1855
1855
Jan 26 St. John’s: The weather continues exceedingly mild and the coast is quite clear of ice. (LL).
Feb 15 SS “St. Louis” 4458’N 5531’W ice was seen. (WCR).
Feb 15 Issue: Brig “Walter Baine” put into Bay Bulls 12 days from Greenock with papers from Britain. perhaps implies that vessel couldn’t put into St. John’s – ice?.
Feb 20 St. John’s: The winter thus far has been unusually mild and at present there is no snow or ice on the ground, the harbours are all open and there is every prospect of the navigation remaining unobstructed by ice throughout the season. (LL).
Feb 23 Issue: St. John’s Harbour has been blocked for some time with drift ice due to the persistent north easterly winds. (PL).
Feb 27 For a week previous to Thursday [22nd] the wind blew from the north by which ice was blown into the bays of the east coast. Our harbour was filled with ice which extended about 1m outward from the Narrows. The “William Tucker” and a German brig “Zodiacus” from Hamburg arrived off the harbour on yesterday week [18th -LL], on endeavouring to effect a passage, got entangled in the ice, and was in great danger of going ashore. The schooner “Good Intent” [from Halifax -LL] also got entangled and on the gale of the 22nd was forced on to Cape Spear and abandoned, later filled and sank [the ice blew off on the 23rd -LL]. (RG).
Mar 5 Brig “Providence” from Barbados to Harbour Grace totally lost at Trepassey. (#511).
Mar 6 St. John’s: “Zodiacus” and “Wm. Tucker” have been brought into port safely. Weather mild and coast quite clear of ice. (LL).
Mar 13 Issue: 100 sealers icebound near Cape Bonavista and Bay full of ice. (PL).
Mar 13 “Albion” from New York 48N 49W fell in with large quantity of field ice. (LL).
Mar 20 Schooner “Dante” lost on sealing voyage near Bird Island Cove, crew taking to the ice. (PL).
Mar 23 Issue: Outgoing SS “Vista” after passing cape Spear proceeded southward some distance along the edge of the ice which she entered off Petty Harbour and remained jammed for 24 hours. Ice extending further than can be seen. (PL).
Mar 23 SS “Nashville” from New York to Liverpool 46N 49W passed 2 bergs and some field ice. (LL).
Mar 27 SS “Union” 4536’N 5920’W ice was seen. (WCR).
1855
Apr 1 SS “Africa” from Boston to Liverpool 47N 48W passed large field of ice. (LL)
Apr 3 Issue: SS “Merlin” arrived, overdue on Apr 1 (?), 24 days from Greenock after a stormy passage and 2 days spent in the ice. Reports a large number of sealing vessels some distance to the eastward jammed and unable to reach the seals. (PL).
Apr 13 “Melrose” at Carbonear reports ice about 300m offshore (see below). (PL).
Apr 16 (from Harbour Grace): “Sir John Harvey” was in the body of ice which drove fast southward and got clear Mar 30 SE of Cape Race. Headed northward again – ice very heavy. (Newf.).
Apr 17 Brig “Wilfred Fisher” had incident in Narrows. Ice not mentioned. (SCL).
Apr 17 Issue: “Melrose” got clear of Bonavista Bay Mar 21 and ran into seals same day, remained there till the 6th. Ice very heavy, was jammed all the time. Since April 1 about 20 vessels have been running inside to northwest and entered the ice. “Melrose” left the ice 200m east of Bacalieu. Also; other vessels in heavy ice drifting down and got clear March 30 SE Cape Race. (PL).
Apr 20 The “Breadalbane” called at Harbour Grace. (Could be the HMS “Breadalbane” that later sank in the Arctic looking for Franklin’s expedition.) (PL).
Apr 30 Issue: It appears that the [sealing] vessels encountered heavy ice and in unusual quantities. (Newf.).
May 8 New York: Several large bergs were passed in 45N 48W by “Manhattan”. (LL).
May 19 Ship “St. Louis” at New York from Le Havre reports having seen numerous icebergs on the Banks of Newfoundland and is much injured in her bows. (Newf.).
May 23 Issue: The “Orbit” lost in the ice off Scutari [sic]. (SCL).
Jun 9 “Leamon” (?) lost going to Labrador in ice. (#511).
