Above normal +1. (M).
Jan 27. Br. “Corisande” reports breadth at 483’N 4550’W. (GR).
A large volume. (GR).
Northern ice at St. John’s arrive Jan 29th, depart Apr 17. Some heavy ice appeared for a time in April and again in May.(GR).
At Ferryland, drift ice arrived Feb 10, harbours blocked until Mar 19. Ice cleared off for a few days then back again till Apr 18. Many bergs after. (JW in GR).
Gulf or Northern ice only twice in Fortune Bay for the last 30 years (1857-1887), 1875 and 1876. (GR).
Jan 5th, heavy ice at Cape Freels. Feb 15th, heavy ice in mouth of Trinity Bay. Feb 15th, St. John’s, heavy ice. Jun 16th, a large number of bergs on this coast. A very mild winter in Greenland. (GR).
No ice to the land on the east coast in May. (CH in GR).
NYMR (except as noted):
January/February
Jan 2 SS “City of Limerick” from Philadelphia to Liverpool 46N 48W passed a large berg. (LL).
Jan 7 Sydney: Navigation here is closed by ice. (LL).
Jan 19 A vessel was damaged off the coast of P.E.I. due to ice. (LL).
Jan 24 SS “Idaho” from New York to Liverpool 47N 43W passed a berg. (LL).
Jan 25 Some slob around. (PL).
Jan 26 SS “Tiger” arrived from the westward, slob ice coming out of the Gulf impeded progress at Channel and thin slob ice was passed through from Cape St. Mary’s to Cape Spear. (PL).
Jan 28 Weather very cold, below zero (F) [-18C] winds NNE – a good deal of slob ice in sight but none of the heavy kind. (Newf.).
Jan 30 SS “Nova Scotian” arrived from Halifax having passed through 100m of slob ice. (Newf.).
Jan 31 Brigantine “Florence May” from New York to St. John’s driven ashore by ice at Portugal Cove, Trepassey Bay, lost. (PL).
Feb 1 Some mention of 150m of ice between St. John’s and Halifax but appears to be slob. (PL).
Feb 1 SS “Klopstock” from New York to Plymouth 46N 44W passed a berg. (LL).
Feb 2 Brig Mary E. Gardner from New York to St. John’s put in to St. Thomas leaking, crew frostbitten having been in the ice.
Feb 3 SS “Columbia” saw some drift ice and a large berg in 4522’N 4810’W.
Feb 5 Issue: Slob off Cape Race, and mention of it pushing vessels towards shore at Torbay. (PL).
Feb 5 SS “Proteus” cleared ice out of the harbour. (PL).
Feb 5 SS “Wisconsin” from New York to Liverpool fell in with large quantities of field ice in 47N 48W. (LL).
Feb 6 Slob ice off Cape Spear. (PL).
Feb 8 SS “Amerique” 46N 46W 2 bergs. 45N 48W crossed a large quantity of drift ice.
Feb 8 SS “Anchoria” 47N 4630’W met a field of ice, steered south along edge to 4520’N 4820’W a distance of 140m, also ice to westward the whole distance.
Feb 8 SS “Neckar” [from Bremen to New York – LL] 4736’N 4534′[24]W passed several bergs and a quantity of field ice. Passed the last berg 4625’N 4815’W.
Feb 8 Fore-topsail schooner “Release” from West Indies to Harbour Grace put back to St. John’s on account of the ice. (PL).
Feb 8 Weather has been very cold for the last few days -15 below zero [-26C]. (Newf.).
Feb 9 The barquentine “Titania” was towed in, 13 days from new York, passing through about 360m of slob ice on voyage. (PL).
Feb 9 SS “Parana” from Liverpool to Boston met ice on west Grand Banks. Ran 100m south to clear it. Some damage.
Feb 9 SS “Oder” from New York to Southampton 45N 48W passed through immense fields of ice. (LL).
Feb 9 SS “Wyoming” from Liverpool to New York 46N 4417’W passed a beg and passed through a quantity of ice in 4446’N 49W. (LL).
