At Lewiston we took everyone on board that wanted to come; in fact, our "runners" strenuously invited them. The moment the dusty two-horse "stages" from the New York Central station unloaded their still more dusty travellers in front of Cornell's Hotel at the top of the bank at the staircase, they were appealed to by the rival touts of the competing steamers, either to take the "black funnel" steamer at the foot of the staircase, or the Chicora, with the red funnels further down the dock. It was a little bit of pandemonium.
No tickets were collected by us at the gangway—it was "come right on board," the tickets being collected while crossing the lake after leaving Niagara.
If the traveller had no ticket, we collected fare from him at full tariff; if he had a ticket over the other boats we accepted it and graciously carried him across free; if he had one of our own tickets we almost embraced him. What difference did it make to us whether the tickets reading over the other boats were cashed to us or not, we had the more ample space and better accommodation on ours. Perhaps the passenger might esteem the compliment and be a paying traveller over us on some other day. Besides, people like following the crowd, and the larger number helps to make a show. Times have been known in competitions on the Upper Lakes where the central cabins prevent both sides of the steamer being seen at once, when in addition to the available passengers, everyone possible of waiters and crew have been spread out on the passing side of the upper cabin, when meeting a rival boat. It gives an appearance of prosperity and suggests the approval of the public.
Just here let me bear testimony to the ability and fidelity of Purser Aleck Leach, who had been purser with me on the Cumberland, and had now been transferred to the Chicora. Kindly and courteous, yet firm, he never dissatisfied a passenger. Untiring, accurate, faithful, he never divulged anything of the company's business, and won and enjoyed the confidence and good-will of every member of the Board and Staff. A condition which was only severed by his death. At no time were these abilities more displayed than in this first strenuous year on this route.
The competition grew hotter as the season progressed. The odds were greatly in favour of two boats with an established connection against a single boat without any, yet Chicora was gaining, and every point in the passenger ticketing game was being played against them by her management.
The acrimony and the rivalry of the contest is fairly indicated by an advertisement in "The Globe" on 5th August, 1878:
TORONTO, NIAGARA AND BUFFALO STEAMBOAT LINE.
The Public are warned that spent checks of the Steamers City of Toronto and Rothesay of their line, collected and issued by the Steamer Chicora, will not be accepted for passage on either of the steamers of this Line.
Passengers going over by the Chicora on Saturday last were furnished with such by the Chicora, and were consequently deceived, as these checks were refused by this Line.
D. Milloy, Agent.