British Whig (Kingston, ON), 1 Oct 1909

p.1

SURRENDERED BOAT.

Oswego, Oct. 1st - Capt. and Mrs. Steve Murphy, of the ill-fated steamer Monteagle, owned by R.A. Downey & Co., of this city, which was burned in Mud Lake, on Lake Michigan, a week ago, have arrived home. Capt. Murphy states that when the fire was discovered the wreckers had been working for two days in raising the Monteagle after she had run upon a submerged crib, and he had planned to run under the steamer's own steam to Port Huron or Detroit for repairs.

Second mate Thomas Burke, who has also arrived at his home in this city, narrowly escaped during the fire. The Monteagle, which lies in about thirty feet of water, has been surrendered to the underwriters. Mr. Hitchcock, an adjuster of Buffalo, is in this city adjusting claims for insurance on the lost boat and cargo.

SHERIFF TIED UP BOAT.

St. Catharines, Oct. 1st - Two sailors on the steamer Dunelm, bound from Montreal to Fort William, took an effective means of getting wages due them. When the steamer arrived here, the two mariners went to the sheriff and had him tie up the boat until they were paid what was coming to them. The men were William Mitchell, wheelsman, and G.A. Van Turen, watchman. They told Magistrate Campbell that when they shipped with the Dunelm they were to have $5 a month bonus if they stayed to the end of the season. The captain fired them Wednesday, claiming they were inefficient. They asked for the $5 bonus, but were refused. Hence the tying up of their good ship.

Magistrate Campbell ruled that the bonus was coming to them and ordered the captain to pay Mitchell $30 and Van Turen $18.30.

p.2

WITH THE MARINERS.

Local marine men cannot understand why a captain would have taken a steamer into the St. Lawrence rapids with a temporary repaired rudder, as was done in the case of the steamer Rapids Queen last week. The Rapids Queen was formerly the old steamer Columbian, and was for some years commanded by Capt. Hinckley of Kingston. One marine man said that there was too great laxity on the part of some inspectors in examining the steering gear of a vessel, which was more important than the machinery. Some inspectors, however, pay great attention to the steering gear. So do some captains, but there are captains and captains. Some commanders of vessels constantly overlook the rudder chains and see that they are in good order and kept well oiled. The steering gear of steamers that run the St. Lawrence rapids needs to be especially heavy. It is considered the greatest of luck that there was not a catastrophe when the steamer Rapids Queen got loose in the wild waters of the Rapids. The trip must have been a thrilling one for the passengers.

Weather Very Bad.

The weather has been very rough on the lake the past few days. Last night the big steamer Haddington, which discharged grain at Richardsons' elevator, anchored at Four Mile Point. The steamer Sowards has been endeavoring to cross the lake for a couple of days, and, yesterday, the bursting of a steam pipe brought her back into port again.

The schooner Ford River arrived from Charlotte, and Capt. Daryeau reports very rough weather.

The steamer Stranger has arrived at the Kingston foundry dock, and will be laid up there for the winter.

Richard Cunningham, of Chicago, has resigned his position as wheelsman on the steamer India.

Capt. Charles Lawrence has been engaged as second mate on the steamer India.

Capt. Alexander Rushford, late of the sloop Idylwild (Idlewild), has gone on the schooner Horace Taber as second mate.

Capt. Hansen was in the city today on his way to Cornwall, to take the steamer (sic) St. Louis to Cape Vincent.

The tug Edmund arrived from Bedford Mills, with the barge Columbia, loaded with lumber, and cleared for Brockville.

The schooner Mary Ann Lydon, loaded with feldspar, cleared for Charlotte.

The steamer City of Montreal is due down tonight, from Fort William to Montreal.

The steamer Aletha made her regular trip from bay points today.

The schooner Ford River will load feldspar at Richardsons' wharf.

The steambarge Mary Louise arrived from Morton with lumber, and cleared for Brockville.

M.T. Co.: tug Emerson from Montreal, three light barges; the long looked for steamer Canadian, with 65,000 bushels of grain, from Fort William; tug Mary, from Montreal, with barge Hiawatha, loaded with lumber, will be towed to Oswego by the tug Emerson; tug Mary will clear for Montreal with two grain barges.

The tug Reserve arrived from Port Dalhousie and cleared for Prescott.

The tug Scout cleared for Prescott.

The tug Lisgar was here from Hamilton, and cleared for Montreal.

p.5 Incidents of the Day - The barge Ungava, of the M.T. Co., ran into the cement wharf at Port Dalhousie and suffered slight injuries.

p.8 Steamer Captain Fined - Toronto, Oct. 1st - Capt. Blanchard, of the steamer Argyle, was fined $100 and costs for having liquor on board the vessel, presumably for sale.