Jun 12 “Clarinda” lost at Labrador. (#511).
Jul 15 Mission ship “Harmony” met first icebergs within 200m of the Labrador coast and next day was near the margin of a heavy pack of drift ice which proved of immense size. On Aug 3 anchored off Hopedale and 2 days later the bay was completely blocked by ice. (EW).
1856
1856
RG failing as a source – no mention of ice from 1856 to 1858.
“Elizabeth” lost at the seal fishery. (#511).
SS “Pacific”: only clue, note in bottle turned up on west coast of Hebrides “On board the “Pacific” from Liverpool to New York – ship going down. Confusion on board – Icebergs around us on every side. I know I cannot escape. I write the cause of our loss that friends may not live in suspense. The finder will please get it published. Wm. Graham. (WCW).
Jan 23 SS “Pacific” left Liverpool, SS “Persia” soon after. 5 days out “Persia” encountered ice, blunting bow, starting 16′ of rivets on her starboard side, rims of paddles turned and tearing off floats. Ice as far as could be seen with icebergs. After the loss of the “Pacific”, Collin’s Line would not cross the Banks north of 42N until after Aug.1. (JMB).
Feb — “Baltic” 4530’N 46W to 4410’N 4910’W transit and bergs/field ice ? (WCR).
Feb 7 SS “Edinburgh” from New York to Liverpool which saw the cabin furniture was on that day at 9.30 am in 41N 46W; at noon she passed large bergs and was detained 7 hours, during which period she saw the wreckage. (LL).
Feb 11 Brig “James”, after leaving St. John’s, was 4 days in the ice, arrived Liverpool Mar 4. (Newf.).
Feb 14 A large English steamer was seen in 44N 48W surrounded by ice and going very slowly to the westward, by the “Clara Brookman” which saw 4 or 5 hundred bergs. (LL).
Feb 18 (from St. John’s): A heavy body of northern ice has been drifting along the coast for several days past. (LL).
Feb 18 Ship “J. Elliot Thayer” from Liverpool to Boston 46N 47W during thick weather, wind SW light, got into a large field of ice and did not clear until 23rd 4230’N 50W had cutwater started, bows chafed, etc. (SCL).
Feb 18 See “John Rutledge” in entries below.
Feb 22 SS “Arago” 47N 46W to 4415’N 4830’W to 4345’N 4945’W transit. Bergs? ( WCR).
Feb 22&23 “Guy Mannering” 4530’N 4615’W to 4230’N 51W transit, and bergs. (WCR).
Feb 24 SS “Atlantic” at New York from Liverpool 45N 48W fell in with large fields of ice and many bergs; tracked the ice southerly to 43N and westerly to 53W keeping it in sight for 3 days. (LL).
Feb 24 SS “Alabama” at New York from a cruize [sic] in search of the SS “Pacific”; she had visited Sable Is. but was unable to proceed northwards of Cape Race on account of immense fields of ice, in which she was for 24 hours. (LL).
Feb 26 (from St. John’s): A prevalence of offshore winds for the last week past has cleared the coast of ice. (LL).
Feb 27 SS “Baltic” form Liverpool to New York fell in with a large field of heavy ice in 46N 47W and was compelled to run 150m to the southward, also passed a large number of bergs extending as far south as 44N 51W. (LL).
Feb 28 Ship “Lady Franklin” from Havre to Boston was amongst the ice till Mar 4 47N to 43N and 45W to 48W and started bulwarks. (SCL).
Feb 29 Issue: The brig “Ben Cushing”, hence to Boston, put back on Sunday last, the 24th February, having been in the ice, spoke on Feb 17 in 44N 55W the screw steamer “Alabama”, from New York, in search of the steamer “Pacific”. (PL).
