British Whig (Kingston, ON), 12 Oct 1898

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MARINE INTELLIGENCE.

The tug Thistle and barge, light, arrived up from river ports this morning.

The schooner Two Brothers is awaiting a cessation of the gale to clear for Oswego to load coal.

The schooner Fabiola was taken back to the waterworks dock this morning to discharge her cargo of coal.

The steamer Toronto, built in Toronto for the R. & O. N. company, will make her trial trip on October 30th.

The tug Maggie May and barge Dandy, with oats from Howe Island, unloaded at Richardsons' elevator this morning, and cleared for Seeley's Bay.

Rumor was current around the city last evening that the steamer Hamilton had met with difficulties while running down the lake yesterday. The staunch steamer reached here at one o'clock this morning in sound condition, and continued on down to Montreal.

Owing to the heavy wind which prevailed yesterday it was absolutely impossible for work to be carried on in connection with the release of the big steamer Aragon, stranded in the Cascade rapids. However, Capt. Donnelly hopes that before nightfall he will receive word that the steamer has been released and started down the remainder of the rapids.

The steamer Lindsay, chartered by the Atlantic transportation company for the coast traffic, arrived at Ogdensburg the other day with four consorts in tow. The steamer has a deep draught aft, and after an examination the Donnelly wrecking and salvage company found that she could not be trimmed so as to admit her going through the rapids. In consequence she will have to return to the lakes.

The steamer Murphy arrived from Chicago yesterday with 72,500 bushels of wheat for the M.T. company, which was discharged this morning. After taking a quantity of coal at the M.T. company's wharf, she proceeded to South Bay to pick up two lake barges dropped there on the way down, and returned for Ogdensburg by the American channel. The Murphy and barges are part of the fleet en route to the Atlantic coast. The steamer was obliged to drop her consorts at South Bay on account of the heavy gale.

Will Be Docked Here.

The schooner F.H. Burton suffered heavy damages by the storm yesterday morning, which will cost more than the season's profits to repair. When she lay at the hosiery mill dock the heavy sea struck her broadside, and pounded the light schooner against the dock unmercifully. In such a position the crew was helpless but to save the ship as much as possible, the sailors made extra fenders of cloth and soft materials, which lessened to some extent the force of the pounding. Had the schooner been loaded, she undoubtedly would have broken planks in her bottom, as the water is not very deep at that point. When she was taken to the M.T. company's wharf yesterday a temporary examination was made, and it is possible that she will require several new ribs and new planking on the starboard side as well as new decking. The schooner is leaking badly, over three feet of water being in her hold this morning. She will be docked here for repairs. The schooner F.H. Burton was built at Dundas in 1854 and rebuilt in 1889. She was formerly owned by John Wright & Co., and recently purchased by Capt. George Bennett, Port Hope. His loss will be heavy.

A Retired Captain Speaks.

A retired captain was one of a group of mariners who were discussing sailing interests last evening. The conversation turned to the fleet of American vessels and steamers en route to the Atlantic coast, and the difficult work of taking the boats through the rapids at this season of the year. In the captain's recollection this is the largest fleet ever taken through the rapids by the one company, and the greatest number of lake boats taken for ocean service. He thinks the removal of these boats from the lakes for three or four years, as the case may be, will greatly relieve the over-crowded wharves on the upper lakes, especially if next season does not see a more brisk traffic than this year. It was a fortunate move for many American shipowners that the Atlantic transportation company chartered these boats, which did not pay expenses this season. Now many of the larger boats will hand over to their owners $250 a month clear profit for at least one or two years. If the Donnelly wrecking and salvage company succeeds in getting the boats through to Montreal this month, with the water in the rapids so low, they and the pilots will have accomplished a commendable work.

Welland Canal Report.

Port Colborne, Oct. 11th - Down: steamer Haskell, Chicago to Ogdensburg, general cargo; steamer Erin and barge, Two Harbors to Deseronto, pig iron; steamer Nipigon and barges, Chassell to Ogdensburg, lumber; steamer Tecumseh and barges, Marquette to Deseronto, pig iron; steamer Bannockburn and barges, Fort William to Kingston, wheat; schooner St. Peter, Toledo to Kingston, corn; schooner Oliver Mitchell, Toledo to Kingston, coal.

p.6 Late Afternoon Events - Hugh McLennan and D.G. Thomson, of the Montreal transportation company, are in the city looking over the local plant controlled by the company.