Feb 10 “Ethel” from Liverpool to St. John’s was seen stuck in the ice. (LL).
Feb 11 SS “Pomerania” 4425’N 4928’W passed through a field of ice 3″ thick extending as far as could be seen.
Feb 11 SS “Navarino” from New York to Southampton became enveloped in ice for 4 days in crossing the banks of Newfoundland. (LL).
Feb 11 SS “Herder” passed an ice field in 4417’N 4845’W, 3m to the northward. (LL).
Feb 12 SS “Amerique” from Havre to New York saw 2 bergs in 46N 46W and passed through a large quantity of drift ice 45N 48W. (LL).
Feb 12 SS “Anchoria” from Glasgow to New York 47N 46W passed large quantities of field ice; steered S along the edge of it for 120m to 45N 48W; saw close fields ice to the westward. (LL).
Feb 14 SS “Othello” [from Hull to New York – LL] passed large fields of ice with several large bergs beginning at 4650’N to 4650’W extending to 4356[50]’N 52W. Feb 14 SS “Herder” 4527’N 4310’W saw some drift ice.
Feb 14 SS “Ranger” for Catalina turned about having encountered heavy ice in the mouth of Trinity Bay. (PL).
Feb 15 Ice in motion along the shore causing difficulties to shipping. (PL).
Feb 15 SS “Herder” 4417’N 4845’W passed an ice field 3m to the north.
Feb 16 SS “Salier” 4240’N 4850’W passed several large bergs and some field ice.
Feb 16 SS “P. Calland” 47N 4330’W passed a large berg. 17th, from 4530’N 45W [43N 45W – LL] to 4230’N 52W encountered field ice and was obliged to steer south and stop at night.
Feb 16 Bark “Farewell”, see Mar 10 below.
Feb 16 SS “City of Richmond” from Liverpool to New York 4420’N 49W passed 2 small bergs and several patches of field ice. (LL).
Feb 17 SS “Baltic” 4344’N 4809’W passed a berg. 4344’N 4820’W passed another.
Feb 17 Issue: Ice hindering access to St. Peter’s and Harbor Breton and southern shore and bays. Residents of Placentia Bay say that this and last year are the coldest they ever knew. (PL).
Feb 19 Bark “Mark Ethel” from Liverpool to St. John’s was seen inn the ice by bark “Dogs”(?) from New York, at St. John’s March 7.
Feb 19 SS “City of Limerick” from Philadelphia passed several large fields of ice and several large bergs in 42N and from 49W to 48W. (LL).
Feb 21 SS “Suevis” 4341’N 47W passed 3 bergs one of which seemed about 700 feet high.
Feb 21 Schooner “Stadacona”, 24 days from Boston arrived having been 18 days in the ice and much rubbed. (PL).
Feb 21 SS “Pommerania” from New York to Plymouth 43N 47W passed a berg. (LL).
Feb 21 SS “Salier” from Bremen to New York 4440’N 4850’W passed several large bergs and some field ice.
Feb 22 Issue: The SS “Tiger” which left here on the 8th arrived back on the 19th being prevented from reaching further than Cape St. Mary’s. The ice in the mouth of Placentia Bay and to the south and south west appeared to be one solid mass. Also: vessels can be seen in the ice from the hills at Fermeuse. (PL).
Feb 23 Bark “Adolf” 4401’N 4830’W passed several large and small bergs and was compelled to wear ship; 24th, weather very thick with a gale from the east, was again surrounded by ice and had to drive through it for 6m to clear.
Feb 23 SS “Bremeriehe” [“Bremerlehe” ?] from Bremen to Philadelphia reports very large bergs (?).
Feb 27, off Sable Island, was detained 16 hrs by a field of ice.
Feb 24 SS “Hermann” 4235’N 5256’W passed a berg.
Feb 24 SS “C.F. Funch” from Antwerp to New York passed a large berg 4430’N 48W and steamed through ~2m of field ice. (LL).
