1833 Season
Nov Quebec, Dec 28- The “Mountaineer”, hence on the 25th ult for London, is a total wreck about 3 miles below Cape Chat, caused by the great quantity of ice she had to encounter. A letter from Capt. Jackson states that the ice carried his vessel on shore 3 times previous to her being finally wrecked. The crew are all saved an are busily engaged in recovering as much as possible from the wreck. (NS 17/01/1833 p23 #2)
Jan 1 The “Union”, “Maria”, “Equity” arrived at Three Rivers from Halifax and the “Victory” from Newfoundland has arrived at Bay Fortune. (RG.C 1 Jan p3 c4)
Jan 1 The “Gaspé Courier” arrived yesterday, saw a bark off Fox River, a little above Cape Rozier, the 1st of January, about a league and a half from the shore. The Gulf was full of ice, and she was drifting down in the midst of it, with her sails furled to the yards. (Quebec Mercury #12. Tuesday, 29 Jan 1833)
Jan 29 Sailed from Halifax, the “Calypso”, Packet and other vessels, it is feared came into contact with ice. (LL).
Feb Halifax, the Packet met with much ice at the entrance of the port, but when the southerly wind sprung up on Sun she pressed through it as far as York Redoubt. The Mails were taken out of her by the Agent of the Packet, and brought to town from Point Pleasant. Soon after the Steam boat forced herself through the ice, took the Packet in tow and brought her up the harbour. Several other vessels which were in the offing came upon Monday through the same channel. – Journal” (NS 21/02/1833 p43 #2)
Feb 26 It appears that the “Emulous” packet met with much field ice on the coast of Nova Scotia; and in 43°N, 49°W surprised by falling in with a large quantity of strongly packed ice which reduced the vessel’s way to 6½ and 7 knots from 9 knots. On Mar 4 fell in with 3 bergs of large dimensions in a run of 95m and at 9 the same evening passed the easternmost of these. [LL states 2 & 2½ knots and a run of 25m]
Mar 23 “Extract of a letter from the Superintendent of Sable Island, dated Mar 23, 1833 … The winter here has been uncommonly cold, from the 14 Jan to the 10th Mar; ducks, rabbits and horses have perished from the severity of the weather; it is now very fine. …” (NS 14/04/1833 p115 #2)
Apr 16 The boat had effected a passage across the Hillsborough. This was not, however, accomplished without difficulty, and the passage is still much impeded by the quantity of ice in the river. As the ice is now, however, completely detached from the shore, we have no doubt but the first easterly wind will completely rid us of it. The entrance to the harbour is free of ice, but we understand there is considerable accumulation of ice between the Islands in the bay. (RG.C 16 Apr p3 c4)
Apr 23 Our harbour is now clear of ice and the stir upon the wharf where several vessels are loading with grain etc is already considerable. On Friday last, a vessel arrived from Pictou and another from Tatamagouche, being the first which entered our harbour this Spring. (RG.C 23 Apr p3 c3)
May ? “The rivers, we are glad to find are breaking up in all directions. The St. Lawrence may be said to be now open for navigation from Lake Ontario to the sea. …Quebec Paper” (NS 02/05/1833 p134 #1)
May “Charlotte town Gaz. – Our schrs were on Friday last saluted with the unwanted [?] sound of the Ferryman’s horn announcing at its loudest pitch, that the boat had effected a passage across the Hillsborough. This was not accomplished without difficulty, and the passage is still much impeded by the quantity of ice in the river. As the ice is now, however, completely detached from the shore we have no doubt but the but the first easterly wind will rid us of it. The entrance to the harbour is free of ice but we understand there is considerable accumulation of it between the Islands in the bay.“ (NS 02/05/1833 p134 #1)