Mar From the log of brig “Darling” from Liverpool to Harbour Grace: Mar 7, morning, icebergs in sight; evening, entered the ice and made good way 4813’N; 8th, cutting through ice, sounded 456 fathoms; 9th, saw land bearing NW 21m distant; noon, Cape Broyal (?) west distant 12m; 11th, ice very thick making very little way through. Cape Spear SSW 12m; 12th, continued through very thick ice into St. John’s; 13th, left St. John’s very thick ice; 14th, arrived Harbour Grace a great quantity of slob ice in the harbour; 21st, sat sail for Valencia, ice very thick once out of harbour, off Cape St. Francis 11m; 22nd, 3am off Cape Spear very little headway through ice; later stopped in the ice no water to be seen 4717’N; 23rd, through ice; 24th, thick ice first part of the day 4542’N; 25th, no mention of ice; 26th, first part of the day great quantity of ice to be seen (last ice mentioned); 30th, 4356’N; Jun 7th (after Valencia) left Cadiz for Harbour Grace; Jun 29th, several large icebergs ~4630’N; Jul 3rd, several large icebergs ~4831’N; Jul 4th, saw land; 5th, off Harbour Grace. “Darling” missing from Cadiz to Newfoundland, left Cadiz November 1856..
Mar 2 “Africa” 46N 44W to 44N 49W transit, and bergs/field ice ? (WCR).
Mar 11 The “Eureka” [from?] London at New York saw a number of bergs and encountered an immense field of ice, which she was 5 days in getting clear of in 48N 48W. (LL).
Mar 11 (From St. John’s): Coast is clear of ice. (LL).
Mar 13 SS “Ericsson” from Havre at New York saw large quantities of ice to the eastward of the Banks. (LL).
Mar 21 “Castilian Maid” from Cadiz to Harbour Breton put into Dartmouth, had lost bulwarks, boats, caboose and received other considerable damage in 44N 48W and saw a quantity of wreck in the ice, doors, bulwarks, etc. (LL).
Mar 22 At Lisbon, the “Marion Rigley” [“Ridley” – LL] damaged at Lisbon, also much chafed and injured in the ice on her voyage from Newfoundland. (PL). Mar 23 The “Huntress”, from Newfoundland arrived here (? Willmer), sailed Mar 20th, entered the ice on the 23rd, and did not get clear till the 27th in 47N 42W. (PL).
Mar 23 “Harvest Queen” from Liverpool at New York saw a number of bergs and a large quantity of field ice in 38N 44W. (LL).
Mar 24 Brig “Heather” lost in the ice off Cape Spear.
Mar 24 The “Skipwith” arrived here (Figueira ?) from Newfoundland which she left Feb 14th, fell in with the ice, to the distance of 200m from the land and saw the lights of a steamer in the ice, probably the “Alabama” in search of the “Pacific”. (PL).
Mar 25 The “Argyle” from Newfoundland arrived here (? from Willmer) very leaky, much chafed and strained having been 15 days in the ice. (PL).
Mar 26 Issue: We have no tidings of the SS “Pacific” …. . The discovery of cabin doors on floating ice is thought by many persons to afford an estimation, only too significant, of the probable fate of the noble steamer and her passengers and crew. Vessels arriving at our port continue to report unusual quantities of ice at low latitudes and many of them incurred very great hazard. The ship “Germania” which arrived Mar 23 reports picking up a boar belonging to the “John Rutledge” for New York from Liverpool which vessel ran into a berg Feb 19 stoving her bows, she was subsequently abandoned. (SCL).
Mar 31 Issue: Brig “Heather” abandoned Mar 24 near Cape Spear. Crew drifted south on pans of ice and picked up off Ferryland on 26th. (Newf.).
Apr 4 Issue: Nothing has yet been heard of the steamer “Pacific”, the searching steamers, “Alabama” and “Arctic” having returned from an unsuccessful cruise, in which they encountered much ice and heavy weather both receiving some damage; also:
A vessel called “John Rutledge”, which left Liverpool for New York is reported as having been lost in the ice on her voyage. It is feared about 120 passengers have lost their lives, a seaman Nye, having been taken off one of its boats. (PL).
Apr 5 SS “Edinburgh” from New York Mar 22 at the Clyde had to go 350m to the southward to avoid the ice. (LL).
Apr 10 (from Morning Star): 100 sealers frozen in the latter part of March without being able to effect any good so far. (Newf.).
Apr 10 Issue: Brig “Topsy” from Cadiz to Harbour Grace lost on the Brandies, Cape St. Francis last week [ice not mentioned]. (Newf.).
Apr 10 “Empire” 43N 57W a field of ice 12m long. (LL).
