The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

he The loet the . the '.ay, TheO. W.B. I Thewoikof remodelling the'Steu.. a__ _ been completed and on Saturday sh made u<fr crlal tri£. Site has been changed completely. Her appearance on tha/ river caused inuh favourable comments The removal of inufih of her upper works made an astonishing difference in her buoyancy and has added materially to heroffiViency. A considerable amount more power has been given her machinery by the introduction of a new kind of piston rods extending through the back cover thereby keeping the piston in the centre of the cylinders and removing a great amount of friction. The pistons are the steam expander Kind, and are the first, introduced hi this country, being brought by ('¦ K Domville, Locomotive Superintendent, Great Western Division G T R. They were adapted to the Great Western engines at the request of W A Russell. The ferry Superintendent was doubtful at first whether- they would answer on a condensing engine as large as that of the steamer Great Western. They have, however, proved a perfect success, twenty-two revolutions made with forty pounds of steam and showing a vacuum ot twenry.<seveji Wind aud Weather. :jNO8T0N, Ont, Dec. 11, 6 p.m.—Thermometer No wind. Weather fair. inches. 19 deg. Miscellaneous. Several sailors are in the Chicago Marine Hospital suffering from severe frost bites inflicted during last week's cold snap. Not so much is now heard from the irrepressible weather prophets who a month ago Dredicted an open winter for the port of Chicago. The ice in the river was more plentiful thaw at any time last year- The sehrs Wnwai'-osh, Jura, and New Dominion are the only vessels that wdl winter at Port Colborne. A Coichester despatch of Monday says :—Two of the De--troit ferryboats reached the ice-hound craft Cnadilla about dark this evening and took her in tow. They will in all probability reach the river in safety. A Colchester despatch says a large three m asted schooner probably the Umulilia, is frozen in about ten miles west of this. She appears to be drifting down the lakes and is at the mercy of the ice. No other crafts are in sight from «. "¦'¦"""» m I, . . , n i-^ While the tug Tillofcson was attempting to tow the waterlogged schr Westchester from the pier at Horseshoe Hay to Sturgeon Hay last Monday a heavy snow storm set in, arid when about two miles out in Green Bay the wind and sea had increased to such an extent that the tug had ¦•:. of the schooner, the latter dropping anchor. Tiie snow and sleet blinded the captain of the tug so that he could not see the vessel,.notwithstanding that she was only eight feet from him when he let go. and had to leave the crew of live men to live as best they could, exposed to wind and snow. The crew managed to exist through the night, and in the morning the Tiliot-on returned and took the sailors off in a benumbed condition, having suffered terribly. Had the night been much colder they would certainly have perished. The vessel has a hold full of cedar ties which keeps her afloat. She is still at anchor where she was left. The Argonaut, from Buffalo; the Rietz, Starke, Norma, Crawford, and Ludington also in Port. The wind yesterday was southwest—down the lake and ofi the ahora--and the ice drifted away. The ice in the harbor was tightened up auaia by the cold weather of Sunday uight, but was broken again yesterday morning by the steamship Argonaut and other craft. Chicago is Open", and the main light; and the beacon arc burning. Uow long the lights on the new exterior breakwater will be-kept illuminated to sot ascertained. Several of the harbor tugs are still running. A FLEET AliRIYS. Notwithstanding the fact-Uiat yesterday was Dec. 11—the middle of winter—a small fleet of craft arrived in port. The first craft to come in duriue the nay was the steamship Arsonaut, from Lake Erie via Escanaba. Hue brought a cargo o£ coal up to Escanaba, and from Escanaba brought a carao of iron oro to Chicago for tho Joliec Iron and Steel Works, at whoso wharf in Bridzeporfc, South Branch, she is now lying. The Argonaut is of the large class, and has siood sower, and, though she experienced heavy, cola weather on her passage, came through it in good The" fine little propeller Chas. Eietz came in from Manistee, on tho east shore of this lake, laden with salt-. , . The steambarge Norman, towing the schooner IX. C. Crawford, both lumber laden, from Mams-tee, arrived in good shapn. The steambarge Starke also came in. THE SCIiOONEK METROPOLIS IN PORT. But the greatest importance attaches to tlie arrival of the schooner