In the winter of 1899, the Straits were practically open all winter. (Pat 12 Jan 1927 p 8#4)
In its 25 years Ago column, the Moncton Times reports from its issue of January 5th, 1901: Point du Chene - the steamer “Northumberland” made her last trip from Summerside to this port on the 3rd. This is the latest arrival of any steamer at this port although in the winter of 1899, the Straits were practically open all winter. (Pat 12 Jan 1927 p 8#4)
Jan 2 Perce, Quebec, the four men who were caught between the field of ice on Wednesday and carried seaward, have landed at the back of Bonaventure Island after much hardship and suffering intensely from the cold. (HH 21/01/1899 p1#6)
Jan 6 The passage of the “Stanley” on Saturday from Pictou to Georgetown was the roughest she has experienced for the past five years. No ice whatever was encountered but the sea rolled almost mountains high. (Pat 8 Jan p3#2)
Jan 14 The ice boats crossed at the Capes today in three hours and twenty minutes – a good run. This is the first crossing of the season. (Pat 14 Jan p3 col 3)
Jan 31 Thick ice Broad Cove, Cape Breton. (LL)
Feb SS “Minia” 44°22’N 59°W met large masses of field ice extending as far as the eye could see. (HB #494 Feb 15)
Feb 6 SS “Gaspesia” which left Paspebiac for St. John’s, NF is supposed to be fast in the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (HB #493 Feb 8)
Feb 8 SS “Bruce” arrived Louisburg reports she was 48 hours trying to get in to North Sydney. (New York Herald) Feb 10 The [recent] storm will seriously endanger the new Canadian liner “Gaspesia,” which when last heard from, was fast in an ice floe in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The gale will probably break up the ice and it would be impossible for the vessel to escape. It is hoped, however, that she was near enough shore to make harbor before the gale reached its height. (HH 11/04/1899 p1)
Feb 10 North Sydney, the SS “Bruce” is unable to come to North Sydney, owing to drift and harbor ice, and has gone to Louisburg, instead, where at any time of the year vessels have an open harbor, free from ice, to enter or depart from at will. (HH 13/02/1899 p5#3) (HB #494 Feb 15)
Feb 13 The “Stanley” was sighted this morning in the ice about five miles south of East Point. (Pat 13 Feb p3#3)
Feb 15 The floating ice in New York harbor during the past week has been the heaviest in several years past, and with the heavy winds which prevailed, it retarded harbor work to a great extent. (NYMR, p. 9, col. 3)
Feb 15 The heavy ice field in New York Harbor during the recent cold snap caused considerable deterioration to steamships, several of which that should have sailed on Feb 11 did not put to sea until Feb 14. Others were detained at their discharging berths, and several which were in the Erie Basin could not be removed for several days. (NYMR, p. 9, col. 4)
Feb 15 SS “Jamestown”, about 5 miles off Cape Henry, passed a fleet of 15 to 20 oyster schooners fast in the ice, drifting out to see; ran close alongside but saw no one. Met field ice from the Delaware Capes to New York. (HB #495 Feb 22)
Feb 15 SS “Snowflake” fell in with ice 15 miles ENE of Five Fathom Bank Lightship; met heavy ice off Cape Henlopen. (HB #496 Mar 1)
Feb 15 Captain Henry, of the steamer “Pro Patria,” who arrived yesterday from St. Pierre, Miq., via Louisburg, CB, reports having passed through very heavy ice between St. Pierre and Louisburg. The steamer was 22 hours forcing her way through the ice field. (HH 17/02/1899 p8#3)
Feb 17 Meat Cove, CB, says snow was falling yesterday and nothing could be seen from the Magdalen Islands. The steamer “Gaspesia”, when last seen was jammed in the ice five miles north of Deadman’s Island. ([HH?]17/02/1899 p1 bottom last)
Feb 19 SS “Kaisow” passed drift ice off Fenwick Island Shoal Lightship. (HB #496 Mar 1)
Feb 20 North Sydney, the steamer “Bruce” arrived to-day from St. John’s. She passed through hundreds of miles of heavy ice and reports the gulf completely blocked, so that there is no chance of the “Gaspesia” getting out for weeks. It would be impossible for sealing steamers to reach her. (HH 21/02/1899 p1#5)
Feb 22 At Provincetown, Mass., harbour icebound for the first time since 1875. (NYMR)
Feb 23 Schooner “Mystery”, Bodie Island lighthouse bearing WSW 20 miles, passed a large pan of ice 3 feet out of the water. (HB #497 Mar 8)
Feb 25 A dispatch from Meat Cove yesterday said the steamer “Gaspesia” was in sight, bearing northwest from Etang de Nord light, distant eight miles. The ice was close packed and stationary. (HH 25/02/1899 p8#1)
