British Whig (Kingston, ON), 14 Oct 1898

p.2

LOCAL MARINE MATTERS.

The tug Bronson arrived from Montreal today with four light barges.

The steamer King Ben, wheat-laden, left for Montreal this morning.

The tug Jessie Hall cleared for Montreal today with four grain-laden barges.

The sloop Minnie arrived at Richardson's elevator this morning with 1,500 bushels of peas from Collins Bay.

The steamer Iron Chief arrived from Chicago last evening with 46,000 bushels of corn for the M.T. company, and cleared for Buffalo, light.

The S.S. Bannockburn and consorts Winnipeg and Dunmore, from Duluth with 160,000 bushels of wheat, arrived in port last evening. The tow cleared for Fort William this afternoon.

A despatch from Coteau du Lac this morning said a heavy gale was blowing from the east, making it impossible to run any of the Atlantic coast boats down the rapids today. The steamer Aragon has reached Montreal, making a safe run through the Split Rock and Cascade rapids yesterday.

Four Tugs at Work.

Another tow of boats for the Atlantic coast reached Ogdensburg yesterday. The boats are reaching that port quicker than they can be run down the rapids, although four tugs are engaged in guiding them in the difficult passages. This weather is most unfavorable to this work, as the up wind lower the water in the rapids, and the damp weather makes the atmosphere hazy. It was expected that all the boats would reach Montreal by the middle of next week, but the chances are against that. So far the Donnelly company have been quite fortunate, only one mishap, worth noting, having occurred.

Rates Will Be Higher.

According to statements of representative insurance men, the insurance rates on steamers and vessels will be higher than the present rates. Both on wood and steel hulls the increase will be considerable. This season the marine insurance companies have suffered heavily through numerous wrecks, and to this is attributed the cause of the increase in rates. The intimation is not looked upon with favor by the local vessel owners.

A Powerful Tug.

The government tug St. Francis is a powerful little steamer and her work in connection with the harbor dredging has been noted by all marine men. No matter how the wind blows, or how the sea rolls, she is seen pulling the large mud barge through the surf as though the sea had no effect. She is a staunch tug, and well handled by her captain.

Welland Canal Report.

Port Colborne, Oct. 14th - Down: steamer Seguin, Two Harbors to Deseronto, iron ore; steamer Langdon, Chicago to Ogdensburg, general cargo; barges Page and McGregor, Buffalo to New York, light.

p.6 Expects A Late Closing - The captain of the schooner Fabiola expects to keep his boat sailing until December 15th. During the gale on Tuesday the Fabiola broke away from the waterworks wharf by pulling out the dock spiles and crashed into the wharf to the north of it, doing considerable damage. The captain was obliged to make good the damage done.

Late Afternoon Events - Fisher Brothers, Portsmouth, are receiving a large supply of barley from Bay of Quinte ports, two sloops being engaged in bringing it down to the brewery.

The steamer Resolute, of Rathbun's Deseronto fleet, touched at the Grove Inn wharf this morning.