Metropolis. She made the harbor early in tho aiternoon and Captain and crew were heartily welcomed. The Mecrop-li« left Elk Rapids for Chicago Dec. 1, a passage which ordinarily occupies only about two day*. The vessel encountered headwinds aud storms on this passage and all the recent desperate cold. She was driven ashore at Cathead Point in the late freezing nor'wester. It won t hurt or alarm anyone now to state thau when the dispatches came that the Metropolis had stranded at Cathead Point, it was concluded in marine and insurance circles here that she would, orove a total loss with her cargo; aud that there were the gravest fears for the crew. It was urged that even if the men escaped from the vessel and those icy seas to the shore they might then perish, because the reeion was wild and the nearest town was Northport. Then trom Nortbport the men would have to stage it to Traverse City before they would reach a rail-But the hardy Captain and men are not only safe themsc.ves but they lightening the stranded vessel up aue they finally succeeded in fLoatimr her. The greatest credit i?, due them. The men suffered terribly from exposure. but are all | will, and it is not thought that ;tae urease! is damaged to anyextent in hull. The loss bv the jettisoning of the cargo is not heavy, and Mr. O. W. Oroit, the owner of the vessel, and also the Consignee of the cargo, are to be congratulated. The insurance on the Metropolis expired Nov. 30, at noon. It was extended five days—until Dec. 5, at noon. A second extension was then sought, but, the vessel being outside and unheard from, and the weather being very severe, the underwriters refused the second extension. On this same day a second extention was granted on the steambarge Whiting, and the refusal in the case of the Metropolis indicates clearly what the companiet thought of that vessel's chances. Mr. Goit thinks everything of the Metropolis and is overjoyed that not only the crew, but also the vessel, is safe. To lose the vessel with insurance would have been bad enough; to lose hex without insurance would have almost bnoken his heart. DEPARTURE. 'IThe propellor City of Ludington came in with a c:argo from Manistee and left again for Frank-forrt, at the foot of the lake. FROM MILWAUKEE. 8p<ccia! Telefirraro to rue inter Ocean. Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. II.—The Goodrich Line ice-breakiag tug Active arrived this momma from Manitowoc, .A.nd will remain nere all winter to keep a channel open for the Grand Haven and other propellers of the line. Her first call was to the Milwaukee Company's shio-yara. where a vessel was required to be moved under the derrick to receive a spar. The tug Blues could not perform the service, as her iron plating had been torn off in the ice Sunday morning. The wrecking tug Leviathan, whose long absence caused much apprehension, arrived this morning from the Straits, and will now co into winter quarters. Captain Kirtland reports that the schooner Montauk, which recently stranded on North Manitou Islands, has gone to pieces, so that not a vestige of the hull remains above water, while the cargo of coal is being thrown upon tho beach by the waves. This coal will prove a harvest to the fishermen, unless the underwriters take measures to prevent them from appropriating it. Special Telegram to The later Ocean. Milwaukee, Wis.^ Dec- 11.—A contract has been completed between Wolf & Davidson and R. P. Fitzgerald <& Co., by the the terms of which the former are to rebuild for the latter the barge A. B. Moore, at a cost of .$20,000. Arrived--Schrs Contest, lumber, from Manistee; Nellie Torrent, lumber, from Ludington; prop Wisconsin, from Grand Haven; F. tfc P. M. No. 1, from Ludington. Cleared, the last four named; prop City of Ludington, for Chicago, and steambarge Daisy Day, for Manistee. The schooner Trial went into winter quarters to-day: also the steambarge Lewis Pahlow, which came np from Chicago to-day. out or the ice. Special Telegram to The Inter Ocean. Frankfort, Mich., Dec. 11.—The stfjmbarge Hilton, after five days' iinprisonmontaifn tho ice in Betsy Lake, broke her way throuau the barrier this noon and, amid the cheers of the spectators who lined tho banks of tho lake, she sailed for Milwaukee laden with 100 tons of pig iron and seventy cords of tanbark. The sohoqner Ida Jane also got clear aud sailed for Manistee, where she will lay up. Tho tug3 D. P. Hall and Boss have gone into winter quarters. The Kittle Gaylord is still in commission. Wind northeast. The snow is two feet deep, and still snowing. 