Feb 27 SS “Kildonan” 44°20’N 61°10’W passed between 2 large ice fields. (HB #497 Mar 8)
Mar 1 Steamer “Bruce” at North Sydney, CB, February 20 from St. John’s NF, while entering the former port had to force her way through ice ranging from 10 to 18 inches in thickness. (NYMR, p. 9, col. 5)
Mar 2 Prior to; Schooner “George Kendall” left Halifax for Burgeo a month ago, in company with the schooner “Sylph”, has been sunk by ice floes. Stuck in an immense ice field for 2 weeks off St. Pierre. (NYMR)
Mar 6 Late advises from SS “Gaspesia” before reported fast in the ice off Meat Cove, report her making an offing of 2 miles. She is expected to be released soon if the SE wind continues. (HB #497 Mar 8)
Mar 7 SS “Hope” left Port au Basques to go to the assistance of SS “Gaspesia” last reported enclosed in the ice off Amherst Point, Magdalen Island. (HB #498 Mar 15)
Mar 11 A dispatch from Meat Cove, CB states that SS “Gaspesia” is again in sight and has been boarded. She is jammed but not frozen in the ice and suffers no injury. (HB #498 Mar 15)
Mar 23 Meat Cove, heavy close packed ice stationary. St. Paul’s and Magdalene the same, but ice moving southeast. ([HH?] 23/03/1899 p8#2)
Mar 23 The steamer “Coban” bound from Louisburg for St. John got into ice off Cape Breton coast and put into Halifax yesterday with bow and plates damaged and rudder disabled. This is the third steamer of the Dominion Coal Company’s fleet to arrive at Halifax for repairs of damages sustained in the ice jams of Louisburg. (HH 24/03/1899 p4#1)
Mar 25 SS “Strathavon” 45°20’N 58°12’W passed patches of small broken field ice; 45°15’N 57°50’W passed a large field of small broken ice, closely packed. (HB #503 Apr 19)
Mar 25 SS Manchester Enterprise” 45°06’N 60°26’W to 45°17’N 59°35’W passed field ice. (HB #509 May 31)
Mar 26 SS “Lord Charlemont” 45°40’N 59°20’W met large masses of field ice which prevented our making North Sydney. (HB #507 May 17)
Mar 27 12 Schooners besides SS “Gaspesia” are reported to be jammed in the ice off Magdalen Islands. She is 7 miles SW of Amherst Island. (HB #500 Mar 29)
Mar 31 Schooner “Athur D Story” carried ashore by ice at Codroy near Cape Ray. (NYMR)
Mar 31 SS “Ceylon” for Louisburg arrived at Halifax having been unable to reach her destination on account of ice fields off the Cape Breton coast. (HB #501 Apr 5)
Mar 31 Whitehead, on Sunday, 26th inst, the S.S. “Bonavista,” from Halifax, bound to Louisburg, CB, met heavy gulf ice of Port Machaux [Michaud Point?], and had to return to this port. And on Tuesday, 28, they made an other [sic] attempt to reach Louisburg and after sailing through scattered ice for several miles were obliged to return to this harbor again, as they could not get to Canso or Chedabucto Bay, on account of drift ice. All along the coast east of Whitehead, is blocked with ice. Steamer “Sea Bird,” from Halifax, bound to Cape Breton, put in here to-day short of coal. They could not proceed any further eastward, on account of ice. Our harbor has been open to navigation all winter and is one of the best, if not the best in eastern Nova Scotia. The Gloucester fishing schooner “Conductor,” arrived here Monday evening, with a hole in her bow just under the water line, caused by collision with an iceberg off Canso. She had her damaged repaired here and proceeded to sea today, bound to the banks. (HH 01/04/1899 p1#2)
Apr 1 Prevented entering Louisburg – ice. (LL)
Apr 3 The steamer “Ceylon” which was damaged in the ice off Louisburg is at Dartmouth. About fifteen plates are damaged. (HH 03/04/1899 p8#1)
Apr 4 The steamer “Gaspesia” has been immovable in the ice off Etang du Nord since Friday. (HH 04/04/1899 p8#3)
Apr 6 The harbour was blocked with ice today and the “Stanley” had some difficulty in forcing her way out. (Pat 6 Apr p2#4)
Apr 12 Point du Chene, the heavy southwest wind of Saturday night and Sunday has driven the ice in the Northumberland Straits northward and blue water was seen. Navigation may be open earlier than was anticipated. The southwest wind will help it along. (HH 12/04/1899 p8#1)
Apr 15 On Saturday afternoon the schooner “Cymbeline” for the third time set sail for Louisburg and was compelled to return. Heavy ice lay off the coast as far east and west as could be seen from the masthead. Captain Stewart says that such heavy ice has not been known since 1872. That year he was compelled to remain in Louisburg from the first day of May until the twenty-second. So this year’s ice is something phenomenal. Bras d’Or Gazette. (HH 20/04/1899 p8#1)
