Kingston News (Kingston, ON), Oct. 2, 1845

p.1 A Water Spout - at Cleveland. [Buffalo Commercial Advertiser]

Singular Phenomenon on Lake Ontario - On Saturday last a most extraordinary occurrence was noticed in the lake at this place. Shortly before noon some gentlemen walking on the wharf, happening to cast their eyes upon the water between the piers were struck with the very unusual appearance of a strong current or tide as it were, setting directly out to sea. It seemed as if the whole Lake were going bodily away. In a few minutes nearly a third part of the inner harbor, with a corresponding portion of the shore on either side, was left entirely bare, when suddenly the tide turned and came as rapidly back again; filling the harbor, at least two feet higher than it was before. This extraordinary action of the Lake was continued at regular intervals of every eight or ten minutes till after dark - the highest tide noticed being a little before six in the evening, when the water rose seven inches higher than it was last spring, and just two feet and an inch above its present level. We understand the same occurrence was noticed at other places on the Lake, and hear that at Port Hope the effect was so great that the steamboat Princess Royal could not get into the harbor at all, running hard aground when more than her length outside the entrance to the piers. The cause of so extraordinary a phenomenon is at present a matter of various conjecture, but the general opinion seems to be that it could only have been produced by a violent earthquake in some part of the continent, which we shall probably soon hear of.

[Cobourg Star]

p.2

THE REGATTA.

To the Editor of the News.

Sir: - The arrangements for the Regatta which came off on Thursday last (considering all things) were admirable, and the prizes were contended for with both spirit and ability. The first race between the Long Islanders and the Americans, was well contested and the former won with ease, adding another laurel to their well earned fame as oarsmen, and 30 l. cy. in their pocket for their hard pull.

To my mind the sailing matches were the most interesting, and a better day could not be asked for trying the weatherly power of the craft. The 2nd and 3rd class Yachts started at about ten minutes to two, the former being the Dock Yard Yawl, the Squall, and Mr. Rutherford's Sans Souci Cutter; the latter being Mr. Diggle's Cutter Black Duck, a Cutter from Cobourg, called the Meteor, and Mr. Rutherford's Sans Souci, which had been entered also for the 2nd class. The Dock Yard Yawl under the command of Lieut. Davies, R.N., won the second prize, beating the Sans Souci by 4 1/2 minutes; and the Sans Souci saved her distance in the 2nd class, and won the prize of the 3rd class. The contest was altogether between the Squall and the Sans Souci, and both proved that they were good boats and properly handled; the former passing the latter, rounding the first buoy, beating her by 4 1/2 minutes on the first tack; soon after passing the buoy, the Sans Souci set her whole foresail, and tack and tack they went at it until rounding the buoy, placed near Simcoe Island, when the Squall missed stays and the little Sans Souci, although only 22 feet long and her antagonist 32 feet, went to windward of her; her triumph was but short, for running off the wind, the Squall had the legs of her, passed her, and came in, winning the prize; Black Duck came in about 35 minutes after the Sans Souci, and saved her distance; but the Cobourg boat, the Meteor, was non est inventus, having borne up and run to town, after passing the first buoy, under a close reefed mainsail and jib. During this race the wind blew very fresh from the westward, with heavy squalls, and all the boats in this race showed their seaworthiness, and the crews their seamanship and steadiness, in such heavy weather. At about half past two the first class yachts and the scows started. The yachts were: Major Denny's Mary Anne, the French Creek boat, the Petril, and a boat from Brockville, belonging to Mr. George Sherwood. At the same time three scows started, two bore up, and the celebrated fast sailing scow belonging to Mr. Hinchley, carried on with the yachts. The contest between the yachts would have been hot and heavy, but for the interference of the scow, which had no business with them, but to walk over the ground for her own prize, having no antagonist in her class.

Before passing the first buoy the said scow being to windward of the Mary Anne, bore down before the wind and although the Mary Anne was on the starboard tack she was obliged to give way for fear of being run into, but this was not enough for her; she must also, without any provocation, try and bother the French Creek boat also, while reefing, by running to windward of her, taking the wind out of her sails. This unhandsome conduct has met with its proper reward, a vote of censure being passed on the owner's conduct, and I doubt if she will not be disqualified from running in another Regatta here. After passing the first buoy, the wind freshened and the Petril took in another reef; the Mary Anne carried all her canvass, and the Brockville boat (I believe) had reefed also. From this to the buoy at Simcoe Island they went at it hammer and tongs, the Petril leading, the Mary Anne next, and the Brockville boat last; the Petril having rounded the buoy, shook out her reefs, and ran off the wind, followed by the Mary Anne, the latter coming up to her hand over fist, when unfortunately she carried away the yard of her squaresail, knocked a man overboard (who was immediately picked up) and the sail going over her bows, could not be got out of the water until she bore up in the wind, thereby losing her last chance for winning; she thus came in second, the Petril winning by a long distance; the Brockville boat did not come to the starting post.

