1874 Season
No mention of ice on Channel – Cape Ray area of Cabot Strait. (GR p.33)
No Northern ice at Bonne Bay this year. (GR p.85)
No mention of ice at Burgeo this year. (GR p.94)
Dec 3 Local ice formed Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Dec 11 The weather has been very changeable for the last few days. The snow has nearly all disappeared, and the travelling is far from good. The mails from abroad have also been irregular. A large mail was received via Georgetown, on Monday, and since then we have been without such communication from the other Provinces. The steamer “St. Lawrence” left this port for Pictou on both Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, and had to put back on account of the ice in the Straits. From the state of the weather last night, it is doubtful whether or not she will be able to put to sea again, owing to the ice in the harbour. (Pat 11 Dec p2#3)
Dec 25 The ice on the Hillsborough is getting firmer. Previous to Monday, foot-passengers only could cross. On the afternoon of that day some horses came over. The frost Monday night made everything secure, and since then horses were driven across with perfect safety except at the landing at Queen’s Wharf. (Pat 25 Dec p2#2)
Dec 28 Local ice formed Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
Jan Northern ice arrived Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
Jan 2 A telegram of Friday from Pictou to the Truro Sun says: – “Geldert’s sleigh, with fifteen passengers for Halifax train, broke through the ice this morning near Pictou side, wetting most of them. (Pat 3 Jan p2#)
Jan 9 Halifax, arrived, “Viola,” P E Island, reports was bound to a port in the British channel, put in here for repairs, was in the ice on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and leaking badly. (BC 10/01/1874 p3 #6)
Feb 4 Halifax: Schooner drifted ashore on Hound Ledges and became a total wreck. It is supposed that she was carried away from her moorings by ice. (LL)
Feb 14 Issue: An English mail and also Colonial and American mails were received here on Tuesday night. Last night another colonial and American mail come to hand. We understand the Couriers were nine hours in crossing yesterday. The straits are so packed with ice that three men crossed on foot last Thursday. (Pat 14 Feb p2#4)
Feb 19 Arichat: The “Tickler” thoroughly repaired and fully laden with dry fish cleared for Naples Jan 20, and dropped in the main roads, but drift ice set in and she is now frozen up at her anchorage, but in a perfectly safe position. (LL)
Mar 29 Halifax, arrived, Brigt “Leander,” reports was in the ice off Scatarie for eight days ; put into this port, leaking, for repairs. (BC 07/04/1874 p3 #6)
Apr Northern ice departed Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
Apr 2 There is no ice off the North Shore. Let the wind blow from whatever quarter it may, not a single floe can be seen from the New London Capes. (Pat 2 Apr p2#2)
Apr 3 Local ice cleared Bonne Bay. (GR p.85)
Apr 18 The steamer “Princess of Wales” started for Pictou this morning. She was more than two hours out, before she got past Point Prim. She must have had some difficulty in getting though the ice. I was feared that she would have to put back. (Pat 18 Apr p2#5)
Apr 18 Issue: A schooner arrived one day this week in Crapaud, from Shediac. Several vessels have been seen off Summerside. There is, we understand, a great deal of ice and lolly still in the Straits. (Pat 18 Apr p2#5)
Apr 19 At Cariboo Cove, CB, brigt “Wild Horse” was driven on shore by floating ice. (BC 25/04/1874 p3 #6)
Apr 20 Brig “Wild Horse” was driven ashore by floating ice at Cariboo, CB. (LL)
Apr 21 Gaspe, Quebec, schr “Speedy” left Point St. Peters for Quebec. This is the first vessel that has left the coast this season. The ice on the bay is breaking up fast, and had broken up at Little Cape ? 20 on the one side and Sandy Beach on the other. The gulf is clear of ice. A stiff breeze is prevailing from the northeast. The weather continues cold. (BC 28/04/1874 p3 #5)
Apr 23 Arichat, schr “Thetis E” from Philadelphia for Charlottetown, PEI put into Lennox passage on Sunday last, with loss of mainboom, mainsail and jib, having collided with ice off Canso. Her planks are stove and chafed an she is leaking considerably. (BC 28/04/1874 p3#5)
Apr 26 The “Carolus Magnus” from Liverpool to New York passed bergs and a quantity of drift ice; reports no ice in the Gulf of St.Lawrence
Apr 28 Steamer “Merlin” while on her 2nd sealing voyage put into this port last Monday. She had on board 700 old seals caught off St. Paul’s Island. Capt. Walsh, who has been in the seal fishery business for a number of years, says that he never saw the seals so thick, but could not get near them on account of the ice being unsafe to walk on. (BC 28/04/1874 p3 #1). (LL)
May 4 Local ice cleared Bay of Islands. (GR p.88)
May 5 SS “Dunraven” from Barrow to New York experienced a heavy gale in the Gulf of St.Lawrence; had boats damaged and bow stove in by heavy field ice. (see May 12). (LL).
May 12 Schooner “Marie Vigilante” from Cape St.Ignace to Montreal was totally destroyed by ice in the harbour. (LL)
May 12 SS “Dunraven” from Barroq [sic] to Quebec was carried from her moorings by ice and got aground but shortly afterwards floated undamaged. (LL).
May 13 “Castor” of Montreal, was sunk by ice at Quebec May 8. (NYMR, p.33).
May 13 “Georgia” of and at Quebec, had a hole stove in her side by ice May 8, and nearly filled with water. (NYMR, p.33).
May 13 “Royal” of and at Quebec, was sunk by ice May 8. Total loss. (NYMR, p.33).
May 13 “Rescue” was sunk by ice at Quebec May 8, and will probably be a total loss. (NYMR, p.33).
May 15 Issue: Ship “Harald Haarfager” was carried away by the ice at Quebec. (LL).
May 20 Ganges, from Hull, had her bows stove in by ice while lying alongside the wharf at Quebec May 12, causing the vessel to make water. She would proceed to Montreal and repair. (NYMR, P.33).
May 21 SS “Annie Goudey” at New York from Yarmouth, NS 45°N 48°W [unlikely position] passed large quantities of ice. (LL).