A Century of Sail and Steam on the Niagara River Part 5

Bruce Mines with its copper mines, then in full operation, was perhaps the most important place, with a population of 2,500. The Sault had perhaps 500, Silver Islet, with its mysterious silver mine, 1,500, and Prince Arthur's Landing about 200 residents, with whatever importance was given by its position at the head of the lake, and as being the starting place of the Dawson Road to Fort Garry, and the supply point for the developing mines of the interior.

Whatever meat, flour, or vegetable foods the people ate had to be carried up to them from the Ontario ports. Westwards the decks were filled with cattle, hogs, and all kinds of merchandise, but there was little freight to bring back east except fish and some small quant.i.ties of highly concentrated ores from the mines.

The business had not developed as had been expected, and the "Chicora" was found to be too good for the Lake Superior route as it then existed. Her freight-carrying capacity was light, cabin accommodation in excess of requirements, and her speed and expenses far beyond what was there needed.

So the boat had to be withdrawn from service, dismantled, and laid up alongside the docks at Collingwood in the season of 1873.

One splendid and closing charter there had been in the season of 1874, when the "Chicora" was chartered for the months of July and August to be a special yacht for the progress of the Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, and his suite, through what were then the northern districts of Ontario and through the Upper Lakes.

Col. F. W. c.u.mberland, M.P., General Manager of the Northern Railway, was also Provincial Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General and thus in general charge of the arrangements for the tour, particularly on the Northern Railway, through whose districts the party was then travelling. The further portions of the tour were through the district of Algoma, comprising all the country along the north sh.o.r.es of Lakes Huron and Superior, which Col.

c.u.mberland then represented in the Provincial Parliament, being the first Member for Algoma.

Was.h.a.go, at the first crossing of the Severn River, was then the "head of the track" of the "Muskoka Branch," which was under construction from Barrie. Beyond this point the party were to proceed through the byways and villages of Muskoka by mixed conveyance of boats on the lakes and carriages over the bush roads to Parry Sound, where they were to join the "Chicora."

Every minute of the way had been carefully planned out to satisfactorily arrange for the reception en route, stopping places for meals and rest, stays over night, and allowance for all possible contingencies, for the Governor-General insisted that he should make his arrival, at each place on the way, with royal precision.

There was therefore no room for the insertion of the many special demands for additional functions and time, which increasingly arose as the days drew near, for the fervor of the welcome became tumultuous.

The Presbyterian clergyman at Was.h.a.go had been particularly insistent and had called to his aid every local influence of s.h.i.+pper and politician to obtain consent that the Governor-General should lay the corner-stone of the new church which the adherents of the "Auld Kirk" were erecting at the village. The ceremony was whittled down until it was at last agreed that it should be sandwiched into the arrangements on condition that everything should be in readiness, and that the proceedings should not exceed fifteen minutes, for there was a long and rocky drive ahead of fourteen miles to Gravenhurst, where an important afternoon gathering from all the countryside and a reception by His Excellency and the Countess of Dufferin had been arranged.

The Munic.i.p.al and the local Society receptions at the Was.h.a.ge station had been safely got through when the Governor and party walked over the granite knolls to where the church was to be erected. The location of the village, which is situated between two arms of the Muskoka River, is on the unrelieved outcrop of the Muskoka granite, which, scarred and rounded by the glacier action of geological ages, is everywhere in evidence.

On the knoll, more level than the others, was the church party expectant.

At their feet, perched upon a little cemented foundation about a foot and a half in diameter, built on the solid granite, was the "corner stone," a cube of granite some three inches square. A miniature silver trowel, little larger than a teaspoon, was handed to the Governor, who, holding it in his fingers smoothed down the morsel of mortar and the corner stone was duly laid.

The Minister then announced "Let us engage in prayer," and raising his hands and closing his eyes he at once began.

It was a burning hot noon-day in July. Having got fairly started the minister seemed to be in no way disposed to stop. At five minutes a chair and umbrella were brought for Lady Dufferin. At ten minutes motions were made to pluck the minister's coat tails, but no one dared. The fervid appeal covering all possible contingencies, and meandering into varied "We give Thee thanks also" still continued so the Governor and Lady Dufferin and their Suite quietly slipped away from the group and going to the carriages, which were waiting in readiness near by, drove away.

Shortly afterwards the minister ceased and, opening his eyes, took in the situation.

He at least had succeeded in having his corner-stone laid by a Governor-General and was satisfied, even though he had lost that portion of his audience. There were others also who were satisfied as one of the devout congregation who said as we walked away, "Wasn't the Meenester powerful in prayer?"

Lord Dufferin's private secretary and myself, having seen our duties to this point satisfactorily completed, returned to the cars and proceeded back by the special train to Collingwood, where the outfit and arrangements of the "Chicora" for the long cruise were being completed, and active operations had for some time been going on.

The s.h.i.+p was a picture, resplendent in brightened bra.s.ses, new paint and decorations. The staterooms had been re-arranged and enlarged so that they could be used in suites with separate dining and reception rooms arranged for various occasions. Strings of flags of all varieties, and ensigns for every occasion were provided, including His Excellency the Governor-General's special flag, to be raised the moment he came on board.

Captain James C. Orr, his officers, and the picked crew were all in naval uniform, and naval discipline was to be maintained.

About ten o'clock one night we sailed out of Collingwood to make an easy night run across the Georgian Bay and arrive in the morning at Parry Sound, where the Governor-General was to join the steamer in the afternoon.

We were naturally anxious that nothing should occur on our part to mar the arrangements for the much heralded tour, and so I turned out early in the morning, called up by some indistinct premonition. Of all the evils that can befall a s.h.i.+p's captain it is that of a too supreme confidence in his own powers; a confidence which leads him to take unnecessary risks and so incur dangers which a little longer waiting would avoid. Of this we now met a most striking instance.