Feb 24 From New York ” Advices from Arichat, C.B., report a large schooner bound to St. Pierre, ashore in the harbour after having to run ashore to save ship and cargo.” (LL).
Feb 25 SS “Hindoo” 465’N 4724’W fell in with large quantities of ice extending 100m. Last sight of ice on the 26th in 4516’N 4841W.
Feb 25 Issue: Vessels bound for Twillingate since fall, frozen in at Fogo, another for Fogo frozen in at Musgrave Town. Ice blockade along southern shore continues.
Feb 25 SS “Newfoundland” arrived 3 days from Halifax. Some slob ice passed through near Sable Is. but not much on this coast. (However, SS “Hawk” and SS “Nova Scotian” had a harder time). (PL).
Feb 25 “Haakon Haakonsen” from Bergen to New York 46N 52W passed an immense quantity of floating ice. (LL).
Feb 28 SS “Gellert” 4245’N 4945’W passed ice.
Feb 28 SS “China” from Liverpool to New York 44W passed 2 bergs. (LL).
March
Mar — 40m south of Sable Island, navigation obstructed by ice fields. (MWR).
Mar 1-2 SS “Newfoundland” from Halifax to St. John’s was stuck in the ice for 24 hours; 2nd, the ship again got fast in the ice. (LL).
Mar 2 Schooner “Finback” put in to Halifax from Boston getting no closer than 80m to St. Pierre and sustained some damage.
Mar 3 Issue: Ice blockade resumes ? Ice not far off shore at Trepassey. Vessels delayed by ice at Fermeuse have got in there. SS “Hercules” bound for Harbour Grace had to return because of ice being too close north of the Narrows. Schooner “Stadacona” is ashore at Magotty Cove getting her stem repaired, being damaged by ice.(PL).
Mar 5 SS “Newfoundland at Halifax reports: left St. John’s on Tuesday evening at 7pm and got into heavy ice off Cape Race the same night. Wind jammed her in the ice for 24 hrs; jammed again on Thursday; Friday resumed – very heavy ice all the way from C. Race to the southward of Sable Island when got into open water. From there sloppy ice to Nova Scotia coast. On Thursday saw a vessel fast in the ice.
Mar 6 SS “Tiger” from St. John’s for St. Pierre was detained 13 days and has to return for coal.
Mar 6 SS “Hercules” failed again at Cape St. Francis. (PL).
Mar 7 SS “Pereire” [ from Havre to New York 45N 50W – LL] at (4)?3N 50W passed 2 bergs and large quantities of field ice. Mar 7 SS “Klopstock” 4430’N 4830’W passed large fields of drift ice, also some bergs.
Mar 9 SS “Denmark” 4238’N 5148’W ice.
Mar 10 Bark “Farewell” at New York from Bremen reports: made the northern passage; Feb 16, 5130’N 49W encountered field ice, in order to escape returned to 48W but could not clear ice until Feb 22 43(?)30’N 49W; two smaller vessels were packed in the same field; Mar 1 4330’N 57W encountered another field which we cleared in 24 hours.
\Mar 10 Government SS “Lady Head” arrived Halifax unable to reach Sable Island, ice preventing getting within 20 miles.
Mar 10 Sealing steamers detained in harbour by ice. (Newf.).
Mar 11 SS “Wisconsin” from Liverpool to New York 43N 49W passed large quantities of field ice. (LL).
Mar 12 Barque “Camilia” spoke to “Prunette” clear of the ice 200m W of Cape Race. (PL).
Mar 13 Brigantine “Sarah Grace” lost off Cape Ballard being jammed in the ice and struck by an iceberg. Crew OK. (PL).
Mar 14 Sealers left 10th, since then continuous NE winds with ice close around us. Several can be seen from Signal Hill locked up in the ice. (Newf.).
Mar 14 NE winds hemming ice in and preventing progress of sealers. Placentia opening up. (PL).
