1856 Season
Dec 21 The packet “H. Ingram” arrived in our harbour on Friday morning, carrying the English mail, but owing to the ice, did not succeed in getting to the wharf till the afternoon. (Ex 24 Dec p2 c3)
Jan 21 Georgetown, PEI – This harbour is now clear of ice below the town and shipping can come up to the wharf thereby giving an opportunity for many vessels expected.” (NS 21/01/1856 p7 #2)
Feb The Brig “Speed,” from Sydney for Halifax, is reported to be lying at the mouth of Sydney River surrounded by Gulf ice and unable at present to proceed on her voyage.” (AR 09/02/1856 p3 #3) and (NS 18/02/1856 p7 #1)
Feb Suffering in the Gulf – We have just learned that the crew and passengers of the packet “H. Ingraham”, which left here (Charlottetown) on Christmas day with mails for Pictou and about whose safety considerable apprehension was felt – have endured the most painful suffering in their efforts to complete their voyage. After being driven about in the Gulf for two or three days by a storm and unable, from the drift ice, to proceed on passage they finally effected (yesterday, Sun) a landing on Governor’s Is which is uninhabited. Here they managed to construct a small camp and light a fire, but they were destitute of provisions, and had been so for two days. One search being made to procure some means of subsistence, the hinder part of a rabbit was discovered which was divided an shared into nine parts, amongst the sufferers. They remained all night on the island but part of the crew and passengers succeeded in reaching Squaw Point this morning (Monday) carrying with them the mails, which have been brought to town. – P.E.I. Examiner. (AR 09/02/1856 p3 #4)
Feb 4 Sheet Harbour … The ”Chieftain” is frozen in here.”(NS 04/02/1856 p7 #2)
Feb 12 Halifax, “ The schr “C.W. Wright” arr. at Canso on Tues. 12 inst from Newfoundland out 16 days, had been detained 8 days in the ice and crew all got frozen. (AR 16/02/1856 p3 #3) also (NS 18/02/1856 p7 #1)
Feb 17 Halifax, arrived Sun Feb 17 – R.M. Steamer “Canada”, Liverpool, G.B. 14 1/2 days, 90 passengers, 22 for Halifax – reports fell in with large quantities of ice on passage ; (AR 23/02/1856 p3 #3) also (NS 25/02/1856 p6 #4)
Feb 19 “The schr “Romp,” swain, master, from PE Island for Boston, went into Yarmouth Sound, 19th inst. with five feet water in her hold and in a disabled condition, having lost bowsprit and headsails in a gale off Mount Dessert previous day. The leak was about the bows, occasioned by carrying away the bowsprit; and as both anchors and chains had been thrown over to Lighten the vessel forward, when she came round Cat Island under foresail, wind NW, and attempt was made to run her ashore as far up as the Sound as the wind would permit her to go. Owing to drift ice she only got within hailing distance of the shore, and the vessel lies afloat in the ice above Sandy Point. The crew got on shore over the ice, and they have a line from the vessel to the shore. The probability is that both vessel and cargo will be lost unless the steamer “Eastern State” can reach her – an attempt is being made to cut the steamer through the ice. This is but one of a series of disasters that have befallen “Romp” on her present voyage. She left PEI some eight or ten weeks ago and had since been into both Halifax and Cape Negro for repairs.” (NS 03/03/1856 p7 #2)
Feb 20 Halifax, Arrived – Wed 20th – Am. steamship “Alabama,” from a cruise in search of the missing mail steamship “Pacific”, reports has visited the coast of Newfoundland as far as Cape Race, looked at Sable Is, and fell in with immense quantities of ice, in which she was detained some 36 hours ; has no tidings of the missing ship; (AR 23/02/1856 p3 #3) also (NS 25/02/1856 p6 #4)
Feb 22 Arrived Fri 22d -steamship “Etna”, Havre 17 days – reports saw little ice – put in for coal. (AR 23/02/1856 p3 #3)
Feb 24 Arrived St. John’s NF Feb 24 – Returned, brig “Benjamin Cushing”, (bound to Boston on account of ice, sailed from St John’s 11th) discharging cargo on account of damage received from ice, when “Ospray” left. (AR 15/03/1856 p3 #3)
Feb 24 Arrived Sun Feb 24 government schr “Daring”, 3 days from Sable Is. did not see any ice. (NS 31/03/1856 p6 #4)
