Chicago Inter-Ocean (Chicago, IL), Aug. 21, 1889

The sinking of Chicago schooner Vickery near Alexandria Bay came near being the cause of a tragedy. Captain Massey, though he has traveled the St. Lawrence a dozen times, owing to so many lights in island cottages, thought it best to go to Clayton and get a pilot. Webber, an old river man, was secured and had not been aboard fifteen minutes when the schooner went ashore.

The captain got excited and attacked the pilot with a revolver, using violent language and pointing the weapon at him. The mate, a brother of the captain, instantly sprang for Massey's arm, discharging the revolver and sending the bullet into the deck. The revolver fell on the hatch and was picked up by the mate and thrown overboard. Captain Massey states that he would have certainly shot Webber, but now that he is cooled off, is glad the thing happened the way it did. Pilot Webber made himself scarce. Captain Massey sailed the Vickery for seven years, and the carlessness of the pilot lost her, hence the cause of his desperate action. Efforts will be made to raise the vessel.