1903 Season
Nov 4 Last eastbound steamer through the Strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)
Jan SS “A.R. Thorp”, on the voyage from Sydney toward St. John, NB, encountered immense ice floes in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, extending beyond the range of vision. It took the steamer 18 hours to work through the ice, some being forced over the rail, carrying away a section of the bulwarks. (HB #700 Jan 28)
Jan 7 Seven American vessels arrived in the Arms the past week (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 3)
Jan 7 The Humber Arm was again frozen up … the ice extending well out to McIves Point. (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 3)
Jan 13 At 2:00 the “Stanley” was observed from Summerside to be moving slowly through the ice. At 3:30 the “Stanley” was reported out of sight from Summerside (Pat 13 Jan p1#5)
Jan 13 Afternoon the “Minto” made an attempt to reach Amet Island, and got as far as Cape John, seven miles off. Finding the straits blocked with heavy ice and that it would be impossible to reach the light house before dark the captain decided not to risk the lives of the crew in landing and made for Georgetown. This morning he left the latter port at 6:00 so as to have ample time and daylight to reach Amet. A red light had been burning for three days on the ice near that island. (Pat 14 Jan p10#3)
Jan 14 The “Stanley” is visible from Summerside. She changed her position somewhat yesterday, but remained in the night in the same position as the previous night. Teams went out today and took off the passengers and the mail. (Pat 14 Jan p1#3)
Jan 20 The Cape Breton Electric Company were obliged to discontinue their ferry service to-day, and the local train between Sydney and North Sydney is now running. The strait of Canso is full of ice to-day, and it is impossible for the ferry steamer “Scotia” to make a landing as the docks are blocked with ice. (HH 20/01/1903 p1 #2)
Jan 20 The “Minto” arrived Georgetown at 6:30 pm last evening. She met with heavy ice on the way over and was stuck fast for several hours. (Pat 21 Jan p8#2)
Jan 21 A very solid body of ice now stretches from the mouth of the Humber to Frenchman’s Cove. This ice will probably bridge the Humber until the spring break-up. (TWS, The Bay of Islands, Col. 5)
Jan 24 North Sydney, the steamer “Bruce” arrived here at midnight, after an eight hour trip from Port au Basque. She reports encountering thirty miles of fairly heavy drift ice in the gulf. (HH 21/01/1903 p1#5)
Jan 24 The “Stanley” got clear of the ice off Sea Cow Head sometime during the night and is now making her way down the straits. (Pat 24 Jan p4#3)
Jan 25 Steamer “A R Thorp” (Nor), from Sydney, CB, arrived today and reports immense ice floes in Gulf of St. Lawrence, extending beyond the range of vision, evidently Arctic ice, which has been forced through the Straits of Belle Isle and driven south. It took the steamer 18 hours to work through the ice. Some being forced over the rail, carrying away a section of bulwarks. (NYMR, p.9, col.5)
Jan 25 “Stanley” is fast in the same body of ice that surrounded her at Sea Cow Head. The pack is about 2 miles by one, made up of drift ice piled in clumpets, and cemented by the recent heavy frosts. The Steamer is about a mile from open water. The ice is piled to a depth of from 15 to 18 feet deep underneath the stern and propeller. The steamer broke loose from Sea Cow Head at one o’clock Saturday and drifted all day and passing about three quarters of a mile from Carleton Head. (Pat 26 Jan p4#3)
Jan 28 Bonne Bay is completely frozen up. 1 American and 3 Canadian fishing vessels are locked in the ice. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 3)
Jan 28 SS “Bruce” steamed through 15 miles of heavy ice on her last trip across the Cabot Strait. (TWS, Brief and Newsy, Col. 6)
Jan 28 SS “Minia” 45°25’N 59°40’W to 45°40’N 58°40’W passed through small patches of ice. (HB #705 Mar 4)
Jan 28 Low Point, NS: The first gulf ice observed this season has been passing eastward some distance off the coast since yesterday. This is the earliest appearance for fifteen years, its presence being recorded on two occasions only during the month of January in that period. Ice was first observed on March 8th last year, and disappeared March 17th, the coast remaining clear afterwards. (Pat 28 Jan 1903 p1#6)
Jan 29 Gulf ice flowing out early, could be earliest in 20 years if keeps up. (LL 29 Jan)