Apr 12 Issue: Ship “Scargo” at Mauritius from Callao fell in with large quantities of ice. (SCL).
Apr 17 (from New York Herald Apr 8): Ship “William” spoke “James” of St. John’s 65 days out for Greenock had been in ice several days. (Newf.).
Apr 18 Magdalen Is.: Gulf now clear of ice. (LL).
Apr 20 Brigantine “Francis” [sealing vessel – LL] fell in about 4720’N 4750’W [in heavy ice – LL] being the eastern edge of the ice, a painted chest marked “The City of Montreal’s Signal Chest” and also some other bits and pieces. There was a heavy gale on the 18th. “City of Montreal” was loading at Liverpool on March 29 for Montreal. (PL).
Apr 30 St. John’s: The coast is clear of ice. (LL).
May 1 “St. Thomas” from La Guayra to Havre 46N 49W fell in with a bank of firm ice bearing NE and SW and running 5 to 6 knots; took 2 hours to clear it; saw 5 or 6 other vessels beset in it. Spoke the “Seline”, much chafed and had apparently been beset in the ice. (LL).
May 5 “City of Hamilton” from London to Quebec 46N 44W passed a ship’s knee, bright varnished, not long in the water, among icebergs. Saw heavy fields of ice on the eastern edge of the Great Bank. (LL).
May 8 Issue: “John Rutledge” left Liverpool for New York Jan 16, fell in with ice 4530’N 4556’W on Feb 18 and met field ice next day but succeeded in working clear. However, ran into an iceberg which stove a hole in her bow and she was abandoned about 6 pm. Nye probably only survivor out of 119 passengers [and crew?]. 5 boats left the vessel, one picked up by the “Germania” containing the only survivor – LL..
May 10-12 “Mary E.Balch” from New Orleans to Liverpool 41N 48W saw 3 large bergs; 12th, 45N 41W to 40W many more. (LL).
May 14 “Mary McRae” from Wilmington to Liverpool 40N 40W passed through about 30 large bergs. (LL).
May 21 “Ellwood Walter” at New York from Liverpool 43N 43W saw 2 bergs to the NW and field ice to the N; stood 150m to the S to clear it. (LL).
May 21 “Conquest” at Liverpool from New Orleans between 45N and 48N and 44W and 36W saw 18 large bergs. (LL).
May 24 Quebec: “Wanderer” arrived here from Leith, passed an immense quantity of ice and many vessels in it, near St. Paul’s. (LL).
May 26 During the last week prevalence of north and northeasterly winds have driven large quantities of ice from the northward. (Newf.).
May 28 “Kingston” 42N 51W for Liverpool passed several small bergs. (LL). May 30 Issue: Several icebergs crossed the Narrows, on May 24. On 29th the “Grace Darling” struck one of enormous size off Cape St. Francis and masts, bowsprit etc carried away. (PL).
May 31 Issue: Ship “President” [from Liverpool to Boston abandoned May 13 in 44N 50W – LL] sunk by the ice off the Banks of Newfoundland. (SCL).
— — SS “Arago” 4730’N 4730’W berg. (WCR).
SS “Atlantic” 4510’N 4815’W to 43N 5050’W transit and bergs. (WCR).
Feb 20, 1857 Liverpool: The “Hebe” arrived at Newfoundland, reported having fallen in with the “Rose”, of Plymouth, a derelict off the Banks of Newfoundland, and learnt from a board fastened to the rigging, that she had been struck by an iceberg (Mem.- see St.John’s paragraph in List of 12 Aug 1856, and Liverpool paragraph in List of 21 Aug 1856). (LL).
1857
1857
No apparent mention of ice in the Newfoundlander.
No mention of ice in SCL.
Suspect worst ice was on the eastern seaboard.
Jan 21 “N.W. Smith” 38N to 39N 74W large quantities of ice. (LL).
Feb 7 “Stalwart” at Liverpool from Philadelphia encountered heavy fields of drift ice as far as 25m E of Cape Henlopen. (LL).
Feb 11 “Isaac Wulf” [“Isaac Webb” – LL] from New York at Liverpool met with great quantities of ice and bad weather, crew severely frost bitten. (several reports of frostbitten crews) (MMR).
