British Whig (Kingston, ON), May 14, 1883

p.2 Yachting News -

p.3

THE FIRST ARRIVAL.

The schooner John Magee ran into the harbour on Saturday evening, having the proud distinction of being the first grain vessel to arrive from Chicago. She had 20,000 bushels of corn consigned to the Montreal Transportation Company. Captain C.H. Ripson was seen and reported most unusual things. He carries off many honours. His was one of the first schooners to leave Chicago, and the first to sail through the Straits of Mackinaw. Much ice was encountered as far as the Manitou Islands, but with a good head wind the vessel was able to dodge acres of it. The Magee was the first vessel to sail through; several were towed ahead of her. No ice was seen in Lake Huron. The schooner was one of three to form the first tow down the Detroit River in charge of the Mocking Bird. At Port Colborne she was the first Chicago vessel in the harbour and she was the first to pass through the Welland Canal from the western metropolis. She drew 11 feet 2 inches, made fair time, left Port Dalhousie on Friday at 8 o'clock and reached here on Saturday at 8 o'clock. She was at once discharged and left for Oswego to load coal for a western port. Captain Ripson is pretty proud of his honors.

A Handsome Propeller.

The propeller Ocean, owned by Capt. Neelon, St. Catharines, made her appearance here yesterday morning. She looked extremely handsome, having been completely overhauled during the winter. She has a new keel, new garbage (sic - garboard ?) streaks, an iron arch 28 inches wide, and iron knees, which materially strengthen the boat, and puts her in a position to weather the roughest gale. She has, too, one of the handsomest cabins on the lakes. The carpet is Brussels and the furniture upholstered with crimson plush. There is also a fine Kimball piano on board to make music on the waters. Excellent precautions are made to prevent fires. The boat is ably officered, Arthur W. McMaugh, formerly engineer, being in command, with Frank Pattenaude as first mate, and Archie McMaugh, jr., as second mate. Mr. Hickey is first engineer, and Mr. Dawson his assistant. Jas. MacGregor, purser, makes his first trip in that capacity.

Benefit Of Enlargement.

Kingston is beginning to feel the benefit of the enlargement of the Welland Canal. Great cargoes are coming down the lakes. The people of Kingston were elated over the arrival last year of a 50,000 bushel craft, but this year a larger one will arrive. A charter has just been made in Chicago by which the barge Whitney will carry 63,000 bushels of corn and the barge Wayne 42,000 bushels of corn to Kingston. Barges of 30,000 bushels are frequently arriving. The facilities for handling grain at Kingston are greater than ever, and we anticipate a big year's business.

A New Dry Dock.

There is talk of a joint stock company for the erection of a large dry dock here. A prominent captain told a Whig reporter that this dock would be 300 feet long and 60 feet wide, large enough to accommodate vessels drawing twelve feet of water. He said that already a part of the plant had been bought. The new dry dock would take the place of the Empire, which would be moved to another site. A steam spile driver had been purchased at Cobourg and a dredge and two scows were also being constructed for it. The latter could be used in the harbour service. The new dock, he said, would be lit by electricity so that work could be continued upon it day and night. The Commodore who did the talking said he hoped to have the dock built before the lapse of many months, and a dinner and ball would celebrate its completion. What about Power's Dry Dock now?

Miscellaneous Notes.

The storm signal was hoisted today.

The schr. Cataract is loading ore for Big Sodus. She will clear tonight.

Steam was raised this morning on the Rothesay. The engine worked well.

The Montreal Transportation Company had ten vessels at their docks this morning.

Three vessels were discharged between the hours of 1 and 8 o'clock this morning at the M.T. Co.'s wharf.

The tug Gardiner, burned the other day, cost $23,000 in 1872, was when destroyed worth $15,000 and insured for $10,000.

Captain Joseph Saunders leaves the schooner Polly M. Rogers in July to accept the mastership of the steamer W.L. Frost. The Frost is an elegant steamer now being finished in Detroit, to be one of the six boats that will make trips between Detroit and Ogdensburg.

The captains on the Chicago vessels just arrived are: Schr. Hoboken, M. Hourigan; schr. Jamaica, Andrew Robertson; schr. John Magee, C.H. Ripson; schr. Geo. B. Sloan, John McDowell; schr. G.C. Trumpff, Albert Gibbs; schr. George Houghton, Wm. Jamieson; schr. D.G. Fort, C.H. Daniels; schr. Nassau, John Farrell.

Arrivals.

Steambarge Nile, Rideau, 10,000 bu. rye.

Schr. Helen, Brighton, 4,000 bush. wheat.

Schr. Eliza White, Oakville, 8,000 bush. wheat.

Schr. John Magee, Chicago, 20,230 bush. corn.

Schr. Jamaica, Chicago, 20,230 bush. corn.

Schr. Hoboken, Chicago, 21,016 bush. corn.

Schr. G.C. Trumpff, Chicago, 23,376 bu. corn.

Schr. G.B. Sloan, Chicago, 21,238 bush. corn.

Schr. D.G. Fort, Chicago, 23,478 bush. corn.

Schr. Nassau, Chicago, 22,060 bu. corn.

Schr. G.G. Houghton, Milwaukee, 22,850 bush. corn.

Schr. Parthenon, Cobourg, 2,618 bush. peas.

Schr. D. Freeman, Port Hope, 10,828 bu. peas.

Str. Frank Perew, Montreal, two light barges.

Departures.

Str. Frank Perew with four barges for Montreal, 23,000 bush. corn.

Here & There - Gananoque boasts of a fleet of ten yachts, ranging in size from 2 1/2 to 10 tons, besides numerous smaller ones.

Kingston forwarders can easily handle a quarter of a million bushels in a day. There was that much in the harbor today.

Capt. McDonald, of the schr. Pride of America, has offered to settle and his terms have been communicated to the owners.