Working By The Bells
Life Aboard A Great Lakes Carrier
by Donn Larson
photographed by Paul L. Hayden
Kah-BOOM! The sharp report
of a signal cannon echoes off the shore of Harsen's Island at Southeast
Bend on the St. Clair River north of Detroit, Michigan. The S/S Courtney
Burton of the Oglebay Norton fleet of Great Lakes bulk carriers has
just come up on can buoy No. 13. The blast from her signal cannon is a
diversion - a diversion in a line of work where breaks in the day's routine
can be pretty far apart, and where diversions would be frowned upon if
they distracted a sailor from that sailor's duty.
The Courtney Burton's signal, on this occasion, is a salute to the
flower lady, Arlene Earl, whose home is near buoy No. 13. Arlene, a Detroit
florist, send plants and floral arrangements to brighten the tables of
vessels plying the narrow channel, carrying coal, limestone or taconite
pellets from mine to market.
©1997 Lake Superior Magazine