Feb 19 Liverpool: It is an extraordinary mild winter this season in Newfoundland, and a letter from St. John [sic] of Jan 29 states that there is no snow on the ground and very little frost. (LL).
Feb 27 St. John’s: The coast is quite clear of ice, as far as can be seen from this port. (LL).
Apr — Brig “Ian” lost at Stinking Is. (#866).
Apr 13 Issue: St. John’s [no date, probably late March]: The coast from Bacalieu south is clear of ice. (LL).
Apr 25 Quebec: No ice N channel of Anticosti, some in the mouth of the river. (LL).
Apr 26-29 “Holyhead” from Liverpool 43N 52W passed several large bergs some of which were 150′ high. (LL).
May 3 SS “Circassian” at Liverpool from St. John’s, Newfoundland reports that up to Apr 24 there was no ice on that coast and that the sealers were arriving with good catches. (PL).
May 10 “Odin” for Queenstown 44N 45W sighted a berg. (LL).
May 19 “Lady Wharncliffe” for Liverpool 43N 51W passed 2 bergs. (LL).
May 31-Jun 2 “Henry Clay” for Liverpool 43N 54W a berg; 1st, 44N 47W another; 2nd, 45N 45W a third. (LL).
1858
1858
No mention of ice at all in the Public Ledger for the year 1858.
The Mission ship “Harmony” experienced a longer outward passage to Labrador than usual due to the large number of icebergs and then by calms and dense fogs. (EW).
Feb 25 Halifax: SS “Osprey” arrived having experienced very heavy weather and fallen in with large quantities of ice on the coast. (LL).
Mar 4 “Empire” from Liverpool to New York 46N 48W passed a number of bergs. (LL).
Mar 7 SS “Africa” for Liverpool 43N 49W saw a large berg and several detached pieces. (LL).
Mar 8-9 “Resolute” from New York to Liverpool 46N 51W passed a large berg in 45 fathoms, apparently aground, as it was more than 100′ high; 9th, 47N 47W passed 3 large bergs. (LL).
Mar 9 “City of Washington” 44N 48W [49W – LL] a very large iceberg apparently aground. (SCL).
Mar 16 “Velocity” from Newfoundland, 11th, to Liverpool, Apr 12, became imbedded in the ice in 46N 44W with 3 other vessels, which stood away to the westward on the ice breaking up, and saw several bergs for 3 days after leaving the ice. (LL).
Mar 30 St. John’s: The coast in this neighbourhood is quite clear of ice. (LL).
Apr 1 Issue: “Aurora” left Carbonear Mar 5, struck seals 10th latitude of Belle Isle. Left ice at Cape Freels 30th. (Newf.).
Apr 7 Issue (from Liverpool Mar 12): a barque could not get to Newfoundland coast because of adverse and violent winds. (SCL).
Apr 14 St. John’s: No ice on the coast. (LL).
Apr 16 Brig “Bloomer” from Boston arrived at Placentia Bay being detained 5 weeks in the ice. (SCL).
Apr 27 St. John’s: There is a good deal of ice close in with land north of Baccalieu, the coast south is quite free of it. (LL).
May 3 Arichat blocked up with ice a ship at Pirate’s Cove [Canso ?] reports large quantities of ice about 200m off land. (LL).
May 12 St. John’s: The coast is quite clear of ice from Barcelona [Bacalieu], southward. (LL).
Jun 17 Issue: Cruise northward of the SS “Victoria” – May 30 arrived at LaScie and found ice very heavy and extending from the Northern Bill of Cape John 10m outside to Horse Islands, NNE direction. On return did not get out of ice till Fogo Jun 12. (Newf.).
1859
1859
The winters of 1858-59 … .. were confessedly severe in the extreme (from Sailing Directions for the Island of Newfoundland 1873). (#837).
In the spring of 1859 [accidents caused by ice] were particularly abundant and one of the Cunard Line the “Canada” struck one having the bowsprit broke (from the British American Navigator Sailing Directions for the Island and Banks of Newfoundland, the Gulf and river of St. Lawrence, Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and the coasts thence to Boston etc originally composed by John Purdy, 3rd edition, by Alexander G Findley FRGS, London, published by Richard Holmes Laurie 1862) {In our Atlantic Memoir will be found many details of these ices and the circumstances under which ships have been damaged …important remarks by Lieut. Evans RN}. (#837).
