British Whig (Kingston, ON), 20 Jul 1898

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THE YACHTS ARE ARRIVING.

Everything In Readiness For The L.Y.R.A. Rendezvous.

With favorable weather the coming yacht races will prove the most interesting water event ever viewed in Kingston harbor. The boats to make an interesting race are here, and all they want is a wind. If the right kind of weather is met with the four days' sailing will present many pretty views to those on land, will be full of interest to all yachtsmen, and no doubt will invigorate the lovers of the sail in the city. Yachting will undoubtedly undergo a revival and a more general interest will be provoked. In olden days Kingston was widely known for its fast yachts, and many old builders can tell of the exciting races of then.

Last year one day's races was held here under the circuit system, and the boats then were watched with interest, but this year, the L.Y.R.A. agreeing to a rendezvous will give four days' racing, and yachts never seen here before will appear in the contest. This week will mark a great event in local yachting records. The prettiest race in the series will be among the first-class yachts, in which will appear the Canada, the winner of the international cup. The Canada left Toronto on Monday and was expected here today. Seven other boats will enter with her.

It was expected that the twenty-seven foot class would give the most exciting race, but unfortunately several of the Toronto twenty-seven footers have decided not to come down, which will greatly weaken the race. The reason for their non-appearance will be simply that they did not expect to win a place. In this class Dr. Black's Kestrel and the Verona of Hamilton will have a keen contest for the first place. Both boats are the work of the same designer, and the Verona, his latest, was built to outclass the Kestrel, and in a race at Hamilton last week she beat the Kestrel's time by some minutes, and even outrun the Hamilton thirty-two footers by thirteen minutes. It was her remarkable work that led the Toronto twenty-seven footers to remain at home. However, since the Kestrel made her time, she has been treated to new canvas and otherwise improved, which means increased speed, so an exciting trial of speed between the two boats is looked for. The other classes are pretty well filled, and will afford attractive races.

Yesterday the first visiting yachts arrived, the Dinah, Aggie and Cinderella reaching here first. The Dinah, in the thirty-seven foot class, is owned by Stewart Malloch, Hamilton, and is identified with the R.H.Y.C. She carries eight of a crew. Last year she took part in the circuit races here, and won first place, and, in fact, she has an unbroken record, having won first place at Toronto, Niagara, Oswego and Hamilton as well.

The Aggie sails in the forty-two foot class, and is owned by A. Marlott, Oakville. She has also made a name for herself at Hamilton.

The Cinderella is a Rochester boat, and will not enter the races. Her crew will be interested spectators. The Cinderella is a sister boat to the Ariadne, having been built about the same time.

Two yachts arrived in port this morning the Zelma, of Hamilton, and the Merry-thought of Toronto. The latter is the property of commodore Jarvis of the R.C.Y.C., and sails in the forty-two foot class. She carries a crew of nine, and will be sailed by commodore Jarvis.

The Zelma is owned by commodore Lucas, of the Royal Hamilton yacht club, and is a model forty-two footer. She is a speedy craft and a stiff race is expected from her. The crew will be composed of commodore Lucas, T.H. Lester, J. Gillies, H. Watt, F. Bisley, H. Tobias, W. Braithwaite, with F. Monk at the helm.

The Aggie will be handled by J. Fernside with eight more of a crew. Last year the Aggie won first place at Hamilton, second at Toronto, and lost first at Cobourg by missing the buoy.

Other yachts now on their way and expected here this evening or tomorrow are the Canada, Vienna, Vreda, Widgon and Enid, Toronto; Corona and Verona, Hamilton, and Oriole, Oswego.

On Tuesday night the prizes for the regatta will be distributed.

MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The barge Colborne is in the government dry dock for repairs.

The steamer Hamilton, en route for Montreal, passed down last evening.

The schooner Fleetwing, Charlotte, grain laden, arrived at Swift's wharf today.

The schooner Acacia arrived from Oswego last evening with coal for R. Crawford.

