Kingston News (Kingston, ON), Nov. 21, 1844

p.1 Welland Canal - This work, says the St. Catharines Journal, has been continued with the usual vigor, and it may be pronounced out of danger - the hollow quoins are laid on every rock, ready for the reception of the gates, which will be hung this winter, and the navigation opened in the spring for the passage of all vessels from lake to lake of 26 feet beam and 124 feet in length from taffrail to knightsheads. We cannot repeat too often our admiration of the energy and perseverence of the contractors, and the orderly and peaceable conduct of the artizans and labourers.

p.2 Casualties - On the night of the 12th inst., Eustach Monarch, was accidentally drowned in the Harbour of Kingston. The night was extremely dark and rainy, and while walking along one of the wharves to get to his boat, he fell into the water and was drowned. The deceased was a Frenchman, and master of one of Sanderson & Murray's barges.... [Chronicle]

p.3 We inadvertently omitted in our last, to do justice to the gallant and generous conduct of the officers and men of the of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Erie, who rescued from a situation of imminent peril a British vessel and crew, on the upper lake. We now insert the letter omitted last week, in which the dangerous situation of the Georgina, and the efforts of those noble fellows in her rescue, are fully detailed. We copy from the Toronto Patriot:-

Glasserton, Dunnville, C.W.

1st Nov., 1844.

To the Editor of the Toronto Patriot:

Sir: - It must ever be a source of pleasure to generous minds, to acknowledge with gratitude the kind services rendered us, in times of difficulty and peril; still more when, by such acknowledgements, we can publicly do honor to the liberal and generous spirit of those to whose efforts we are indebted.

We therefore feel ourselves bound to request your insertion of the following circumstances in the columns of your valuable journal, that, through its means, our fellow countrymen may form an estimate of the friendship and timely aid, in times of distress and danger, which a British vessel may expect at the hands of the United States Navy, and of the noble spirit which animates those brave men.

During the fury of the late storm, the schooner Georgina was forced from her moorings near Erie, Pennsylvania, and driven upon a bank against the breakwater at that place; in such a position, that had it came on again to blow, before she were gotten off, she must have become a total wreck.

In this state she remained from the 18th till the 24th; and notwithstanding every exertion made by her crew to get her off, with such means as their own resources and those of the place where they were afforded, their efforts proved wholly fruitless; and she must have remained in her very perilous position but for the timely assistance of the Officers and Men of the U.S. revenue schooner Erie, Capt. Knapp, U.S.N., who had been cruising about the coast since the storm, to afford aid to helpless and distressed vessels. Hearing that several vessels were ashore at Erie, they immediately repaired to that place, where they arrived on Thursday the 24th; and though five other vessels lay ashore on or near the breakwater - some of them belonging to Americans - she, unsought and unasked, seeing the perilous and helpless condition of the Georgina, a British vessel, immediately sent her boat with an officer and large party of men on board, to volunteer their aid, and for two days and great part of two nights these noble fellows laboured with untiring zeal, till by their exertions, and assistance of their blocks and tackle, they accomplished their generous work, and succeeded in restoring her to her element on the 26th, only about half an hour after her owner reached Erie, having gone thither in search of her.

To the commander of the United States schooner Erie, Capt. Knapp, Lieutenant Berriman and Benson, and to the fine fellows under their command - to whom, under Providence, we are indebted for the release of our vessel from her dangerous position - we desire thus publicly to offer our most grateful thanks; and though where all acquitted themselves so well, it were almost invidious to particularize any, we cannot resist especially acknowledging our obligations for the great and valuable assistance rendered by Lieutenant Berriman, who not only by his presence continually urged and animated the men to their arduous labors, but also by much personal exertion, materially aided in the generous work.

We feel confident, Sir, that you will take pleasure as we do ourselves, in hearing this slight but sincere tribute of praise to the honorable and friendly feeling thus manifested by our brave friends towards a British vessel in distress.

We remain, sir, your obedient servants,

Frederick Hyde,

Augustus Jukes,

Owners of the schooner Georgina.