope. Five daughters have been born to them. Capt. Wakely has a cozy residence and quite a few acres of land in Port Hope, where the family homestead is. By religion the Captain is a Methodist.

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