Capt. Ben Tripp

There are few men among lake mariners who carry a better physique than does breezy Ben Tripp, one of Toronto's many skippers. He was born in Colborne, Ont. in 1841. At that place he was educated, and he takes a just pride in the fact that he is a native Canadian. When he was fifteen years of age, in 1856, having become well-stocked with book knowledge, he began his career on the lakes, shipping first on the schooner Caroline from Toronto. Other vessels which he shipped in as commander and master were the schooner S. A. Marsh, the tug Wales, the steamer Chicora, the steamer Ontario, the steamer City of Montreal, and the steamer Rupert

The only two accidents of any consequence in Capt. Tripp's career were once when his vessel became waterlogged on Lake Erie in 1891, and again, when he was driven ashore on Lake Ontario in 1893. None of the crew were lost on both occasions, and the Captain's bravery was much spoken of at the time.

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