British Whig (Kingston, ON), Oct. 24, 1887

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LOSS OF TWO VESSELS.

A message was received here at noon intimating that the barge Oriental, in tow of the prop. Scotia, with coal from Charlotte to Toronto, had sunk off Port Dalhousie. The Scotia reached Niagara safely. It is not known whether the crew of the Oriental was saved, but the presumption is that they were not for St. Catharines papers have telegraphed here for their names and particulars. Capt. George Stewart, of Port Dalhousie, was in command. He it was who fell down the hold several years ago and broke his hip. There were generally seven all told on the boat. The cook is thought to have been a Kingstonian, and a navvy who saw the Oriental leave port says "there were two farmers on her." The barges Southampton and Gaskin are at the K. & P. R.R. wharf. The barge was owned by Capt. Samuel Fraser of this city. She was about twenty years old and was built by the late D.D. Calvin.

The schr. Sylvester Neelon sunk last night at the pier at Port Maitland. The crew are safe. The vessel was loaded with iron ore from Kingston to Cleveland. Capt. Milligan was in command. The vessel is owned in Hamilton.

St. Catharines, Oct. 24th - The news from Port Dalhousie announces that during last night's terrible storm the schr. Oriental, after vainly endeavouring to make the harbor, sank about four miles off the lighthouse. No tidings have been heard from the crew, and it is supposed they went down with the ill-fated vessel.

The tugs went out this morning but could discover no traces of the crew. They located the vessel by the masts which are projecting above the water. The wind has been blowing a hurricane, and it is considered almost impossible that a small boat could not have survived even had one been launched.

The Oriental was being towed by the prop. Scotia and was loaded with coal at Charlotte for Toronto. When the storm came up the prop. Scotia with difficulty made the docks at Niagara, after cutting loose from the Oriental. Captain Fraser, of the Scotia, says every one on board the Oriental must have been drowned. Up to this hour there have been no bodies or wreckage washed ashore.

Other Wrecks Reported.

Milwaukee, Oct. 24th - The gale that prevailed on Saturday night is reported to have been the severest of the season. It continued last night with flurries of snow. The schr. Maine, of Chicago, was wrecked here early yesterday morning, and is a total loss. She struck 150 feet off shore, and for half an hour the six men comprising her crew clung desperately to the rigging, while the seas broke clear over them. The life-saving crew rescued them in a nearly exhausted condition. No other wrecks reported.

Cleveland, Oct. 24th - A large vessel is going to pieces on the beach ten miles east of this city. The waves are beating the ship to pieces, and the crew are lashed to the rigging. The life-saving crew are rowing out to the scene in their boats.

Toronto, Oct. 24th - A stone hooker, name not yet known, went ashore on the sand bank near the eastern gap during the gale this morning.

Detroit, Oct. 24th - The report of an explosion on board the propeller Ontario and the loss of thirty-five lives is entirely without foundation, the vessel being now in dry dock at Detroit for minor repairs.

Buffalo, Oct. 24th - Early on Saturday morning the schr. C.O.D., of Buffalo, went ashore 3 miles below Port Burwell. The crew were rescued, but the woman cook died from exposure.

Ashtabula, Oct. 24th - The schr. James F. Joy, of Detroit, foundered outside the pier at this place this morning. The sea is running very high and the vessel is going to pieces. The crew reached the shore in safety.

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MARINE PARAGRAPHS.

The prop. Lincoln and consort are ashore at Big Island in Georgian Bay.

The schr. Frank D. Barker, build at Clayton, was wrecked on Spider Island, a few days ago. She is a total loss.

The schr. O. Mowat will go on Goble & McFarlane's dry dock, at Oswego, for repairs.

The new steamship now building at Deseronto, and to be named the Cibola, will be launched on Nov. 1st.

The schr. Loretta Rooney is in port and having repairs made to her centreboard injured while working across to Oswego in a gale.

The prop. Bruno, 22,000 bush. wheat; schr. Laura, 24,000 bush. wheat, and schr. McRae, 23,000 bush. corn have been chartered in Chicago to bring grain to Kingston.

A correspondent of the Montreal Witness wonders why the officers of the propeller California did not use oil to calm the troubled waters on the Straits of Mackinaw. There is no doubt of the success of the experiment.

The steam yachts Gipsy, from Morristown, and R.P. Flower, from Alexandria Bay, and the sailing yacht Hunkey Dory, from Alexandria Bay, with sailing parties on board, went down the Rideau Canal this morning. On the Flower are Messrs. J. Strachan, Auchinvole, Routley and Kent. They will be absent two weeks.

The schr. Grantham, with 22,000 bushels of grain from Toronto, arrived on Sunday morning. Capt. Thomas Donnelly says that on Friday night he encountered very boisterous weather while near Long Point. An unusually heavy sea rolled, and washed over the deck of the schooner. The bulwarks had to be chopped away to let the water away. "It was one of the worst blows I ever experienced," said the captain.

Arrivals: schr. Grantham, Toronto, 22,913 bush. wheat; Sloop Idle Wild, Simcoe Island, 2,000 bushels of barley; Minnie, Wolfe Island, 15,000 bushels barley.

Clearances: schr. Gearing, Oswego, 6,328 bush. barley; schr. British Queen, Oswego, 59,000 feet basswood and 52,873 feet ash lumber.

The Trip Of A Boat - trial trip of new steamer A.P. Davis; boiler manufactured by McEwen and Son.

Velocity of The Wind - ...The lighthouse situated on the long pier at Portsmouth was wrecked...