Mar 14 Schooner “Satagawa” from Boston for St. Pierre arrived Halifax unable to get there because of ice.
Mar 15 SS “Italy” 4154’N 5115’W amongst light field ice.
Mar 17 Change to westerly winds should bring relief to the sealers jammed in the ice. (Newf.).
Mar 18 Vessels still drifting in the ice outside. (PL.).
Mar 19 The brig “Belle” for Harbour Grace from England was abandoned in Conception Bay after being injured by nipping in the ice. Was later boarded by sealing crew from “Confederate” and taken in to St. John’s. (#866).
Mar 19 The brigantine “L’Edouard”, 15 days from New York, arrived at St. Lawrence with port bow stove having met ice 100m SW of Sable Is. (PL).
Mar 20 SS “Italy” from Liverpool to New York 42N 51W passed some field ice. (LL).
Mar 21 Crew of the sealing schooner “Sarah Grace” arrived after their vessel had been broken up by the ice near Cape Bollard; also, ice has cleared a good way off but a strong breeze is still needed. (Newf.).
Mar 21 The sealing fleet still no progress through ice though more ships are arriving. (PL).
Mar 21 SS “Tiger” from western trip could not round Cape Spear and had to unload mails at Bay Bulls. Some delay on her western voyage by ice at Trepassey and St. Mary’s Bay. The coast from Cape Ray to Cape Pine now clear of ice but could be seen in the offing. (PL).
Mar 23 SS “America” from New York to Southampton 43N 53W passed a large berg. (LL).
Mar 22 The SS “Panther” seen from Signal Hill hauling seals. Ice still close upon us. (Newf.).
Mar 22-23 “Azoff” from Stavanger to New York 48N 51W passed 2 bergs, 200′ high and a quantity of field ice. (LL).
Mar 25 Issue: The brigantine “Belle” from Harbour Grace abandoned in Conception Bay after being nipped by ice. (PL).
Mar 25 SS “Newfoundland” at Aquaforte from Halifax encountered ice throughout her passage from 20m SW of Sable Is to Cape Broyle where a tight jam prevented further progress. (PL).
Mar 27 Schooner “Maggie Masters” from New York to St. John’s put into Halifax having failed to reach St. John’s on account of the ice.
Mar 28 Issue: A wrecked schooner in the ice 15m to the east of Signal Hill. 17 vessels in the ice are visible from Witless Bay. (PL).
Mar 28 St. Pierre (Miq) announced that the ice on the banks extended out as far as 43N 47W but the strongest in 44N 54W, the sea was covered with a mass of ice. (LL).
Mar 28 The “Therese” of Grainville arrived at St. Pierre from the West Indies, had passed between N.S. and Sable Island, and had been 25 days getting through ice. (LL).
Mar 28 The “Cyne” had left St. Pierre for the West Indies but was taken around the island by ice. (LL).
Mar 29 RMS “Newfoundland” arrived from Aquaforte. (PL).
Mar 29 SS “Mosel” from New York to Southampton 46N 53W passed several bergs.
April
Apr 1 Issue: Wind has changed and cleared the coast of ice. No ice in Trinity Bay. SS “Hercules” made her trip. (PL).
Apr 1 SS “Suevia” from Hamburg to New York 43N 50W passed a large berg. (LL).
Apr 3 “Lady Head” arrived after an ineffectual attempt to reach Sable Is., the ice preventing her from getting within 20m of that place. (LL).
Apr 3 SS “Oder” from Bremen to New York 44N 49W passed a large berg. (LL).
Apr 4 SS “Oder” passed a large berg 4340(?)’N 4906’W.
Apr 4 Issue: NE wind resumed on the 2nd jamming ice. SS “Hercules” jammed in the ice in Conception Bay and schooner “Arctic” bound for Harbour Grace returned. (PL).
Apr 4 10 vessels drifting south with the ice off the Narrows. (PL). Apr 5 The latest reports from Newfoundland relating to the seal fishing, state that many of the vessels were still in sight of shore on account of ice and winds. Several sealing vessels had been sunk by ice. (LL).
