British Whig (Kingston, ON), June 8, 1883

p.3 A Magnificent Yacht - Viking of Chicago.

Here & There - 5 (named) schooners chartered at Chicago for Kingston at 4 cents.

MARINE NEWS.

The schr. H.P. Murray is loading lumber and posts for Oswego.

The sloop Moira has reached here with mill wood from Trenton.

The harbor was very quiet today. No vessels were stirring at all.

Easton's barges, from Ottawa, have arrived with lumber consigned to Rathbun.

The schooner Eureka is all right again, and will leave for Oswego at once with her cargo of lumber.

The schrs. G.R. Merritt, Shandon, Norway, Bigler, Albacorn (sic - Albacore ?), Emerald and J.R. Benson have arrived at Garden Island, timber laden, from Toledo.

Capt. John Donnelly, on the tug Mixer, has left to make a survey of the Conqueror. He will ascertain what appliances are required in order to raise her.

The President of the Sailors' Union reports that he has shipped all the Union men in the city. Every Captain has been supplied, but one. None have shipped with Capt. Abbie lately.

The steamer Magnet, of the Owen Sound Lake Superior Line, ran hard on the rocks at Cedar Island in Georgian Bay on Sunday night. The steamer Spartan, of the same line, went to her assistance on Monday morning, and subsequently the str. Frances Smith rendered assistance, but failed to relieve the Magnet from her position. The Spartan left to secure a couple of tugs. The Magnet is owned by the Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Company, and is under lease to the Lake Superior Line. It is learned from the former company that she is not a wreck, and that they will not lose a cent as she is fully insured against both fire and accident.

The barge Manitowac, in tow of the D.M. Wilson, encountered very heavy weather on Lake Michigan on May 21st. She had to run back from Milwaukee to Chicago, where she collided with the schooner Higgie. She received damages to her hatches which allowed water to get down amongst the grain when the seas swept over her. She was discharged here yesterday when it was ascertained that 2,429 bushels of wheat had been damaged. Captains Lewis and Taylor held a survey, when the vessel was exonerated from paying for the damaged cargo. The cargo was sold by H. Mooers for 37 1/2 cents per bushel. The tug and consort have left for Oswego where they load coal for Chicago at $1.30 per ton.

A WHISTLE NEEDED.

What Captains Declare Is Needed At The Ducks.

Capt. A. Eccles, of the schooner L.D. Bullock, which arrived here last evening with 453 tons of coal for the Gas Company, reports being delayed several hours on the passage from Oswego in the vicinity of the Ducks by dense fogs. He says that above all places on Lake Ontario the False Ducks lighthouse should be supplied with a steam fog whistle of the most approved and powerful kind, as this lighthouse is a leading mark for vessels bound down the lake for hauling around the Ducks on their course for Kingston. If a whistle were introduced a vessel could give, in thick weather, a wider berth in this dangerous locality as well as well as to the Superior Reef, on which the steamer Persia grounded two days ago, and the propeller Stanly in 1874. The wreckers could easily tell of the many stranded vessels they have rescued at these dangerous spots, among them the schooners Caledonia, Wood Duck, W. Elgin, Forest Queen, Triton, tug Tornado and numerous others. The lighthouse mentioned is also a guide for vessels from Oswego to the Bay of Quinte. It is invaluable to the numerous steam crafts travelling on this route, as some of them make three trips per week. The schr. Eliza Quinlan, in 1882, in making for this place in thick weather, ran on Poplar Point, six miles above the lighthouse, and became a total wreck. It is believed that if such a whistle were in use it would greatly benefit the increasing trade coming by the St. Lawrence route. The large class of vessels now frequenting Lake Ontario dread near proximity to the shore on account of their draught of water.

Capt. T. Conroy, of the schr. Paragon, adds his testimony, and says he was nearly sent ashore through thick weather, and two or three days ago in coming down was delayed twenty-four hours, having to go very slowly and use a lead. The point complained of is a great trouble to mariners.

We have on many previous occasions advocated the establishment of steam whistles at many of the lighthouses along the Ducks, which all know are the most dangerous points on Lake Ontario. If the whistles were placed in position they would save wrecks and avoid the life-saving service from being brought into use. It is highly desirable that the requirements of the mariners, who are in danger, should be granted. We trust that the matter will be brought to the attention of the Minister of Marine & Fisheries, and that orders will be at once issued for the protection the Captains ask for.