British Whig (Kingston, ON), July 16, 1883

p.3

A FINE PROPELLER.

On Saturday evening, about six o'clock, the prop. Walter L. Frost entered port. She was noticed to be of unusually large proportions, and on closer examination was found to be as handsome as she was bulky, perhaps the finest looking propeller that has been seen in this harbour. She was launched less than a month ago, and made her trial trip from Detroit to Toledo. She had a very disagreeable and stormy time of it, but made the run in 4 hours, 50 minutes, or an average of 12 1/2 miles an hour. Her performance was entirely satisfactory. At Toledo she loaded 50,000 bushels of corn for Kingston, and left that place on Wednesday. Fourteen hours were spent in the Welland Canal, but the Captain - a genial fellow - says he handled her as easily as he could have done a yacht, that he had only to back the engines twice from the time he entered Port Colborne until he left Port Dalhousie. Some 8,000 bushels of the cargo were lightened.

Size Of The Craft.

The Frost was built by the Dry Dock Company and is as fine a piece of marine architecture as we have ever seen. She is 250 feet long over all; 37 feet wide; 15 feet deep in the lower hold, and 9 feet between decks. Tonnage 1,205 tons; carrying capacity, full load, 65,000 bush. corn. The structure is as solid as timber can make it, but the strength of the craft is improved by the addition of diagonal strips of iron which run from the hull to the promenade deck and iron ribbons to the top of the frames the entire length of the vessel. The diagonal strips connect with the ribbon pieces on the outside. The woodwork is finished as well as that of any house, and plenty of paint and brass give elegance to the appearance. The quarters of the men and officers are exceedingly comfortable and far superior to those of some boats which make a specialty of the passenger business. Loaded, the propeller looks well, but when light and standing high out of the water her massive proportions are made the more apparent.

Machinery Of An Improved Kind.

The machinery was built by W. Cowie of the Detroit Dry Dock Company. The engine is an improved compound, having cylinders in size 27 and 44 x 40; the stroke of the piston 3 ft. and 4-12 ft. (sic). The most noticeable thing about the engine is its steam reverse, the action being very quick while the labour of the engineer is reduced to a minimum. The boilers (two) one steel, 15 ft. 6 in. long, and 8 ft. in diameter, pressure 105 lbs.

This fine craft cost $120,000 and is said to be one of three to run between Chicago and Ogdensburg in connection with the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain R.R. and Vermont Central R.R. Her speed has not been fairly tested yet, but it is expected to average 12 miles an hour. On the way down Lake Ontario the engine made 80 revolutions per minute. She is officered as follows:

Captain - P.L. Miller, Cape Vincent.

First Mate - D. Finlayson, Chicago.

Second Mate - Joseph Saunders, Cape Vincent.

Engineer - J.H. Kendall, Detroit.

First Assistant - E.W. Tilly, Detroit.

Second Assistant - E.L. Kerby.

Crew, in number 24.

One of the latter says the consumption of fuel is very light - that 100 tons of coal were taken on at Toledo, and one half of it is to the good.

Here And There - The prop. Shickluna discharged 4,875 bush. wheat at the M.T. Co.'s wharf and proceeded to Montreal. She was from Toledo.