5T1LD WEATHER AT THE STRAITS. Special Telegram to Tho Inter Ocean. Cheboygan, Mich., Dec. 11.—Tho tug Sauga-tuck, of the Mackinaw Lumber Company, is expected back at St. Ignace from Black River to-nienc, and will probably lay up for winter. The tug Martel is expected here to-night to lay up. Light, east wind; weather mild. heavy snow at tawas. Special Telegram to The Inter Ocean. East Tawas, Mien., Dec. 11.—We have had a snowstorm of thirty-six hours' duration, tho heaviest fall of the season. It Is nearly three feot on a level. Trains are delayed on the Tawas Railroad. Tawas Bay is covered with ice. E'ESCUINt* THE UNAPILLA. Special Telegram to The Inter Ocean. Colchester, Ont., Dec. 11.—Two of the Detroit ferryboats reached the ice-bound schooner TJaadilla to-night and took her in tow. They will probably reach the river iu safety. The bids of <Jhicasjo"tug-.ownera in response to tiie fublic Works Department" 3 invitation for tenders for winter service show a wide and speculative range of charmcommencing with "one cent for keeping the tug ready and S4 90 per hour while employed," up to #G for readines3 and $\1 per hour for The wind being west at Chicago on Sunday the ice drifts ed off the shore into the lake. Where it had not_ been broken in the slips it was four inches thick Ihe wind on Saturday was south, there was a treat deal of ice alons the shore. . .. , Nothing waa known at Milwaukee concerning the wnere abouns of the wrecking bug Leviathan on Sunday night, She started from Cheboygan a week previously for-Bailey a Harbour. . .. .. Thie Van Raalte arrived at Cheboygan from the north shore Saturday night, having come through seventy-five mass of broken ice. The bays in that locality are lull ot solid ice, and the Straits are full of floating ice. Thie steambarge Caldwell and tow, consisting of the barggB Huckout. Ogden, and Dobbins, which left Maiden for Toledo on Thursday last and were caught in the ice in Mauimee Bay. arrived safely Sunday, having made their way throuigh the ice in charge of the tug Oolton. X.\aA. V iVJii'llUlli V eiisel Movements. Cape Vincent, tf. Y., Dec. 12— Arrived-Schrs Ryan. Kington: Whito Oak, Kingston. Departures—Schrs Kyan aud White Oak, Kingston. U. S. Life Saving Stations. The Assistant Inspector of the Eleventh Life-savinj Dis* trict, Lake Michigan. Lieutenant F. H. Newcouib, and Captain Nathaniel, Superintendent of the District, have made a report to the General Superintendent of their inspection aud examination of the several life-stations in their district. They examined thoroughly into the qualifications of the keepers aud crews, exercising them severalty iu surfmanship, the method of rescue with the breeches-buoy and life-car, the resuscitation of the ^ pparently drowned, in signaling, and iu all the other operations with which they are expected to be familiar. They also made a thorough examination of the stations and all their appliances. ~ The personnel at the stations was found ou the whole satisfactory, although at some stations there was room for improvement. They did not find it necessary to discharge a single surfniau. The report advises slight changes in the respective positions of the stations at Manistee, Ludington, Muike,jon. Grand Haven, St. Joseph, and Chicago, some needing to be changed on account of proposed enlargements and improvements of the respective harbours. The report recommends, also, the enlargement of several of the stations so as to admit of the residence of the crews therein, as well as of the keepers aud their famiilies. At present in these instances the crews, although they stay at these stations, got their meals at varying distamces outside, which involves absence from the stations more or less prolonged, where it is felt they ought always to he ait hand. The report recommends the adoption of a car oir carnage invented by the keeper of Station No. 8* by meains of which the surfboat or lifeboat can be launched froini a station with the crew on board. The General Superintendent approves most of the recommendations of the report, and will endeavour to have them carried out as soon as practicable. Detroit Jottings. Detroit. Dec. 12.—A Frankfort despatchsays the ateain-barge Hilton, after five days imprisonment iu the ice in Betsey Lake, broke her way through the barrier yesterday, andamid the cheers of the Spectators who lined the banks of the lake she sailed for Milwaukee laden with 100 tons of pig iron and 70 cords of Uu bark. The schr Ida Jane also got clear and sailed for Manistee, where she wilt lay up. The tugs D P Hull and Ross "have gone into winter quan ters. The Kitty Gaylord is still iu commission. Snow is two feet deep and still snowing. Uuffalo Notes. Buffalo, Dec. 12.