Mar Halifax, arrived Brig “Bloomer,” which put into this port on Sun., sailed again on Mon. for Boston, reported having encountered immense quantities of ice. (AR 15/03/1856 p3 #3)
Mar Halifax, “Iris”, 11 days, passed immense quantities of ice between Cape Race and Isle of Sable as far south and west as 42°41’N and 59°30’W. (AR 29/03/1856 p3 #3)
Mar The brig “Speed,” bound to Halifax was driven from her anchors in the gale of Mon. night last and is a wreck on the west end of Battery Island. The crew landed on the Island and were not taken off until Tuesday evening, then with difficulty. The weather was so severe that had not they been rescued that day they would doubtless have perished. The vessel was not again boarded until the 13th inst, in consequence of ice. A crew is now employed in stripping the vessel and endeavoring to save the cargo. (Extract) of a letter from Louisburg dated March 15, 1856.” (NS 24/03/1856 p7 #1)
Mar New York …”Iris”, St. John’s Nfld, – passed immense quantities of ice between Cape Race and Isle of Sable, as far S and W as 42°41’N and 59°30’W…” (NS 31/03/1856 p7 #2)
Mar 3 Fri. 4th Schr “Beverly” … on 3rd March returned leaking badly, having got into ice in sight of St. Peter’s and received considerable injury. (AR 05/04/1856 p3 #3)
Apr Capt. Corbin steamer “Ospray “reports – passed through immense quantities of field ice which resulted in considerable injury to hull; St. John harbour was open … (AR 12/04/1856 p3 #2)
Apr 6 “French Mail schr “Orosoque”[?], 12 days from St. Pierre, Miq. reports has fallen in with immense quantities of ice.” (NS 14/04/1856 p6 #4)
Apr 7 Schr “Beverly” which left Halifax for Fortune Bay, Nfld, on 3rd Mar., has returned leaking badly, having gotten in to the ice in sight of St. Peter’s and received considerable injury. (NS 07/04/1856 p7 #2)
Apr 8 “R M steamship “Ospray”, 4 ½ days from St. John’s NF – [h]as passengers; reports passed through immense quantities of field ice which resulted in considerable damage to hull; …” (NS 14/04/1856 p6 #4)
Apr 10 “Empire” 43°N 57°W a field of ice 12m long. (LL)
Apr 17 Provincial schr “Daring”, from Louisbourg, reports saw ice on the coast. (NS 21/04/1856 p6 #4)
Apr 18 Schr “John”, 15 days from Fortune Bay, NFld, … reports saw large quantities of ice on the passage.” (NS 21/04/1856 p6 #4)
Apr 18 Magdalen Is.: Gulf now clear of ice. (LL)
Apr 27 From Newfoundland – The schooner “Narraguagus”, from Fortune Bay, NF, 25th ult via St. Pierre 27th, arr at this port 4th May. Capt. Rich reports that the mail packet at St. Pierre was so much injured by the ice on her last passage that the Governor had ordered one of the men of war to take her mails to Halifax. The vessel was to sail on the 28th. There were 200 sail of French fishermen at St. Pierre waiting for bait as herring could not be obtained there being so much ice in the harbor. Capt. Rich reports that there has not been so small a catch of herrings on the coast of Newfoundland for many years, the bays and harbors having been so full of ice. Herring were selling at St. Pierre at 35 francs per barrel. There is now but little ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Boston Adv. (AR 10/05/1856 p2 #6)
Apr 27 Pictou, Apr 27 – … No arrivals through the Strait of Canso – Strait and Antigonish Bay obstructed by ice. (NS 12/05/1856 p6 #5)
May Strait of Canso continues to be obstructed by ice so as to debar the passage of vessels. (NS 19/05/1856 p 6 #6)
May 1 “By private letters received yesterday from Magdalen Islands, under the date 1st May, … The coast round the islands has been clear of ice for some time. – Colonist” (AR10/05/1856 p2 #6)
May 4 R. M. Streamer “Ospray”, St. John’s Nfld, reports saw no ice on the passage. (AR10/05/1856 p2 #6)
May 5 We understand that the Gut of Canso is completely blocked up with ice, which accounts for the non-arrival of the spring vessels at this port. (Ex 5 May p2 c3)
May 11 Pictou, arrived, “Voltiguer”, Glasgow, – was 9 days in the ice in the Strait of Canso. (NS 6/05/1856 p6 #6)
May 24 Quebec: “Wanderer” arrived here from Leith, passed an immense quantity of ice and many vessels in it, near St. Paul’s. (LL).