British Whig (Kingston, ON), 27 Apr 1897

p.1

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The M.T. Co.'s steamer Bannockburn, laden with 60,000 bushels of wheat, and bound for this port, went aground at two o'clock this morning off Four Mile light, about seventy feet from the red-barrel buoy. The mishap was due to the vessel going out of her course, the proper track being about 300 feet from the red-barrel buoy.

Notice of the accident was received at the city office of the M.T. Co. this morning, and Capt. Gaskin immediately started for Four Mile light. Later the tug Thompson, with an elevator and two barges, started for the scene and the Bannockburn will be lightened of a sufficient portion of her cargo to allow her to float. It is not thought that any injury has been sustained by the vessel.

The Wolfe Island ferry steamer Paul Smith is in the government dry dock today for government inspection.

The schooner Fabiola cleared for Oswego, N.Y., today, laden with lumber. She will bring back a cargo of coal for Swift & Co.

The steamer James Swift is taking the place of the Paul Smith on the Wolfe Island ferry line, while the latter vessel is undergoing inspection in the government dry dock.

p.2 Incidents of the Day - Capt. Davidson, manager of the line of which the schooner Paisley forms one, has telegraphed alderman Stewart to have every care taken of mate Joseph Morris, whose leg was accidentally broken on Saturday last while assisting in unshipping the rudder of the schooner.

p.3 A Bone of Contention - Alderman Ryan says that the opposition to the report of the grain elevator committee, in council last night, would have been successful had the rules been strictly adhered to, and those aldermen who are stockholders or directors in the Mooers company been debarred from voting.

On the other hand, the aldermen who supported the report contend that aldermen who are provisional directors of the company have a perfect right to vote on questions affecting the company.

p.6

THE KINGHORN WENT DOWN.

Disaster to the M.T. Co's Barges off Johnston's Light.

Twenty of the M.T. company's barges, in tow of the tugs Bronson, Walker and Glide, left this port, last evening all laden with grain and bound for Montreal. A heavy wind was blowing and when the tows reached the neighborhood of Rockport and were opposite Johnstons's light they were struck by a heavy snow squall, which had a most disastrous effect. The barge Kinghorn went down in about ninety feet of water. The Montreal, when near Alexandria Bay, filled till half full of water, and three other barges went ashore. The crew of the Montreal, it is learned, are holding their own against the leakage, using the syphon with which each barge is provided for that purpose.

The barges that were in tow of the Glide suffered no damage, the tug fortunately being able to make way against the gale. The Kinghorn was laden with Ogilvie's grain, which has lain in her hold all winter. The particulars that have been received from the scene of the wreck are very meagre. It is supposed that the disaster was caused by the barges being blown out of their course by the gale and then becoming unmanageable, as the captains of the Bronson and the Walker, Murray and Boyd respectively, are looked upon as among the best sailors on the river. The disaster is said to be the worst that has occurred in this locality for years.

In Kingston's Highest Interest - to work with Mooers company to get an elevator.

The Bannockburn In Port - The steamer Bannockburn arrived this afternoon from Four Mile Light, where she went aground. The elevator sent to lighten her transferred 30,000 bushels from her hold to the barges. The extent of damage sustained by the steamer will be considerable, as she was under a full head of steam when she struck.

Snips - The ferry steamer Paul Smith was wind bound at Wolfe Island last night and did not reach this port until an early hour this morning.

The K. & M. company's tug Reginald cleared from the company's dock at Portsmouth today, towing six barges, carrying 180,000 bushels of grain, to Montreal. It was intended that the Reginald, with her tow, should start on the trip yesterday afternoon, but manager James Stewart decided that it would be unsafe for them to venture out in the teeth of the gale that was then blowing. The result proves the wisdom of his decision, which, in all probability, was the means of saving all or a portion of the barges' contents for the company.