St. Catharines Constitutional (St. Catharines, ON), Thursday, July 7, 1864

Yesterday afternoon, at 20 minutes past 4 o'clock, Mr. Shickluna launched from his ship-yard in this town, one of the splendid new propellers which he has been building for six months past; for the Welland Railroad Company. She is the largest propeller ever built on the Welland Canal; and for symmetry, strength and finish, has never been surpassed, even by Shickluna himself. her dimensions are as follows: Length of keel 177 feet; length over all 180 feet; breadth of beam 31 feet; depth of hold 12 feet four inches; capacity 750 tons. her machinery is being furnished from the well known foundry of Mr. John Gartshore, Dundas. It will consist of a condensing engine cylinder 50 inches in diameter, 30 inches stroke; two boilers 26 feet long and 8 feet diameter, 100 tubes to each; diameter of wheels 10 feet. The vessel was launched broadside into the Canal, and took her first bath in the most graceful manner, amidst the cheers of an immense multitude of spectators. As the propeller commenced to glide off the stocks, Miss Benson performed the interesting ceremony of christening by breaking a bottle of wine at her bows and giving her the name of Perseverance. This splendid boat is intended to run between Port Dalhousie and Oswego, in connection with the Welland Railway and will doubtless be the means of materially advancing the interests of that road, which is rapidly building up an immense business, notwithstanding the disadvantages it formerly labored under. The other propeller, which will run in concert with the Perseverance, is rapidly approaching completion and will be launched before the end of the present month. Both vessels reflect the highest credit upon Mr. Shickluna as a marine architect, whose energy in completing them in so short a time could not be surpassed by any ship-builder in the Province.