1866 Season
No mention of ice on Channel – Cape Ray area of Cabot Strait. (GR p.33)
Dec 9 The mail for this Island was brought here at a late hour on Saturday night by the “Princess of Wales” gallantly surmounting the obstructions which the fast making ice had placed in her way after steaming up the harbour. (Ex 11 Dec p2#4)
Dec 21 The Pictou Standard says that six men left that harbor on the 21st ult., in a small boat, for Prince Edward Island. “They were observed last on that day by some persons at the East end of Cariboo drifting to the westward, and embarrassed with the lolly which forms in winter. As they have not been heard of since, much anxiety is felt respecting their fate. Shortly after they were seen last, the weather became extremely cold and stormy. At the latest advices they had not arrived at Charlottetown, and it is not likely that they landed on any part of the main land. (NS 08/01/1866 p4 #4)
Jan 1 The route for the winter mails appears to be now in good travelling condition and the couriers pass backward and forward with their accustomed regularity. (Ex 1 Jan p2#5)
Jan 8 The Schooner “Jane” was boarded about five miles off Wood Islands, where she lay fast in drift ice, and in a destitute condition. (Ex 8 Jan p3#2)
Jan 23 By advices from Cape Tormentine, today, per mail, it is feared the Submarine Cable has been broken, as the indications there agree with those on this side. Strong “earth currents” from Cable. The operator at Cape Tormentine reports a heavy body of ice came down from the westward on Sunday, p.m. (Ex 29 Jan p2#6)
Jan 31 A small schooner, with name obliterated and said to be from 26 to 30 tons, and supposed to have drifted from some harbour of P.E. Island, was about the beginning of the year described floating in the drift ice on the north side of Cape George, with all materials on board, and chain to the bow; and had lately been in the coal trade. Some of the inhabitants of this place boarded and stripped her of all materials – cut the masts by the deck and the chain by the ice. She was also seen (about the 6th of January) off the Light House, Cape George, with fair wind to the Strait of Canso, where she may be interrupted by the inhabitants and saved. Cape George, Jan 31st, 1866 (Ex 26 Feb p2#3)
Feb 19 Gulf ice arrived Burgeo. (GR p.94)
Feb 20 North Sydney, Brigs “Orient,” and “Meteor,”, having been some time cutting through the ice got clear in the evening and sailed for St. John’s. 21st, the ice in the harbour as far as the Bar suddenly broke up, when the barque “M E Almon”, and the brig “Afton” Fein,, got clear and sailed. 22nd, no ice to be seen off the harbour. (NS 05/03/1866 p7 #4)
Mar 9 Gulf ice departed Burgeo. (GR p.94)
Mar 24 The Colonial and American mails – which had been detained on the other side for several days, owing to the impossibility of crossing over on the bad ice – were received here in great abundance early on Saturday evening. (Ex 26 Mar p2#4)
Apr 24 The “Commodore” lost in the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (LL).
May 3 Vessel struck ice off the Magdalen Is. and sank. (LL).