1818 Season
Dec 19 Ships entering and clearing port of Charlottetown as late as 19th Dec. Included ships arriving from Halifax and St. John’s. (PEIG 20 Dec p3 c3)
Dec 23 Ship News “ Narrative of the melancholy loss of the schr. “Sally”, of Prince Edward Is. Loaded at Croppo [Crapaud] on the 23d Dec. The ice set into Croppo Bay and froze her in. On the 24th, the wind veering from the northward drifted the ice and schr. into the Gulph [sic], where they remained drifting up and down with the tides, in a most perilous situation until the 29th, when having expended all their provisions and water, and no appearance of the ice breaking up or extrication the vessel from the field of ice in which she was inclosed [sic] they determined to quit her and launched their boat a mi over the ice to the water, which they effected, and got safe ashore 4th Jan. The schr had drifted in sight of Charlotte Town [sic], when J.N. Le Page, accompanied by Peters Smith, James Foster, the packet man, and four others, well acquainted with the nature of drift ice, put off, and succeeded in getting on board, and were soon after joined by John, Robert, William, James and Edward Wood, the owners of the schr. At night a gale came on, which drove the schr on St. Peter’s shoal, the ice forcing her on her beam ends, and the sea making a breach over her. She lay in this situation until Monday morning, full of water, without any shelter or nourishment for those on board. On Monday the wind moderated, but very cold, and the sufferers most worn out with hunger, launched the boat off the deck and made another attempt to reach the land, which they succeeded in doing. Messrs. Foster and Slallingworth [?] died in the boat; John and Joseph wood, expired just as they had reached the shore; the remainder were in a dying and frozen state. The survivors received the most kind treatment from the soldiers at the Block-House and the inhabitants living near the spot. The survivors have been carried to Charlotte Town [sic] and are all in a fair of recovery, with the exception of William Wood, who lays dangerously ill.” (AR 07/03/1818 p3 #2)
Jan 2 The several vessels which have arrived in the different Ports and shores of this island, we are happy to understand, are safe… and we trust the very fine and mild weather, which accompanied the expiration of the old year, and ushers in the new. (PEIG 2 Jan p3 c3)
Jan 2 Ships entering port of Charlottetown as late as 2 Jan. Included ships arriving from Halifax and St. John’s. (PEIG 2 Jan p3 c3)
Jan 3 It is with extreme regret the wreck of the Schooner “Sally” endeavoured to make Charlottetown harbour to take in provisions, crew, etc but when within a few leagues of the latter place she was obstructed by a large field of ice, which prevented her entrance into it, where she was distinctly discerned from the town, driving about in different directions as impelled by the winds and tides. (Sunday) The wind shifted to the N.W. and blew a severe gale; continued with increased violence during the following night, when the ice driving against the vessel with extreme violence carried away the rudder, and stern post. Out of the whole number, four died. (PEIG 19 Jan 1818 p4 c1-3)
Mar 6 “The American sloop “Alert” Snow, from New York,, with a cargo of provisions etc., for the distressed inhabitants of St. John’s, Newfoundland, put into Pope’s Harbour on the 6th inst, in distress … The “Earl Bathurst”, Lt Stewart, sent from this port last week to afford her relief and supplies, has since returned with information that whenever the ice breaks up the sloop will proceed on her voyage.” (AR 14/03/1818 p3 #3)
Mar 21 Halifax, “The brig “Endeavour”, Scott, which arrived on Thursday, spoke a schooner on the 21st from Belfast for Newfoundland, full of passengers, which afterward put into Canso after having been 6 wks in the ice.” (AR 28/03/1818 p3#3)
Mar 23 The mail from Halifax (via Pictou by the Ice-boat) arrived on Monday last. (PEIG 28 Mar p4 c3)
Apr 18 The mail which was made up on Wednesday last for Halifax, left this place on Thursday. We have much reason to fear that the great quantity of floating ice, in the Strait, will prevent the Carrier from crossing for a few days to come. (PEIG 28 Apr p2 c3)
Apr 27 The mail which left this place upon the 16th for Pictou, (as we conjectured in our last Gazette,) as the ice in the Strait has greatly disappeared in the last two days. (PEIG 27 Apr p3 c3)
May 1 Pictou, arrived, the “Renovation” passed through the Gut of Canso. Large quantities of ice continues in the Straits of Newfoundland.” (AR 09/05/1818 p3 #1)
May 1 “The ship “Russian Company”, from London, with a cargo, was totally lost in the ice off Cape Chat.” (AR 27/06/1818 p2 #6)
May 4 “The ship “Susan”, from Liverpool for Mirimachi, was totally lost in the ice, 4th May last, near the Magdalen Is. Crew saved.” (AR 04/07/1818 p2 #6)
May 21 “A ship from Ireland, for Miramichi, was cast away among the ice, off Cape North on 21st ultimo, the crew reached the shore, two of them afterwards died with cold an fatigue; the ship’s name was the “Caroline”, of Port Medway.” (AR 06/06/1818 p 3 #2)