There are two routes from Collingwood to Parry Sound. The outer pa.s.sage, outside the islands, longer but through open lake and safe, the other the inner pa.s.sage winding through an archipelago of islands, tortuous and narrow. This latter was also known as the "Waubuno Channel," from its being the route of the steamer of that name, a vessel of 140 feet and the largest pa.s.sing through it. As a scenic route for tourists it is unsurpa.s.sable, threading its way amid many islands with abrupt and thrilling turns.

Captain McNab, one of the most experienced and oldest navigators of the Upper Lakes, had been engaged as pilot for the tour of the "Chicora."

In the early morning, instead of being as had been expected, out in the open lake, we were heading into a bay with the sh.o.r.e line expanding far on each side both east and west.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The ALGOMA. 1862.

The 2nd CITY OF TORONTO. 1840. Rebuilt. page 44]

[Ill.u.s.tration: The 3rd CITY OF TORONTO. 1864.

From an old drawing. page 123]

Going forward, Captain McNab, in reply to questions, said he intended going through the Waubuno Channel, and admitted that he had never taken a boat as large as the "Chicora" through the channel, but was sure he could. Amiable suggestions that he might like to bet $10,000 that he could, being promptly declined, he accepted instructions and the steamer was at once turned around to go by the outer channel for which there was plenty of time. He might have done it, but there was a doubt in it, and supposing he had not, what then? It is better for a captain to be sure, than to be sorry.

The tour was a great success. Wherever the bonnie boat went, whether in Canadian waters around the northern sh.o.r.es of Lakes Huron and Superior at Sault Ste. Marie, Nepigon, Prince Arthur's Landing, or in American waters, at Mackinac, Lake Michigan and Chicago, her trim appearance, beautiful lines, and easy speed, won continued admiration.

FOOTNOTES:

[1]

Detroit, 18th May, 1870.

Sir:

The Steamer _Brooklyn_ proceeds to Point Aux Pins on special service.

In case you may not have been advised by the head of your department, I am authorised to inform you that she is to have free access to all Canadian Ports on Lake Superior, moving under orders from Col. Bolton.

I am, etc., (Signed) F. W. c.u.mBERLAND.

Jos. Wilson, Collector of Customs, Saulte Ste Marie, Ont.

CHAPTER VI.

A NOVEL IDEA AND A NEW VENTURE--BUFFALO IN SAILINGs.h.i.+P DAYS--A RISKY Pa.s.sAGE.

After the tour with Lord Dufferin had been concluded the "Chicora" was returned to Collingwood and laid up again to rest her reputation great and widespread as it was before, having been still more enhanced. At last early on a gray morning of August, 1877, under tow of a wrecking tug, there stole gently away from Collingwood the steamer which had been the greatest glory of the port, her red paddles trailing lifeless in the water like the feet of a wounded duck.

Where was she being taken to? What had taken place? It was the beginning of a bold and sporting venture.

As General Freight and Pa.s.senger Agent (Oct., 1873 to Jan., 1878) of the Northern Railway of Canada, the "Chicora" as she lay at Collingwood was much under my notice, and in travelling to Buffalo on railway business the water route by the Niagara River was most frequently taken. There was no route on the Upper Lakes upon which the "Chicora" could be successfully employed. It was considered that she could not be returned to the Lower Lakes because it was said that having been brought up the ca.n.a.ls from Montreal, the "guards" added at Buffalo, which made her width fifty feet at the main deck could not be removed without serious damage in order to reduce her to the then Welland ca.n.a.l width of only 26 feet. As under the then trade conditions she could neither be profitably run nor be returned to the Lower Lakes, the steamer was of little worth to her owners, and could be readily purchased. It had for some time appeared to me that there was an opening for a good boat upon the Niagara River route. The "City of Toronto" plying to Lewiston and the New York Central was getting insufficient and out of date in equipment. The Canada Southern Railway at Niagara-on-the-Lake was not satisfied with the "Southern Belle." Why not get the "Chicora" and strike out for a career of one's own? So I started to study the position having always had a mechanical turn and had practical experience in railway and machine construction.

Keeping one's ideas to one's self the boat was examined and careful scrutiny ascertained that the "guards" could be removed and replaced without interference with the hull, so that this first obstacle to her being brought to the Lower Lakes could be overcome.

But there were other obstacles which cropped up. To begin with, a pier of one of the smaller locks in the Welland (150 26) was said to have inclined inwards so that there was not sufficient width even after the "guards" had been removed, for the 26-ft. hull to pa.s.s through.

Again, _Chicora_ was 230 feet long. If the vessel was brought down in two pieces through all the locks to Lake Ontario, there was no dry dock on the lake of sufficient length into which she could be placed so that these parts might be put together again. A further obstacle and a fatal one. The only place where the two parts could be put together again her full length of 230 feet long was Muir's dry dock, at Port Dalhousie, but that was above the last lock of the ca.n.a.l, which required to be pa.s.sed to get down to Lake Ontario, and _this lock was only 200 feet long!_

The game was apparently impracticable. It was not more impossible to put a quart into a pint bottle, than it was to put the full-sized 230-foot _Chicora_ into the 200-foot Dalhousie lock and lower her to Lake Ontario.

No wonder other people had given the job up, and the steamer could be easily bought.

Just about this time I noticed an announcement in the press that in order to provide for the construction of the lower locks at the Ontario end of the new Welland Ca.n.a.l, the Canadian Government intended, after the close of navigation the next autumn, to draw off the whole of the water in the five-mile level above the Port Dalhousie lock between there and St.

Catharines.