The "Earl Cathcart" Steamer

THE accompanying Engraving shows the Earl Cathcart steamer, with troops board from Montreal to Port Stanley, en route to London, Canada West, as she appeared hard and fast among the islands of the river St. Lawrence. The Cathcart left Montreal on Tuesday, 11th June, having on board No. 4 company 4th battalion Royal Artillery, commanded by Major W. Fraser; and a draught of the 23rd Fusiliers (Royal W.), under the command of Lieut. Brock. After a tedious passage of three days up the river, and through the various canals constructed to avoid its rapids, we found ourselves, one fine evening, opposite the picturesque town of Brockville, while the declining sun was gilding a number of straggling isles, covered with stunted pine, oak, and brushwood. A few hours afterwards we were in the midst of them, and the moon was pouring down its silver flood on the quivering waters. It was one of the most beautiful passages of American scenery—the Lake of the Thousand Islands.

Ere the dawn of day, dense fog crept over the face of the waters. Our Palinurus, Captain Duncan, found it necessary to proceed with caution. To find anchorage in that rocky bed, was impossible: to allow the vessel to float down with the current, was dangerous in the extreme; by doing so, we might have found ourselves, at sunrise, tumbling broadside over the bed of the Long Sault, the most impetuous and dangerous rapid of the St. Lawrence. It was, therefore, necessary to risk running ashore on one of the islands. At about four o'clock the passengers were awoke by finding the vessel suddenly checked. The commotion was general, but some lay very quietly in their berths, in happy indifference, fancying that the shock was caused by the bumping of the boat against the pier at Kingston. There was considerable consternation, however, exhibited on discovering that we had lost ourcourse, and that we were either aground, or on shore, or on a reef of rocks — the mist was so thick, it was impossible to say which. Every endeavour was now made to get us off, but in vain. The sunrose high over the waters, and lighted up the beautiful scenery, but the prospect before us was as dismal as ever — we were fast on shoal. The commanding officer, at length, ordered all the men on shore: accordingly, they were landed on the nearest island, the first boat's crew taking formal possession in the name of her Majesty; and as the regimental boot of Dr. Hunter was the first to touch the strand, his comrades suggested that it should henceforth be called "Hunter's Island." In the meantime, every device was employed to entice the vessel from her resting-place. Fortunately, small flat-bottomed sloop, with a slip-keel, approached, in answer to the flag lowered to half-mast. quantity of iron ballast, and some of the baggage, was now removed; and, after protracted haulings on cables, and tuggings of ropes, and energetic workings of paddles, to our great joy, she was once more afloat. “Hunter's Island” was evacuated; and, having found the proper channel, we made our way, very little damaged, to Kingston.

G. H. Fitzgunne.