Feb SS “Indiana” from Sydney toward Philadelphia reports that after leaving Sydney passed through 60 miles of heavy field ice extending nearly to the Gut of Canso. (Baltimore Sun) (HB #703 Feb 18)
Feb 2 St. John’s Nfld., according to official advices there is no hope for the ten American and three colonial fishing vessels with cargo of herring which are frozen in an ice floe in the Bay of Islands, escaping until spring. The proposal to dispatch a sealing steamer to cut out these vessels has been abandoned because the whole Gulf of St. Lawrence is full of floe ice, which the schooners would be unable to work through even if they were freed from the ice field in the bay. (HH 04/02/1903 p1#6)
Feb 2 Mr. Walsh, returned to the city yesterday from the “Stanley” which they left still fast in the ice off Rice Point about 9 miles from the entrance to Charlottetown harbour. They took 100 lbs of dynamite and started blasting at once. As a result of the “shooting” a series of holes from 4 to 6 feet across and forming a trench 40 feet long ahead of the steamer had been blown out. Measurements were taken while Mr. Walsh was there, in a line from the steamer to the nearest open water. For 95 yards the ice is piled and rafted to a depth of 18 feet. At 100 yards there are from 4.5 to 8 feet level ice. At 180 yards they found ice ranging from 8 feet to an unknown depth. At 10 feet they were unable to punch through. Mr. Walsh thinks that with 600 lbs of 65% dynamite the steamer could be released. When they boarded her on Thursday she was heading northwest and drifting west at the rate of one mile to three miles an hour. She kept going at that rate until 9:00 pm when she was off Cape Traverse. Then the wind shifted from the north east to the north west rising to a gale which took the steamer back to the eastward again carrying her down the Gulf until the field was stopped by the ice off Rice’s Point. (Pat 2 Feb p1#4)
Feb 4 Two iceboats could be seen gliding along the smooth surface of the broken ice. No quicker way for getting around could be devised, that is when the ice is good. (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 3)
Feb 5 Schooner “Bohemia” left Bonne Bay, NF, Jan. 22, reports being in the ice 3 days. First met ice 20 miles N of St. Pauls Island and got clear of it in 45°N. which was the southern limit. At that time he saw a schooner and steamer in the ice making little headway. The U.S.R.C. “Seminole” left Boston Feb. 3 to attempt to break out of the ice 8 American fishing vessels in the Bay of Islands. (HB #702 Feb 11)
Feb 5 The “Stanley” is now visible from the boat house at Cape Traverse – 11 miles north west. (Pat 5 Feb p1#4)
Feb 5 St. John’s, NF: According to official advices there is no hope of escape until spring for ten American and three colonial fishing vessels with cargoes of herring which are frozen in an ice floe in the Bay of Islands. The proposal to despatch a sealing steamer to cut them out has been abandoned because the whole of the Gulf of St. Lawrence is full of floe ice which the schooners would be unable to work through even if they were freed from the ice field in the bay. (Pat 10 Feb p1#2)
Feb 6 SS “A R Troop” from Sydney, bow plates damaged by ice off Scaterie. (NYMR)
Feb 6 SS “Sif” which left Louisburg Jan. 31 reports much ice E of Cape Breton. (HB #702 Feb 11)
Feb 9 SS “Cohen” from Sydney reports having met with a stretch of 30 miles of ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (HB #702 Feb 11)
Feb 9 St. John’s Nfld., the steamer “Corban” from Sydney arrived here to-day and reports having met with a stretch of 10 miles of ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (HH 10/02/1903 p1#1)
Feb 11 Ottawa, officials of the marine department have been anxious for some days for the safety of the government steamer “Stanley,” which has been in the ice of Northumberland Straits for over a month. The agent of the department at Charlottetown wired to-day that the “Stanley” had been sighted, and that he would visit her immediately and suggest what steps should be taken to extricate the vessel. (HH 12/02/1903 p1#2)
Feb 13 Pictou, the steamer “Minto” left Pictou for Georgetown Tuesday morning and arrived back here safely yesterday afternoon. Captain Finlayson tells that on the return trip from Georgetown he sighted the steamer “Stanley” high and dry on a large pan of ice between Wood Island and Pictou Island. He could not get within four miles of her as the “Minto” was loaded with freight and had over100 passengers, so he proceeded to Pictou, and received order here to load with coal and proceed to the relief of the “Stanley.” The violent storm of last night had likely blown the large sheet of ice in which the “Stanley” was imbedded nearer to the Nova Scotia coast. (HH 14/02/1903 p1#2)