The Caspian from Toronto, and the Corsican from Montreal, touched at Swift's wharf today.

The steamer Persia, from St. Catharines to Montreal, touched at Craig & Co.'s wharf this morning.

The tug D.G. Thomson from Charlotte with two coal-laden barges reached port this morning.

The hull of the schooner Pilot was caulked today, while lying at the foot of Princess street.

The tug Walker arrived from Montreal last night with four light barges and returned today with six barges containing 150,000 bushels of grain.

Called at the wharf of James Swift & Co.: Steamer Arundell, Charlotte to Alexandria Bay; Corsican, Montreal to Toronto; steamer James Swift, Ottawa.

The steamer Caspian, Toronto, touched at Swift's wharf this morning bound for Prescott, where she will transfer passengers and freight to the steamer Algerian and return west.

The steamer Columbian left this morning for Alexandria Bay, returning at one o'clock with an excursion party aboard. At three o'clock she cleared for island points with the A.O.U.W. excursion aboard.

Capt. Oliver and mate O. Oliver, formerly in charge of the schooner Queen of the Lakes, arrived in the city from Montreal yesterday. The schooner, plying on the Atlantic coast, is in charge of a Quebec captain.

Capt. Sinclair has been placed in command of the steamer Caspian. He commanded her for many years when she was known as the Passport. The names of Capt. Sinclair and the steamer Passport have long been closely associated with each other.

The Barge Still On.

The Standard Oil company's steel barge, stranded in the Cedar rapids, is as far from being released as when it first went on. Crib work is being built at a point opposite the barge, so as to break the force of the rush of water and to serve as a base on which to place jack-screws. Twenty-five men are at work on this undertaking. When completed an attempt will be made to release the barge by use of hawsers and jack-screws. A day or two ago the steamer Rival, in hauling on the barge, broke a hawser. This allowed the steamer to swing out into the current, resulting in snapping off her rudder. Fortunately the steamer swung around under the bow of the barge into still water.

Cause of the Accident.

A Montreal La Presse reporter came across pilot Ouellette, who had charge of taking down the famous American transport (oil barge) through the Cedar rapids, and from him secured numerous interesting details. He said the cause of the grounding of the barge was due to the fact that the tug towing her was not powerful enough nor heavy enough. After entering the large eddy opposite Quenneville island the tug could not pull strongly enough and the barge being so very long took a sheer and went completely out of the channel. The anchor was at once thrown and the tow line cut. The barge is not in a dangerous position and perhaps may float out some of these days when the water is high. The barge is not damaged. It will probably cost some money to take her from her position but the company will not lose her. The barge is forty feet wide, 268 feet long and twenty feet hold. She cost $140,000. Pilot Ouellette expects to take down a dozen American barges.

Welland Canal Report.

Port Dalhousie, July 19th - Down: Schooner Houghton, Sandusky to Kingston, coal; steamer Niagara, Ashland to Kingston, timber; steamer Pueblo, Chicago to Prescott, corn; steamer Algonquin, Duluth to Prescott, wheat; steamer Denver, Chicago to Prescott, corn.

Port Colborne, July 19th - Down: Steamer Pueblo, Chicago to Prescott, corn; steamer Denver, Chicago to Oswego, corn; steamer Glengarry, barge Minnedosa, Fort William to Kingston, wheat; steamer Langdon, Chicago to Ogdensburg, general cargo; steamer Rosedale, Chicago to Kingston, corn.

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The Difficulty Satisfactorily Arranged.

The Phoenix bridge company will assume the responsibility of taking all rafts down the north channel of the river at Cornwall. The Calvin company and the Collins Bay rafting company protested against the blocking of the south channel during the construction of the Ottawa and New York railway bridge, as that channel is the easiest for navigating rafts. To take them down the north channel necessitates a breaking up of the rafts, which means additional expense. The bridge company has agreed to take charge of the rafts while passing the spot, if the rafting companies furnish the tugs. This is acceptable to Mr. Calvin and to the Collins Bay company.