Apr 5 SS “City of Richmond” from Liverpool to New York 43N 49W passed 2 bergs. (LL).
Apr 6? SS “Newfoundland” left Halifax; 9th, Sable Is. sighted’ 10th, loose strings of ice were met; 11th, met field ice, ship got jammed in very heavy ice; 12th, land was made, Cape Pine E by N 8m and later jammed again. 27 icebergs sighted; 13th, some progress Cape Race N 10m; 14th, no progress could be made, 4 vessels sighted at edge of ice 5m distant. Ice all around except to S; 15&16th, no progress. Eventually arrived St. John’s 19th, 13 days from Halifax (from PL, supposedly). (Newf.).
Apr 7 Northeasterly continues and so does ice blockade. Some of the crew of the “Hector” arrived. She was in the ice off Cape Race with propeller gone and machinery seriously injured. She had not been able to get north since she went out. (Newf.).
Apr 8 Issue: SS “Hector” disabled off Cape Race. Propelling gear gave out on the 12th and drifting south with the ice ever since. (arrived Trepassey Apr 7) (PL).
Apr 8 SS “Wyoming” from New York to Liverpool 43N 50W passed a small berg. (LL).
Apr 8 SS “Othello” from Hull to New York 44N 55W passed 2 bergs. (LL).
Apr 9 SS “Newfoundland” jammed off Cape Pine and later driven in to Grand Bank, not getting free till the 17th. (PL).
Apr 9 150,000 seals had been landed at St. John’s so far. Herring fishery promises fair.
Apr 9 SS “Gellert” from Hamburg to New York 43N 56W passed some bergs. (LL).
Apr 11 Ice slacking some. (PL).
Apr 11 A number of bergs were passed in lat. 42N lon. 55W by the “Abbie B.” arrived in New York from Rotterdam. (LL).
Apr 12 SS “City of New York” from New York to Liverpool 43N 51W passed 4 bergs. (LL).
Apr 13 Bark “Everhard Deilus” surrounded by a field of ice 4215’N 4845’W also saw a number of bergs during passage from Bremen.
Apr 13 Sealers and others arrive. (PL).
Apr 15 Brig “Memphis” from Boston to St. John’s put back to Halifax for supplies. Could not get within 140m of Cape Race because of heavy ice.
Apr 15 Bark “National Eagle” 4120’N 45W large quantities of ice.
Apr 17 A telegram from Newfoundland states ” The first ship passed West Point on the 16th no ice here; reports plenty from the Birds Rocks to Cape St. George. ” (LL).
Apr 18 Arrivals from the ice and also that of coastal steamers and others. Seal fishery average. Newf
Apr 18 Still much ice around all the coasts and access to St. Pierre still difficult. (PL).
Apr 18 A telegram from Watertown, New York states that the St. Lawrence is free for 100 miles from its mouth and navigation may be resumed. (LL).
Apr 18 A telegram received states that there is very little ice around St. John’s. (LL).
Apr 19 A Master Adams reports success in sealing, returning home due to propeller damage. (LL).
Apr 19 SS “Newfoundland” which arrived today from Halifax, got jammed in the ice off Cape Race on April 9 and was carried over the Banks in pack ice.
Apr 19 Brig “Constantine” from Sydney to St. Pierre caught in ice and lost on Salmon Head 2m east of Port aux Basque.
Apr 20 Ship “Nevada Kruger” at the Banks reports several bergs grounded on the Virgin Rocks.
Apr 20 In New York there are reports that Newfoundland ships are still inshore due to adverse wind and ice conditions. Several sealing vessels have been sunk by ice. (LL).
Apr 24 Ice is moving around Montreal and Cape Rouge efforts are being made to blast it with gun cotton. (LL).
Apr 24 The SS “Albert” arrived at Pictou, today from Georgetown, P.E.I. and reports heavy ice in the strait, but that it is scattered in the Eastern and Southern parts. (LL).