Feb 16 SS “Minia” 45°18’N 58°57’W met the gulf ice and steamed N 15 miles along the eastern edge of it, when, ice getting heavier and no signs of clear water to N or W, turned S, skirting the edge of the ice. 17th, 45°09’N 60°30’W passed through slob ice. (HB #705 Mar 4)
Feb 18 The SS “Bruce” is doing good work in the Cabot Strait this winter. Nearly every trip the ship steams through 40 and 60 miles of heavy ice. (TWS, Current Topics, Col. 6)
Feb 18 The steamer “Regulus” reports that she met with immense bodies of ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. (Pat 18 Feb p1#2)
Feb 19 Schooner “Priscilla Smith” from Placentia Bay reports that when 30 miles SE from Scatteri encountered heavy field ice, the vessel remaining in the ice for 2 days. (HB #704 Feb 25)
Feb 20 St. John’s: The revenue cutter “Seminole” which has made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the ice-bound American fishing schooners at the Bay of Islands. Left Channel Harbour last night and is presumably returning to Boston, fearing being caught in the ice pack which is driving along the coast and blocking it. She will have to make a long detour eastward to avoid meeting the floes in which the ice-breaking steamer “Bruce” is now frozen in near Sydney. The schooners are now helpless till spring. (HB #704 Feb 25)
Feb 22 Heavy ice on Cape Breton coast. (LL 3 Mar)
Feb 23 The steamer “Lady Laurier,” the latest addition to the Canadian government’s fleet, arrived yesterday afternoon from Glasgow. The “Lady Laurier” met floating ice on the Banks, west of the Virgin Rocks, and had to go out of her course fifteen miles to the south to get round it. Off Cape Breton coast heavy ice again was met, which made a detour necessary. Heavy head winds were experienced and the steamer is badly iced up. One day she had 40 tons of ice forward. (HH 23/02/1903 p1)
Feb 23 Charlottetown, the steamer “Stanley” has been stuck in the ice and out of service since the 14th of January – now forty days. Since then she has drifted down the Straits fast in a pan of ice to a point east of Pictou Island. She is still fast in the same ice field. Ten days ago the steamer “Minto” started to her relief, became fast and is still fast. The “Minto” had 54 passengers on board, nineteen of whom were women. These were taken off by iceboats on Saturday, and landed on Pictou Island. The remainder of the passengers will also be landed. Saturday’s report was that this steamer may not be floated for a month. The report received by the agent of marine at Charlottetown yesterday, says there is no chance for either steamer to be released till there comes a heavy southerly wind, with mild weather. (HH 24/02/1903 p1#3)
Feb 23 Louisburg, the steamer “Bruce” arrived here Saturday evening, being six days out from Port au Basque. She failed to make North Sydney on account of the ice. (HH 24/02/1903 p1#2)
Feb 23 Mr. Walsh with his relief crew landed here last evening. The position of the steamer is as reported the last two days. He found the “Stanley’s” crew all well and put on board provisions and oil, but could not give her coal. She is still in the original pan of ice from Sea Cow Head. The “Minto” has plenty of provisions. He took 19 of her passengers ashore to Pictou Island. With the exception of one man who came to Pictou, they all aim at getting over to High Bank in dories belonging to the lobster factories. He left 35 passengers still on board the “Minto”. The relief crew travelled about 24 miles yesterday over the Gulf ice. There is no chance for the steamer to move until there comes a heavy southerly wind with mild weather. High Bank is about seventeen miles from Pictou Island. (Pat 23 Feb p1#3)
Feb 24 A despatch from Truro states that several passengers from the ice-imprisoned steamer “Minto” arrived in Truro yesterday, and they tell a weird story of life on board ship. Nineteen left the steamer Saturday and walked six miles on the ice to Pictou \Island, thence to Carribo; from where they were driven to Pictou. (HH 25/02/1903 p10#3)