The Rowing matches came off without much of a contest; although the prizes were good the entrances were few, but as far as they went, they gave very general satisfaction.

I hear it mooted that a Club is about to be formed, and a challenge cup, worth one hundred guineas, will be forthcoming next year to be run for. I hope it will be carried into effect. With the finest harbor on the Lake, Kingston ought to take the lead in aquatics, and the people ought to encourage them liberally.

Yours truly,

One of Them.

Messrs. Fowler & Hood, the worthy Lessees, of the Kingston Marine Railway, have just laid down the keel of a large Propeller for Capt. Patterson of this Town. This Propeller is to be launched next spring and is intended for the Lake & River Trade - the following are its dimensions: - 140 feet Keel, 24 do. Beam, 9 1/2 do. Depth of Hold. The upper or main deck will be covered in from stem to stern, which will afford complete protection to the whole freight. We believe that the exposure of Canadian flour to the weather, on the open decks of schooners and barges, and on the wharves whilst undergoing transhipment is one great cause of the reduced figure at which that article is quoted in the British Market; the barrels are frequently saturated with water which on the long voyage across the Atlantic penetrates through to the Flour and sours it.

Capt. P.'s vessel will be rigged with one mast and propelled by a high-pressure engine of 140 horse power - the engine will be furnished from the Kingston Foundry. We have no doubt the Shipbuilders and Machinists will turn out a vessel, in all respects creditable to the Port of Kingston. [Chronicle]

p.3

NEWS MARINE LIST.

Port of Kingston - Arrived.

Sept. 25 - Sch. Henrietta, Port Dover, 6221 staves, 880 bbls flour, 7 do ashes; Niagara, Port Dover and Toronto, 512 bus wheat, 556 bbls flour, 7 do ashes; Mayflower, Wellington, 2700 bus wheat; Mariner, Stoney Creek, 5113 staves, 14 bbls ashes; Acorn, Huron, 5238 bus wheat; Minerva Cook, Stoney Creek, 125 pcs oak; brig Ansel R. Cobb, Cleveland, 1390 bbls flour, 356 bbls pork, 75 bales broom corn, 100 live hogs, 2017 lbs hams; sch. Clyde, Bear Creek, 11415 staves.

Sept. 26 - Sch. Sir Charles Bagot, St. Catherines, 1605 bbls flour; Empress, Cobourg, 610 bbls flour; str. Prince of Wales, Bay Quinte, 21 bbls ashes, 19 bags wheat; sch. Trafalgar, Toronto, 2840 bus wheat; Amherstburgh, Detroit and Sandwich, 1189 bbls flour, 10 bbls ashes, 11 bbls sundries; Hannah, Cobourg, 350 bbls flour, 36 kegs butter.

Sept. 27 - Sch. Lord Nelson, Darlington, 650 bbls flour; Adventure, Toronto, 858 bbls flour; Diana, Oshawa, 116 bbls flour, 800 bus wheat; Hannah Counter, Port Dalhousie, 120 pcs oak; Mohawk, Catfish Creek, 29,000 staves.

Sept. 29 - Sch. Lady Bagot, St. Catherines, 1500 bbls flour; Merchant Miller, do 1500 do do; Jesse Woods, do 900 do do; str. Prince of Wales, Bay Quinte, 190 bbls flour, 12 ashes, 50 kegs butter; sch. Canada, Stoney Creek, 88 pcs oak; Gen. Brock, Port Dalhousie, 104 do; Princess Royal, Chatham, 7850 staves; Anne Jane Brown, 1267 bbls flour; Atlantic, Cleveland, 1433 bbls do, 335 do pork.

Sept. 30 - Sch. William Penn, Port Dalhousie, 105 pcs oak; Juno, Chatham, 8000 staves; Queen Victoria, Port Dalhousie, 147 pcs oak.

Oct. 1 - Brig Rachael, Rochester, 1200 bbls flour; sch Shannon, Cleveland, 1110 bbls pork, 373 grind stones, 1043 lbs feathers; brig Liverpool, Hamilton, 219 pcs oak.

Ferry To Long Island.

STEAMBOAT NOTICE.

Notice is hereby given, that on and after the 1st inst. the Steam Ferryboat between Kingston and Long Island, will leave Kingston as follows:

Leaves Kingston Leaves Wolf Island

1st trip, 7 A.M. 1st trip, 8 A.M.

2nd trip, 11 A.M. 2nd trip, 12 1/2 P.M.

3rd trip, 3 P.M. 3rd trip, 4 1/2 P.M.

H. Ives, Master.

Kingston, Oct. 1, 1845.