—The lights in Buffalo harbour will ba shown to-night for the last time this season. Miscellaneous. A Cheboygan desDfttch says that the snow along the line of the Michigran Central to and from that city was over five feet deep ou Sunday night, snow-ploughs needing to be kept constantly at work clearing the track. Navigation closed at Port Burwell on the 9th lnst. The following vessels have gone into winter quarters there — Steamer K ,YI Foster, of Port Dover, schooners K Norwood, of St, Catharines. Hercules, W Y Emery. S and J Collier* Sarah, Alzor. and Starlight of Port Burwell. Storm Signals Up. Toronto, Dec. 13—The Meteorological Office, Toronto, has ordered up cautionary storm signal number thren at Halifax. N. S., Livemoot, N". S., Yarmouth, N. S., Dighy. N. S., St. John, N. B., Point Lepreaux, N. B., and St. Andrew's, N. B. Kingston Notes. Kingston-Dec. 13. —(Special.)—The barges Huron and Cherokee which arrived in tow of the tug Gardiner from Ogdensburg yesterday, are the last of the Kingston and Montreal Forwarding Company's fleet, also the last of the barges on the lake and river for the season of IS&'l. Detroit Jottings. f Detroit, Dec. 13.—A Port Huron despatch saysT * The steambarge Tecumseh, from Midland, with lumber, due at Windsor last Wednesday reached here to-uay. Fears have been entertained that she was lost. She left Midland December 4th and reached Tobermorey at noon on the 6th. On Wednesday she went to Cove Island and secured the rigging and one anchor of the schooner Tecum-I seh, and with Captain Cook and crew returned to Tober-* morey. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning she tried to reach the schooner again, but was prevented by blinding wind and snowstorms. She left on Monday, the 11th and arrived out of fuel, her lumber cargo looking like a snow mountain. She will leave for Windsor with Captain (look and part of the crew of the Kchooner Tecumseh. Two of the crew started to walk from Tobermorey to Marton, 52 miles, being afraid the steambarge would not V_^ :et thiough. Miurg spec n Amherstburg special of last evening says -The Gar- land and Fortune left for Detroit, but got stuck in the ice above Limekilns. The schooner Kissel left at five o'clock for Detroit in tow of tug Williams, the Balize going ahead to break tiie tee. When they reached the point where the ferries were stuck they came to a halt. After dark they all got loose and are now working towards Detroit. Tester-day they brought the schooner TJnadilla from Lake Erie, which was rescued although surrounded by ice eight inches thick. The Cnadilla will winter at Amherstburg. The ferrys will bring Murphy's tug and schooner to Detroit if possible, the steam pump beint put in the schooner Bissel. which is still leaking. The ferryboats have been trying to Jet the ice1 out of the river without success. The railway ferry crosses regularly, but ice is being formed above the crossing. The fifth annual International Convention of the Chicago Seamen's Union convened iu this city on Tuesday. Richard Powers, of Chicago, presiding. Various branches were represented Tiie session will last about ten days. The business of the Convention is largely of a benevolent nature, such as providing for sick and disabled members, sailors' widows etc. The general officers of the International Association for the ensuing year will also he elected. The present »r.d general oiheers are—President, R Powers, Vice-Presidenit. J T Gary, Secretary, Jas Bernard, Assistant Secretary, F J Klokke. A Milwaukee correspondent, under date December 11th, says the wrecking tug Leviathan .^returned this morning from Cheboygan where she has been stationed for several weeks past. She was at the Mauitous.for shelter during the greater part, of last week. Capt Kirtland reports that the scmoouer Montauk, which stranded on the North Maintou. has gone to pieces. All that can be (seen of her are pieces lying on the beach, a large quamdty of her cargo of coal has been washed up and beached!. The Leviathan will go into winter quarters, and during the winter will receive considerable overhauling. of six he ik-the and dal. will , .. jAOM. Tri.. .-..i'iv_i.J.S. Special TelOsrain to The inter Ocean. Cheboygan, Alicia., Uec. 18.—The tug Wins-low with the gch.oam.er Eoody were the last craft; from the Straits borafid down. The last schooner under sail was tlhe Unadilla, Dec. 5; tho propellers New burg unu St. Paul were Che last steamers, Dec. 5 -all bound down. The tus lie-viatlmn was tho hast to reach a latce port from the Btralts. The schooner (under sail, C, C. Barnes, Dec. 3, and the propeller tacotia were the last craft throutrh bound up. The last craft to lay up here waAtha propeller Van Raal^e. Deo. 10. OBBAT GALE AND SNOW AT FKANKFOET. Special Telegram to The Inter Ocean, I'KANRi'OKT, Mie :i., Dec. J 3.