Feb 26 Pictou, the ice blockade on the straits of Northumberland had been partially raised. For forty-four days the government steamer “Stanley” had been drifting the ice-packed strait between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and for twelve days the government steamer “Minto,” which went to her assistance, was in an equally helpless position. To-day, so far as the “Minto” is concerned, the blockade was raised, that steamer being able to get close enough to put forty tons of bunker coal aboard the “Stanley” and then to get away and reach Georgetown, P E Island. The two steamers effected a junction off Arisaig, east of Pictou. The “Minto” had sixty passengers, which previously had been landed over the ice. While out of coal the “Stanley” was at the mercy of the element, when the first break in the ice jam should occur. She will now economise her coal supply and wait for a chance to free herself. (HH 27/02/1903 p11#5,6)
Feb 28 SS “Lady Gray” on the eastern edge of Banquereau Bank met an immense mass of field ice forcing it to make a more southerly passage. (HB #706 Mar 11)
Mar 3 Pictou, the steamer “Minto” left Georgetown at 7 o’clock Saturday morning with one hundred tons of coal for the steamer “Stanley.” She reached the ice in which the “Stanley” is stuck and about a mile from her, at 9:30 a.m., she commenced to break the ice to get nearer the “Stanley.” About noon while breaking the ice she stripped all the blades off her propeller. The ice this part was about four feet thick. Both ships are now in the ice field, about four miles south-east of Cape George, drifting at the mercy of the wind and ice. The “Minto” is fastened to the same pan of ice that the “Stanley” is imbedded in and about half a mile from her. Coal and provisions are being transferred from the “Minto” to the “Stanley.” The “Stanley” is the same position in the ice field as when he left Summerside. The purser and pilot of the “Minto” landed at Cape George on Monday, and arrived in Pictou on Monday night. They report all well on both boats, with plenty of provisions and coal. The chances are that the boats will remain in the ice until the “Stanley” thaws out and tows the “Minto” to port. It was fortunate that they were able to fasten the “Minto” to the pan of ice, otherwise she would have been carried away by Saturday night’s gale. (HH 04/03/1903 p1)
Mar 4 Latest From Steamers – Mr. Lord sent the following dispatch also, this morning, Maurice town, Cape George reports open water to the pan in which the steamers are, wind southwest. (Pat 4 Mar p1#4)
Mar 5 “Minto” and “Stanley” off Cape George light. (Pat 5 Mar p1#6)
Mar 6 St. John’s: Sealing steamer “Algerine” bound for the seal fishery in the Gulf was caught in an ice floe and driven on a reef near St. Pierre. There is considerable ice about the Grand Banks, and the ice-fields are extending towards the coast. (NYMR)
Mar 6 At 7 o’clock last evening the “Patriot” bulletin board announced the welcome news that the sealing steamer “Newfoundland” would leave Port Mulgrave this morning for the relief of the “Stanley”. Owing to the ice jam between the “Minto” and “Stanley” and the Gut of Canso it will be necessary for the Newfoundland to sail round Cape Breton and approach the Island steamers by way of Cape North. (Pat 6 Mar p1#6)
Mar 7 SS “Yola” from Boston to Sydney saw heavy pack ice about 6 miles off Scatari Island, which appeared to be very thick and impassable; it extended in a NW and SE direction. On rounding Flint Island the ice was still discernible. There was no ice close to the coast. (HB #707 Mar 18)
Mar 7 North Sydney, Steamer “Newfoundland” Gone to Rescue the Government Boats; The steamer Newfoundland” passed Sydney light at 11 o’clock to-day bound north. She apparently will try to enter the Gulf by way of Cape North. The ice is reported very heavy and close-packed in the Gulf and impassable by any steamer. The “Newfoundland” may work along the shore to Cape North to-day, but will get stuck there unless a strong southerly gale should come up and last long enough to drive the ice off the Gulf shore of Cape Breton, which would enable her to get up along the coast. (HH 09/03/1903 p1#2)
Mar 7 The steamer “Newfoundland” sailed south [?] yesterday morning. The ice jam still holds good at the northern entrance of the strait. (Pat 7 Mar p1#2)
Mar 7 A North Sydney dispatch of the 7th says – The steamer “Newfoundland” passed Sydney light at 11 o’clock today bound north. She apparently will try to enter the Gulf by way of Cape North. The ice is reported very heavy and close packed in the Gulf and impassable by any steamer. The “Newfoundland” may work along the shore to Cape North today but will get stuck there unless a strong southerly gale should come up and last long enough to drive the ice off the Gulf shore of Cape Breton, which would enable her to get up along that coast. (Pat 11 Mar p3#2)
