1852 Season
Dec 13 The Schooner “Waltron” from Halifax, arrived at Georgetown on the 13th inst. The “Armagent” from Halifax arrived Orwell Bay on the 16th inst. The “Unicorn” from St. John’s Nfld. went in to Orwell Bay at the same time. Three other schooners were in ice off St. Peter’s Island on the evening of the same day. Schr. “Margaret” with Mackay master from Boston bound to Pugwash…is frozen up in the ice off Point Prim. Schr. “Elizabeth” also frozen up in the same place. (RG.C 22 Dec p3)
Dec 25 December 25th Pictou, the schooner “Perserverance” is now frozen up at the entrance to our harbour. She came in for safety and the ice followed her and froze solid…The gulf is full of ice. Brigt. “Lady” from Nfld., also of Grand River, endeavouring to effect a passage through the ice. (RG.C 12 Jan 1852 p3)
Dec 29 PEI Ports closed. (RG.C 29 Dec p3)
Jan 5 Issue: Our paper, being disappointed in getting our supply of printing paper for the Royal Gazette which is now frozen up in Little Arichat. (RG.C 5 Jan p2)
Jan 12 Issue: Delay in mails owing to there being an immense mass of thick lolly on the other side of the Strait extending a distance of three miles. The wind shifted and the lolly cleared away by the end of the week. (RG.C 12 Jan p2)
Jan 12 Schr. “Success”, “Beagle” and “Frances” leave from Halifax bound for Souris are trapped in the ice off White Sands.” (RG.C 12 Jan p3)
Feb Halifax, Schr “Responsible”, form Boston, for P E Island, has been driven ashore near Plaister cove by the ice – crew and cargo saved. (NS 02/02/1852 p3 #5)
Feb Halifax The Campbelltown Correspondent of the Miramichi Gleaner says – “The “Courier” from Perce to Richigouche has informed me that when he left below there was a large bark and two schooners in the ice off Gaspe. The bark had her foretopsail and gib set. Two men by means of a small skift, got on board the bark and fond her laden with red pine. There were 60 bags of bread and about 20 barrels Flour, also the ship’s papers, on board. There appears nothing wrong with her but the loss of her rudder and part of the bowsprit. A crew of men are going on board with the intention of working her out of the ice and taking her to some port in Nova Scotia or Newfoundland, or, if they cannot clear her, to remain on board till the warm weather sets in. There was not a soul found on board yet, strange to say, none of the boats belonging to the ship are gone – all being in their proper places; so that what is become of the crew remains a mystery. The two schooners had not at last accounts, been boarded, consequently it is unknown whether there are any persons on board them or not.” (NS 01/03/1852 p76 #5)
Feb 2 Halifax: “Responsible” from Boston to PEI had been driven ashore by ice at Plaister [Plaster?] Cove; crew and cargo saved. (LL)
Mar 28 Halifax, Wednesday March 31 – schr “British Queen”, from Liscomb Harbour; reports Rev. schr “Daring”, hence arr. Canso 26th and sailed 27th for Sable Island – put back to Liscomb 28th on account of the ice – sailed again 29th for her destination. (NS 05/04/1852 p111 #3)
Mar 31 Halifax, Thursday April 1 – Rev. schr “Daring”, 24 hours from Sable Island ; reports Schr “Hope” of New London, abandoned, with sails bent and furled, no ballast, was driven on the N E Bar of Sable Island – was dismantled by the “Establishment” and has since gone to pieces. – on the 31st ult at 1 am a large three masted schr bound east, was nearly on shore , and would have been so had not “Daring” hoisted a light, which caused them to alter their course – a great quantity of large heavy ice between Sable Island and the Main ; also about the Island and to the S W – No late wrecks at the Island. (NS 05/04/1852 p111 #3&4)
Apr [From 1894:]”On the 22nd [April] reports state that Halifax harbour was completely blocked by heavy Gulf ice. 6 steamers and 50 sail vessels were detained in port on account of ice. No such blockade has occurred in the past 42 years.” [from April 1894 issue of MWR]
Apr Halifax, Friday April 16 – R. M. Steamship “Canada”, 48 hours from Boston, has 34 passengers – 18 for Halifax ; reports “Boston”, Sld on Saturday 10th inst for Halifax ; “Halifax”, hence at Boston, 10th inst ; “Canada” has experienced strong Easterly winds the whole passage ; encountered ice off Cape La Have ; saw yesterday at 4 30 pm off Brazil rock, “America” hence for Boston. (NS 9/04/1852 p127 #4)
Apr Halifax, Hull April 18 – … bargue “Aurora” from Boston for Pictou, was forced ashore by the ice near Pomquet Harbour ; and brigt. “Manilla”, from Halifax for Quebec, was cut through and sunk at Ship Harbour. (NS 17/05/1852 p159 #3)
Apr 9 Two vessels supposed to be the “Ottawa” and the “Montreal” seen in the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (LL)
Apr 22 Halifax Plaister Cove, Strait of Canso, April 22 – “Lady Bannarman” (schr) Kennedy, of P E I, in the ice all winter off Margaree and Cheticamp, arr. here 17th inst. The master reports that while at Cheticamp he observed a large ship in the ice, with some person from the shore 7 in all, started for the ship. After a tedious journey over the drift ice they boarded her and sound her to be the ship “Aberdeen” of Liverpool of about 800 tons burden, laden with Red Pine and Deals supposed for Quebec. There were no persons on board, all the boast and rudder gone, rudder casing gone, sails all gone but 3, vessel very much lumbered up with ice. The party intended to have remained, taken charge of the ship and brought her into port when the ice broke up, but finding no provisions on board but bread, they got discouraged and returned. A schr was also observed in the ice about 5 miles further off, but the party did not go to her. (NS 10/05/1852 p151 #3)
Apr 25 St. Lawrence navigation opened. (HH 03/05/1904 p7#5)
May 1 1st vessel cleared Charlottetown Harbour. (RG.C 10 May p3)
May 2 First steamer of season at Montreal. (HH 03/05/1904 p7#5)
May 3 Halifax, Strait of Canso, May 6, 1852 – The brig “Manilla”, from Halifax for Montreal, was totally wrecked here on Monday night the 3rd inst. She arrived here on Sunday evening and anchored at Ship Harbour ; the wind having hauled around to the NW drove in the drift Ice, which jammed her broadside. She lies in about 4 fathoms of water. Nothing has been done yet as the strait is filled with drift ice. (NS 24/05/1852 p166 #5)
May 8 Schooner “Lady” from St. John’s arrived Charlottetown. (RG.C 10 May p3)
May 22 Issue: Strait of Canso full of ice. (SCL)