—Tho Point Betsey Light-ho use was closed feo-day. The Frankfort pier-head lieint is still lit up. A fierce northwest wind aind snowstorm prevailed today. The harbor iis open. The propeller City of Ludington is exapecced in. Special Telegram to The Inter ocean. Milwaukee, Wits., Dec. 13.—A heavy s^rm prevailed on the ereist shore of Lake Michigan last night The CHoodrich propeller MieMgan. which left this port at 11:30 last night for Grand Haven, waa compelled to put back, arriving at about. '2 o'c.iock this morning. The F. aud P. M. No. ti left lasit night, but had to put back, arriving at 4 tfcioick, very badly iced. The sea was very rough. The Wisconsin left Grand Haven at 1 o'clock: this morning, and had to put back. PROMINENT INCIDENTS. The following aire the few prominent incidents which have occcurred since the opening ot navigation: April 5—Trial trip «of the new steamship Mass*. chusetts. A-oril 23—George D« May lost overboard from tha schooner Belie Browm. May 3—Organization! of the Chicago Tutc-Ownera* Protective association!. May 11—The harbw of Toronto, Ont., threatened with destruction by St terrific storm. My,y 22—Arrival of the new steam-barge Marshall F. Butters in the Chheigo harbor. June 30—Buoys pliaced ou the shoals near Chicago. July 27—The TJnitted States lake survey office, established at Detroilt In 1841, discontinued. July 27—Launch oil the new steamship David G, Whitnev. at St. Cialiv. Julv :;o—Joseph Mialone, ot the propeller Acadia, drowned at Toledo. Aug. 2—Dissolution! of the Toledo Tug association. Aug. a—Suicide In New York of Capt Sam Whiting, an old lake navligator. au.,'. 3—f:eatn ot Daniel Lyon, once a heavy vessel owner at Buffalo and Oswego. Aug. 12—New devellopmeiits come to light as to tho scuttling of the schoioner Explorer. Aug. 16— Mvsierlouis disappearance of Capt. Daniel Green, of the scfttDoner Australia. Aug. 21—'An orier issued by the government forbidding the collection of any more tolls on the Un* per and Lower Fox irlvers. Aug. 23-Spar buoiys placed on the reef east ol Eagle harbor. Aug. 24—The new steam yacht A. Booth, launched at Chicago. Aug. 28—Tfw new steamship H J. Jenelt launched at Cleveland. Aug. 30—Duncan Brown, of the schooner J. I, Case, killed by ffUltnie; trom aloft. Sept. 6—Capt. Stephen Letaiver, of the schooner O. M- Bond, presen'^a with a sot of silver bv the Boston Marine and Shoe and Leather Insurance companies for saving the vessel Sept. 12—Completion ot the new light-house at Colchester reef. Sept. 17- The new tue Baddy Murphy appears in the Chicago harbor. Oct. 1—Augustus J ohnson committed suicide by hanging himself from the .iibboom of the schooner Tempest on Lake Michigan. Oct 4—Preliminary survey for the improvement ot the Calumet river. Oct. 7—Organization of a new association ot marine underwriters at Toronto. -Reef discovered six miles northwest of the Black Hill islands in Georgian bay. Oct. 8—Capt. i)anii°l Green, the missing master ol the schooner Australia, found in California. Oct 9 A water-spiout seen in Lake Michigan,near Waukegan. Oct. 9—A number <of scht-oners laid on the she it at Chicago owiug to Uow freights. Oct. 9--Steamer teiary launched at Marine City. Oct. 10—Capt. Van. Dalson's new tug Ed Shelby launched at Sauga-tuick. Oct. 16—Capt. Jerome McBride drowned at Ks-eanaba. Oct 16—Buoys pliacad at the mouth ot Blacfe river. Oct. 17—Completion of the improvements in the marine hospital at Uhe port of Chicago. Oct. 23—The four years' demurrage suit of Finney et al.. of Chicago, v. A Canadian Railroad, decided In favor ot tute defendant Nov. 7—Schooner 'Higgle makes the fastest time on record between Buffalo and Chicago. Nov. d—a fleet or schooners start in a race from this port bound for Buffalo, the Annie M. Peterson ahead. Nov. 11—First snow-storm of the season on Lake Michigan. Nov. 12—Supervlsiing Surgeon (ieneral Hamilton arranges for the pfbysicai examination of forelga sailors. Nov. 3 Capt Edsxnund Butler dltu of consumption ac this port. Nov. 12—Ohariea Wilson, a sailor, drowned from the scnooner Tempeest. Nov. 17 Capt. Joauu Myers died suddenly at thla port, Nov 28—Capt. Geeorge w. Smith, of Chicago, ttte oldest captain on tune lakes, died at Marine City, Dec. 5—Navigatfoon ot the Welland canal closed. Dec t st day o! thy season thus far; the m 10 degrees beiow zero. The S9L