Mar 9 Meat Cove, CB, the sealing steamer “Newfoundland” passed Aspy Bay last Saturday evening bound east. She could be seen yesterday north of St. Paul’s Island, heading north, but making no headway. The ice is very heavy, and the gulf appears to be full of it. (HH 10/03/1903 p3#4)
Mar 9 A despatch from St. Paul’s Island yesterday stated that the steamer “Newfoundland” is fast in the ice and at 9 pm was drifting east of St. Paul’s Island. [According to this despatch the “Newfoundland” is somewhere between Cape North, the northernmost point of Cape Breton and Cape Ray the southwest point of Newfoundland in the vicinity of St. Paul’s Island, 15 miles northeast of Cape North. The last report received of the “Minto” and “Stanley” was on Saturday. It stated that they were west of Cape George. The “Newfoundland” appears to be about 120 miles from them. She is drifting towards the Atlantic Ocean.] A despatch received today from Pictou states – “Minto” and “Stanley” can be seen from Pictou this morning in same pan of ice off the coast at Arisaig. There is about a mile and a half of ice at the mouth of Pictou harbour. The rest of the straits so far as can be seen from Pictou is nearly all open water. (Pat 10 Mar p1#3)
Mar 10 Mulgrave, the steamer “Bruce,” from Placentia, arrived here last night, making the run from Placentia to Mulgrave in 32 hours. After getting clear of the ice in Placentia Bay she had clear water to Mulgrave. She sailed for St. John’s to-night, where she will go into dry dock to repair damages sustained on the last trip from North Sydney in cutting her way through one hundred miles of heavy ice. (HH 12/03/1903 p11 #5)
Mar 11 St. John’s, Nfld., Norman Ross and Frank Carter, masters of two vessels of the American herring fleet, which is frozen in the ice floes in the Bay of Islands, arrived here this morning after having trudged 96 miles across the snow fields in the interior. They were four days on the march, and were accompanied by three other travelers and two guides, who dragged a sledge with their stock of provisions. They reached the railroad on the morning of the fifth day, footsore and weary. They had to adopt this expedient to return to Gloucester, Mass; the Bay of Islands and the whole western slope of Newfoundland being blocked by ice floe. The travelers report that there are immense snow drifts in the interior and that traffic on the western divisions of the railway has been abandoned for the past month, not a wheel moving it is also difficult to clear the track, owing to the trouble of pushing forward supplies for the working parties. (HH 12/03/1903 p1)
Mar 11 The splendid ice now on the Humber is giving lots of exhilarating sport… (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 5)
Mar 11 William Harris the light house keeper at Cape Bear telephoned to Mr. Lord today as follows: – “Both steamers off Cape Bear Light. Would judge not farther than six miles. “Minto” is west of “Stanley” latter does not seem to have her steam up.” According to this despatch the steamers are about fifteen miles from Georgetown and still drifting in that direction. (Pat 11 Mar p1#4)
Mar 12 SS “Bruce” at St. John’s from Sydney having met an unusual stretch of ice floes. She went outside Sable Is., yet ran through 60m of heavy floe-ice, 10′ thick. (NYMR & HB #707 Mar 18)
Mar 12 Pictou, it was reported here this evening that the “Stanley had succeeded in getting clear of the pan of ice in which she has been lying so long and joined the “Minto,” taking the latter in tow. Their position is about six miles south-east of Cape Bear. (HH 13/03/1903 p1#1)
Mar 12 The “Stanley” has got clear of the ice six miles east of Cape Bears and is alongside the “Minto”. Very heavy ice to the eastward. The above telephone message came to Mr. Lord at noon from William Harris, light house keeper at Beach Point. As the wind today is now from the northwest, it is expected that it will start the ice off the shore and open a track to Georgetown 15 miles away. Later: At 3 o’clock Georgetown reported steamers three-quarters of a mile apart and 14 miles off Panmure Island. It is probable that at the time Harris saw the steamers the ice field had swung round, bringing the steamers in line and making it appear they were together. The “Stanley” did not have steam up at any time she was reported. (Pat 12 Mar p4#3)