May Arrived at Pictou, “Henry and Enterprise”, hence; “Mercator”, Greenock; “Belvidera”, “Tom Bowline”. Spoke on the 12th inst the brig “Carron” from Dublin bound to Quebec, out 36 days. The Capt. stated that he had run 60 mi to the southward along the ice. On the 16th spoke the brig “Traveller” of Kirkaldy bound to Quebec, out 39 days having picked up the crew and passengers of the “Thetis” which vessel was wrecked among the ice. On the 8th inst fell in with large icebergs in long 41°41’. (NS 29/05/1833 p163 #1)
May At Miramichi, Aberdeenshire, Pictou, 3 days ; “Brothers”, Newcastle; “Gracian”, “Susan”, and “Romanoff”, London; “Ann Grant”, Greenock; “Carleton”, “Marnier” and “Oxford”, Port Glasgow; “Viatic”, Sunderland; “Arethusa”, Grangemouth; “Roscoe”, Leitch. All the vessels that have arrived there have had long and boisterous passages and in the Gulf, encountered considerable quantities of ice, several have been seen fast bound in large fields, drifting about; and the continuation of Easterly winds tends to retain the ice on the coast. From the fearful accounts given by the Shipmasters, of the weather, it is much to be feared we shall soon hear of losses. …- Gleaner” (NS 29/05/1833 p163 #1)
May A continuation of Shipwrecks – It may be truly said, that on our coasts this Spring, Wreck crowds wreck, “as in a raging flood, wave urges wave?” – as in addition to the loss of the Barque “Ranger’, of Bristol, for Miramichi, in the ice off Cape North, and of the ship “Hope”, from London for Quebec, on Flint Island, – as reported in our previous numbers, – we regret to have to report that the Ship “Volunteer”, from Cork bound to Quebec, with 167 passengers, which vessel went on shore at a place called Framborsia or Framboise, to the westward of Gabarus Bay on the morning of Thursday the30th ult. The “Volunteer” went to pieces during the succeeding night : – the crew and passengers, however, were all saved and have since come by land to Sydney – the latter, especially , in great distress. The Volunteer, a short time previously to her having been wrecked, picked up at sea the Jolly Boat of brig “Gleaner”, from Greenock bound to King’s Cove in NF, …that vessel having on her passage struck a piece of ice, almost immediately went down. The crew of the “Gleaner”, from Greenock were on board the “Volunteer” when she struck , and were saved with all others on board that vessel. ..” (NS 26/06/1833 p206 #4)
May Account of various shipwrecks including the “Albion” in early May or June. Two vessels lost early May in ice near Miramichi. (RG 2 July).
May 2 Schr “Sabina”, from N. York, via Halifax, succeeded in landing cargo at Sydney Mines on 8th inst and taking on coals with which she was ready to sail as soon as ice would permit…” (NS 02/05/1833 p134 #2&3)
May 11 Barque “Ranger” sunk by ice in the mouth of the St. Lawrence. (SCL)
May 11 “Melancholy Shipwrecks Loss of the barque “Ranger” in Ice – The Capt. and crew of barque “Ranger”, from London, 42 days out, in ballast, and bound for Miramichi, reached this place Wed last in their long boat, that vessel after having been five days in the ice, while attempting to proceed up the Gulf of St. Lawrence, unfortunately struck piece of sunken ice on the 11th inst when not from distance from Cape North and immediately went down, leaving scarcely time for those on board to get a boat out to preserve their lives; and who were not enabled to save either possessions or clothes. They proceeded in their boat to Ingnish [sic] where they were kindly treated and thence to Sydney, where they arrived, as above mentioned.- Sydney Pap.” (NS 05/06/1833 p171 #1&2)
May 20 Issue: “Sir J. Beresford” arrived at Liverpool from Quebec, sailed Apr 24, met no obstruction from ice either in the River or Gulf, but out of the Gulf was 5 days in the ice driving 120m. On May 5, not 1 vessel in the Gulf. (LL)
Jun 5 Issue: Brigs “Catherine” and “Margaret” lost in presumably Gulf ice. (SCL).
Jun 10 From Mitford: The “Prince Regent” from Miramichi, May 12, passed large fields of ice and icebergs, one she struck, and was surrounded and enclosed in ice for 2 days. (LL).