Feb 1 “Swan” from Greenock, made the ice 10m SE of Cape Race, on 3rd got clear, Cape Spear bearing WNW 84m by Chronometer. (PL).
Feb 1 Halifax: “Scottish Chief” from this port was got onshore near Little Harbour, PEI on Jan 9, after being 10 days in the ice. Accounts from Souris, PEI, stated that the “W.T. King” from Halifax, after being several days in the ice, being near the shore here on Jan 9 was abandoned. (LL).
Feb 17 SS “Prince Albert” met the ice on the 14th in 48N 47W, extended to 46N, on 17th found the coast lined with ice from Cape Race. (PL).
Feb 17 Halifax: A telegram states that there are great quantities of ice o the south coast of Newfoundland, extending far south. (LL).
Feb 23 SS “City of Baltimore” from Liverpool to New York entered a large field of ice from 45N 48W to 44N 49W and steered easterly to get out of it; after clearing it, steered S and W for 70m along the edge of it. (LL).
Feb 24 SS “New York” from New York to Liverpool 47N 46W passed for 4 hours through about 3 fields [3 feet – LL] of heavy field ice. (SCL).
Feb 26 SS “Fulton” at New York from Havre saw several bergs and much field ice from 47N 44W to 45N 49W. (LL).
1859
Mar 7 Brig “Haidee” from Elba bound to Harbour Grace, carried away on Feb 25, foretop mast and main boom and split sails. On March 1 met the ice 45N 48W and received much damage in getting through it and on Mar 7 had bow stove in and put in here following day for repairs. (PL).
Mar 7 “Westmoreland” from Liverpool to Philadelphia 45N 48W passed several large bergs. (LL).
Mar 12-14 “Underwriter” from Liverpool to New York 47N 47W got among field ice and cleared it in 45N 48W, a distance of 60m, passing 9 large bergs; 14th, 45N 50W got among field ice and was 11 hours working through it. (LL).
Mar 14 Issue: The detention of SS “Prince Albert” from New York for St. John’s is hard to account for since the southern coast was clear of ice until the 10th. (Newf.).
Mar 15 “Sir Frederick Gebhard” from Liverpool to New York 46N and between 46W and 48W passed 10 large bergs and a large quantity of field ice. (LL).
Mar 19 St. John’s: There is a good deal of ice drifting along the coast, and at present within a mile of land, and so very loose as to offer but little obstruction to vessels coming this way. (LL).
Mar 21 Issue: The SS “Pacific” arrived here Mar 18, 12 days from Galway, 3 of which were spent in ice 50 – 60m south of Cape Race. (Newf.).
Mar 21 “Ceres” for Liverpool 43N 48W passed a large berg. (LL).
Mar 22 Issue – gives details of vessels cleared for the seal fishery from St. John’s from 1830 to 1859 incl. (PL).
Mar 23 SS “Prince Albert” at Galway, left new York Mar 4 arrived today with loss of propeller, and with bows damaged having been among the ice off Cape Race. (PL).
1859
Apr 1 St. John’s: There is no ice to be seen near this part of the coast, and it is understood that the southern part of the coast is also pretty clear. (LL).
Apr 9 SS “Ospray” fell in with brig “Petrel” of PEI 3 months for this port, half that time jammed in the ice and now sinking. (Newf.).
Apr ~2 Barque “Jane Daggett” for New York saw ice in 44N 46W and again in 45N 47W. (SCL).
Apr 11-12 SS “Nova Scotia” from Portland to Liverpool passed a quantity of field ice and several icebergs. (LL).
Apr 24 “Thornton” for Liverpool 44N 54W passed a large berg with several smaller ones. (LL).
May 10 “Norden” from Shield to Quebec 45N 54W ran into a berg and stove in her bow and carried away bowsprit. (LL).
Jun 7 SS “Edinburgh” from New York to the Clyde put into St. John’s with 2 compartments full of water, having struck a berg, crew and passengers safe. (LL).
Jun 9 SS “Edinburgh” arrived St. John’s in a dangerous state, 5 days out from New York for Glasgow struck an island of ice on Monday last [May 30 ?] and considerably damaged about the bow. (Newf.).