Mar 13 Pictou, the report received last night that the “Stanley” had got clear of the ice pan was incorrect. The agent of the Marine and Fisheries department here got order to-day to try and get the “Stanley” free by means of explosives. It was arranged to get these from Halifax with a man to handle same, and on his arrival here they will go to the east end of Pictou Island, take a life boat and try what can be done. At seven o’clock this morning the steamers were about 12 miles north of Arisaig. (HH 16/03/1903 p3#2)
Mar 16 SS “Yola” from Sydney to Philadelphia, from Flat Point to Louisburg via Menadu Passage passed through pack ice varying from 3 to 30 feet in thickness. Outside Scatari ice was particularly heavy and close. Saw no ice to the southward of Louisburg. (HB #708 Mar 25)
Mar 16 Steamers three miles north east of Pictou Island. They were driven there by strong north east wind. The straits north and east are full of ice. As far as they could see from the mast head, the Gulf is clear of ice all to the south of them. To the north of them the Gulf is apparently full of ice. (Pat 16 Mar p1)
Mar 16 After the most memorable fight against her history the “Stanley” broke through the field of ice which has held her a prisoner over two months and reached the “Minto” at half past eight this morning. Since Friday the steamers made a complete circle of Pictou Island, driven by currents of ice and changing winds. Relief came in the nick of time. At noon yesterday three miles off Caribou near the middle shoals there were only 18 feet of water, the “Minto” drawing seventeen and a half. The “Minto” was towed and moored to the edge of the board ice at the entrance to Pictou at half past eleven. There was a blockade of two and a half miles of heavy ice across Pictou Harbour. (Pat 17 Mar p1#1-3)
Mar 17 SS “Pydna” 45°50’N 57°W encountered field ice; had to steer S 16 miles to clear it. (HB #709 Apr 1)
Mar 18 There is no change in the ice situation off the coast. The vessels at Wood’s Island are as firmly embedded as they were a month and the prospects are that they will not get clear for a month yet (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 2)
Mar 18 The SS “Bruce” was badly damaged with heavy Arctic ice last week while making one of her regular trips between Placentia and North Sydney. (TWS, Brief News Notes, Col. 6)
Mar 19 From Sydney Light: Steamers recently arriving from the eastward report having met exceptionally heavy ice fields extending 75m southeastward from Scatarie Is. and having a width of ~40m. Late reports from lower Gulf St. Lawrence indicate that there are some very extensive fields which have not yet commenced to move out. (NYMR)
Mar 30-31 SS “Saxonia” from Liverpool to Boston 43°34’N 43°35’W passed a berg ~300′ long; 31st, 42°01’N 48°39’W passed within a mile of a large berg and until 42°04’N 56°54’W passed 10 bergs. (NYMR)
Apr 6 Schooner “Elizabeth N” of the T M Nicholson fleet of Grand Banks fishermen, arrived at Bucksport, Me, on May 2, from Bay of Islands, NF, where she had been frozen in all winter. Crew well and vessel in good condition. (NYMR, p.10, col.2)
Apr 6 The Gloucester schooner imprisoned early in the winter in the ice at the Bay of Islands are still fast. Their provisions are running low, and it looks as though the worst of their troubles had not yet arrived. (HH 6/04/1903 p12#3)
Apr 8 Issue NYMR: [part missing] .. Field ice and numerous bergs are reported on the Banks and beyond, the most easterly position being 47°N 42°W; the most southerly 41°14’N 53°28’W. Field ice is also reported along the south coast of Newfoundland and in Cabot Strait. The St. Lawrence Gulf and River are ordinarily open to navigation Apr 25.-(From the Pilot Chart of the North Atlantic Ocean). [NYMR]
Apr 8 The heavy ice pack shows no sign of weakening yet, not withstanding the heavy rains and warm sunshine last week. The vessels imprisoned at Wood’s Island will not likely be freed before the latter part of the month (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 4)
Apr 8 The harbor ice, though strong, is somewhat dangerous to walk on in places where strong currents are sweeping underneath. (TWS, Bay St. George, Col. 4)
Apr 12 Bark “Culdoon” ashore at Scaterie, ice all around the island. (NYMR)
Apr 16 SS “Lord Lansdowne” at Baltimore from Port Talbot saw ice in 40°58’N 52°10’W which is the furthest point south ice has been observed for about 6 years. (NYMR)
