British Whig (Kingston, ON), May 16, 1885

(pages 1 & 2 missing)

p.3

RIDEAU BELLE'S TRIAL TRIP.

"All ready" said Capt. Noonan yesterday afternoon as a Whig reporter stepped on board of the trim little craft Rideau Belle, lying at Davidson & Doran's wharf. The cables were slipped and the boat dashed into the lake. There was a large number of people on board. A blue and white pennant was at the bow and a union jack floated gracefully at the stern. Inspector Adams was present to view the working of the engine. Steam was run up to about 95 lbs. and the vessel, though light in the bow, rode or cut through the heavy waves in a lively way and that in the teeth of a strong gale. Her speed was estimated at eleven miles an hour. The Rideau Belle is owned by Capt. Noonan and P. Bajus, sr. She was built last winter by Capt. Davis, is 75 feet keel, 16 feet beam, 6 ft. hold, has a 35 horse-power engine, built by Davidson & Doran, and will carry 100 passengers and about 35 tons of freight. She has a capacious cabin and plenty of deck room. She left this morning for Westport, her mocking bird whistle startling the people along the Rideau Canal. She will leave Kingston on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Her officers are: Capt. Noonan; purser, W. Bajus; engineer, Thos. O'Neill.