British Whig (Kingston, ON), April 23, 1885

p.3

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

Yesterday afternoon a representative of this paper visited Portsmouth. The little village seemed to be wrapt in slumber, the only stir being in the shipyards of Mr. Peter Mitchell and the Kingston & Montreal Forwarding Company. In these places ship carpenters, painters and laborers were busily preparing boats for the opening of navigation. As the scribe passed through the village a lady rushed out of a shop on the main street and asked him, "Have you any news from the front?" After imparting what information to her he had, she said, anxiously, "I have a boy at the front. He wrote me a postal card, which I received today, stating that his battalion had left Swift Current. We await in suspense further news from the west." She seemed to be very much distressed. A few yards further on a group of women stood. They, too, were discussing the North-West rebellion.

A Peep At Mitchell's Shipyard.

On the marine railway rests the tug Active, the property of the M.T. Co. She is receiving a new stern, and is being generally repaired. She has been made nearly as good as new. Capt. McMaugh, of St. Catharines, is superintending the work. In the ice, opposite the yard, are the schrs. Watertown, Fellowcraft and Annie Foster. The Watertown has been repainted, and will be commanded by Capt. E. Beaupre. The Annie Foster (Capt. Kennedy), has also been repainted. Last fall she received new rails, three single planks, new stanchions and new bulwarks. She was also recaulked. Mr. Mitchell says he has a large amount of workin view during the coming season.

The Forwarding Company's Premises.

Here our reporter found 30 men, under the superintendence of Mr. Paul Reid, actively engaged in painting and repairing the elevators, steamers and barges.

The steamer Marquis of Lorne, on the railway undergoing general repairs.

Barge Alabama, new planks.

Barge Bismarck, new stern and recaulking.

Barge Rapid will be hauled out as soon as possible and overhauled.

Barges Jet, William, Mona, Princess, Annie and Huron, receiving new planks and timber.

Barge Sirone ?, which was laid up in Montreal two seasons ago, is being replanked and caulked.

Barges London and Beauport, replanked.

Barge Iroquois, new windlass.

Barge Cherokee, new deck, rail, stem, stern and stanchions.

Barge Alice Pacey and Lark, generally repaired.

Barge Virginia, new stem.

Barge Elm, new deck.

Barge Ox, new deck and frame.

The barges have all been repainted and relettered. The lettering was done by Mr. T. Graham.

The steam barge Adventure has had her engine taken out. She is being converted into a tow barge, is receiving a new deck, new deck frames, clamps and shelf pieces. She will be called the Portsmouth.

The elevators Sparrow and Sampson are being overhauled.

The schrs. Hyderabad and Bangalore have been converted into lake barges.

The crews of the barges have not yet been chosen.

The steam barge Indian, and her consorts, the schooners Southampton and Gaskin, have been overhauled and are now awaiting the departure of ice to make a move. They are to be officered thus: Steam barge Indian, Capt. S. Fraser, mate, M. Shea, engineer, E. Girard. Schr. R. Gaskin, Capt. G. Stewart, mate, G. Titus. Schr. Southampton, Capt. J. Loftus, mate, John Gracey.

Miscellaneous Notes.

A vessel man, arrived from Charlotte, reports the lake full of ice off that port.

The first wheat charter made at Toronto this season was the schooner William Shupe ?, which goes to Ogdensburg at 5 1/2 cents.

The yacht Atalanta has been so badly wrenched at Belleville that she has only been kept afloat by constant pumping. She will be beached.

Incidents of the Day - A meeting of the Seamen's Union was held last evening. It was attended by 28 members. Another meeting will be held on Friday and the officers for the year nominated.