Apr 16 Sydney, the steamer tug “Merrimac” arrived here to-day from Scattarie Island, having on board Captain Olsen and the crew of fourteen men of the Norwegian bark “Amity” which was wrecked on that island on the 8th instant. They were forty-four days out from Cape Town when they came on this coast. For ten days the bark kept outside the large field of very heavy ice that hemmed the coast. During a storm they suddenly became surrounded with the ice, and for three days drifted with it until finally the vessel was driven ashore on Eastern Rocks, Scattarie Island, and there wrecked. (HH 17/04/1903 p12#4,5)
Apr 17 Sydney Light: The coast of Eastern Nova Scotia from Sydney eastward to St. Pierre and Cape Race, and northward to Cape Ray has been clear of ice since 8th inst. Considerable ice was reported yesterday in vicinity of Magdalen Is. Apart from this the Gulf and River St. Lawrence were clear. The first steamers entered Gulf on 13th. (NYMR)
Apr 19 First Westbound steamer through the strait of Belle Isle. (WBB)
Apr 20 Halifax: Ice coming out of Cabot Strait largest and heaviest for several years. (LL)
Apr 20 St. John’s, Nfld., the American herring vessels that have been imprisoned in the ice floes in Bay of Islands since January 18, escaped from the ice last Saturday. Dispatches received here from Port-au-Port, St. George, Codroy River and Cape Race, declare that the ice has been driven away from the land by heavy easterly gales. This enabled the herring fishers to obtain egress from the Gulf of St. Lawrence into the Atlantic. The vessels will sail for home. (HH 21/04/1903 p1#5)
Apr 22 The Humber is free of ice. (TWS, Bay of Islands, Col. 3)
Apr 22 The ice which has formed a bridge between the several little places in the bay is now unfit to walk on. (TWS, Bonne Bay News, Col 4)
Apr 23 SS “Monarch” 47°59’N 61°35’W encountered heavy field ice about 3 feet thick which extended to the NE and SW as far as could be seen. (HB #714 May 6)
Apr 23 SS “Alexandrian” 48°11’N 61°38’W entered field ice and steamed 18 miles before getting into clear water. The ice field stretched across the Gulf. (HB #714 May 6)
Apr 23 SS “Lake Champlain” encountered field ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sailed 80 miles from Bird Rocks towards Anticosti, but not finding any opening sailed toward Halifax. (HB #714 May 6)
Apr 24 The steamer “Lake Champlain,” one of the newly acquired Canadian Pacific Railway Company’s Atlantic fleet, steamed into the harbor yesterday afternoon; had spent part of two days in trying to get through the ice pack that fills the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Finding it impossible to gain an opening, and deciding that the ice fields were impenetrable, and might be so for days, determined to steam to Halifax. Captain Stewart says that he left Liverpool on April 24th, and had an uneventful voyage of eight days till Cape Ray was sighted early on Wednesday morning. Soon afterwards he encountered fog, and then off Bird Rock he met a great ice field, extending as far as the eye could reach. Captain Stewart then steamed in the direction of Anticosti, hoping in this way to get round the ice. For a whole day he steamed, and the sharpest kind of lookout was kept up, but no opening was to be found. Then the steamer “Wobun,” bound from Sydney to Montreal, was sighted. The captains of the two steamers compared notes. The “Wobun’” report was that no opening existed in the southerly direction from which she had come, and the “Lake Champlain” had demonstrated that there was no chance by going more northerly. In the interest of his passengers, Captain Stewart, therefore, determined to head about for Halifax and yesterday at noon St. Paul’s Island was passed on the way here. (HH 25/04/1903 p1 last)
Apr 26 SS “Carrigan Head” arrived Montreal, encountered heavy field ice in Gulf and River (St. Lawrence), working through same Apr 20 – 22. (HB #713 Apr 29)
Apr 26 SS “King Edward” arrived Sydney from Quebec, reports extensive ice fields around Magdalen Island with an open passage to the westward. (HB #713 Apr 29)
Apr 26 SS “Alderney” the first vessel to make her way up and down the St. Lawrence arrived today. (Halifax Morning Chronicle) (HB #713 Apr 29)
Apr 28 SS “Rathlin Head” toward Montreal after passing Bird Rocks steamed WSW about 33 miles to clear large ice fields after which had a clear passage. (HB #714 May 6)
Apr 28 SS “Manhattan” 48°03’N 61°13’W passed about 13 miles of small field ice. (HB #715 May 13)
Apr 29 The quantity of ice coming down the Cabot Strait this spring is the largest and heaviest seen for several years. (TWS, Sydney Notes, Col. 4)
Apr 30 40°35’N 63°02’W large field of ice (NYMR)
May 6 Bay St. George is now quite free of ice. (TWS, St. George Notes, Col. 3)