Apr 17 Halifax, arrived. Steamer “Turret Bell” Baltimore, bound to Louisburg, was unable to reach destination on account of ice. (HH 18/04/1899 p7#1)
Apr 17 A St. John’s dispatch, dated the 17th says: The “Gaspesia” arrived at Trepasse on Saturday night assisted by the steamer “Kite.” I saw the Messrs. Brown this morning and got the following details: The “Kite” first came in he neighborhood of the “Gaspesia” about three weeks ago, but some days lapsed before she got there. At the time the ”Kite” had one thousand seals on board. Seals were plenty in the neighborhood, and the captain says he could have loaded his ship in a few days. At the request of the captain of the “Gaspesia,” he abandoned his voyage and took the “Gaspesia” in tow. The ice was very heavy and it was hard work to get the ship through, but he finally succeeded. When the “Kite” went to the “Gaspesia’s” assistance the latter was short of both coal and provisions and a few more days would have meant starvation for those on board. The wrecked vessel had received considerable squeezing during her detention in the ice; some of her frame timbers are badly broken and many of her beams smashed. Her rudder head is so broken that the vessel cannot be steered so that she was practically a wreck when the “Kite” took her in tow. (HH 20/04/1899 p8 #3)
Apr 19 Issue: SS “Portia” from St. John’s for New York via Halifax was ice bound at Cape Proile (Broyle !) Apr 17th; She put in there 14th. on account of the heavy ice crowding about the shoe. There was a tremendous amount of ice on the Newfoundland and Cape Breton coasts [ a dispatch from St. John’s states that the “Portia” was reported to have forced her way from the ice]. (NYMR)
Apr 19 SS “Micmac” 45°N 61°W passed drift ice. (HB #505 May 3)
Apr 20 The delay in opening of navigation in the St. Lawrence and the heavy ice still existing there is expected to cause many steamers to come to Halifax in the next three weeks which would otherwise have gone to Montreal. ([HH?] 20/04/1899 p8#3)
Apr 20 Louisburg, CB, Brig “Darpa,” of St. John, NB, from Oporto, Portugal, 36 days, bound to North Sydney, arrived here yesterday to repair rudder. The captain reports a heavy body of ice north of Scatarie. (HH 22/04/1899 p7#2)
Apr ~20 SS “Dominion” passed a few patches of field ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, not thick enough to stop a steamer; met much drift ice in the St. Lawrence River. (HB #505 May 3)
Apr 23 Quebec, the steamship “Amasis,” from Middlesborough, the first shipping arrival of the season, put into Indian Cove at 10 o’clock this morning. The Dominion liner “Vancouver,” from Liverpool, the first passenger vessel of the season via the St. Lawrence, passed Fame Point this morning and is due to arrive her to-morrow afternoon. She will be unable to proceed direct to Montreal as the ice above Quebec still holds firm. (HH 24/04/1899 p1#5)
Apr 24 The Canadian liner “Gaspesia,” arrived at S. John’s yesterday, convoyed by the sealer “Kite,” after being 80 days from Paspebiac, 75 of which she was frozen in ice floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The “Gaspeia” is considered damaged through being nipped among the floes. Her rudder being disabled she was steered by means of spars. (HH 25/04/1899 p8#1)
Apr 26 The SS “St. Olaf “ left Pictou Wednesday morning for Quebec; but encountered so much ice that she was obliged to abandon the undertaking and put into Georgetown, where she arrived yesterday morning. (Pat 28 Apr p3#2)
Apr 26 The canals of New York state were opened for navigation officially on April 26, the earliest opening in 14 years. (NYMR, p. 10, col. 1)
Apr 27 A dispatch to The Herald from Glace Bay says: a large steamer, supposed to be the “Grand Lake,” is caught in the ice off here to-day. She is about four miles out. Ice is moving south. A dispatch to The Herald from Louisburg says: The harbor is clearing. The ice off the coast is moving south. (HH 27/04/1899 p8#2)
Apr 28 The “Stanley” makes the last trip of the season today to Pictou. The mails go tomorrow via the Northumberland. (Pat 28 Apr p2#3)
May 1 SS “Marian” 47°38’N 60’50’W to the E end of Bryon Island passed much drift ice. (HB #506 May 10)
May 7 SS “La Normandie” 40°11’N 67°22’W passed within 6 miles of a large iceberg. (HB #510 Jun 7)
May 26 SS “Auriole” 43°25’N 57°W (approximately) passed a very small iceberg. (HB #510 Jun 7)