Apr 25 The schooner “Thetis” was forced ashore by ice on Cherry Valley Bar. (LL).
Apr 25 Report of ice north of Catalina. (PL).
Apr 27 SS “Mosel” 4204’N 4940’W passed 2 large bergs.
Apr 28 SS “Caspian” found St .John’s harbour blocked with ice, while going in lost port anchor and returned to Halifax.
May Reports of Gulf blocked with ice.
May 2 Regular arrivals. SS “Hercules” mad a trip to Harbour Grace and another one planned ice permitting. Barge “Barbara” reports heavy ice to the north reaching as far south as Baccalieu; Bonavista and Trinity Bays are full.
May 2 The SS “Lake Champlain” reported passing Cape Ray on the 1st and seeing upwards of 50 ships in the ice, the ice was very heavy below Cape Rozier. (LL).
May 4 “City of Richmond” passed a large berg in 43N 52W. (LL).
May 5 Tug “Cabot” stopped at Torbay by ice from going any further. (PL).
May 6 The “Albana” from Halifax, N.S. arrived at Pictou, N.S. and reported having passed large fields of heavy ice off Cranberry Island and North of Cape George. (LL). May 6 The “Polynesian” which arrived in Quebec from Liverpool reported having passed through immense fields of ice from St. Paul’s to Cape Magdalen she steamed through the ice for 80 miles and saw upwards of 50 vessels ice bound in the Gulf. (LL).
May 6 Many ships are reporting sightings of ships caught in the ice fields. (LL).
May 7 Heavy ice off Cape Rozier. (LL).
May 8 The “Sardinian” from Liverpool to Quebec passed Father Point yesterday and reported that about 5 miles East of Cape Rozier she passed the “Ocean Phantom” and some 60 sails in ice. (LL).
May 8 The “Sardinian” passed through a heavy field of ice 30 miles above Cape Rozier. (LL).
May 8/9 The “Thames” to Quebec from London reports passing numerous bergs in the vicinity of Cape Race and up to Cape St. Mary’s between Bud Rocks and Cape Rozier she passed through 70 miles of thick field ice at 6am on May 9 she cleared the field ice and sighted Cape Rosier. (LL).
May 9 The “Sardinian” arrived in Quebec from Liverpool, reports having steamed through ice for 15 hours. (LL).
May 9 Ice blockade resumes, ice not much in extent but blown into bays and harbours. (Newf.).
May 10 St John’s: for the last fortnight coast has been so beset with ice as to render it impossible fro vessels to got to, or come from the north, and with much difficulty can get south; harbour now full of field ice, and 2 large icebergs; 15th, ice outside; 18th, string of ice across harbour; 19th & 20th, ice in harbour. (MWR).
May 11 The SS “Quebec” from Liverpool to Quebec reported having seen a few icebergs. Had fine clear weather until 20 miles above the Bird Rocks then the ship got into field ice and steamed 120 miles through it. On the 9th 15 miles off Cape Rozier, the ship passed two Norwegian barques below the Bird Rocks and saw 11 sails in the ice. (LL).
May 11 Unnamed boat sprung a bad leak after striking a pan of ice near here. (PL).
May 11 A telegram from Quebec states that the masters of the steamers are reporting large amounts of ice in the Gulf and a considerable amount of fleet vessels fastened in it. (LL).
May 12 According to the latest reports the ice in the Gulf St. Laurence is in vast quantities. The steamers report some 80 – 100 vessels icebound. In recent telegrams from points in the Gulf and lower St. Lawrence the vessels appear to be gradually getting clear. (LL).
May 14 SS “Hawk” crushed in the ice both sides being stove in at 5020’N 55W. (Newf.).
May 14 SS “Hawk” lost at Grey Islands. (PL).
May 26 & 27 The vessels earlier reported bound for Fogo and Twillingate finally got there. (PL).
Frequent reports of ice and minor damage to vessels throughout May in PL.
Jun 2 Ice quitting Green Bay. (Newf.).