No. 331.
Mr. Evarts to Sir Edward
Thornton.
Department of State,
Washington, February 3,
1880.
Sir: Referring to the extended correspondence
which I have had the honor to hold with you respecting the systems of
wrecking on the great lakes, and with especial relation to the earnest
advocacy by this government of a large international policy which may
allow the wrecking and life-saving appliances of the United States and
of the Dominion of Canada to be freely and mutually availed of for the
relief of vessels in distress within the jurisdiction of either, I have
now the honor to transmit, for your information and perusal, copy of a
letter from my colleague of the Treasury Department, with its inclosed
reports from customs officers stationed at Wilson and Olcott in the
district of Suspension Bridge, New York, relative to certain Canadian
vessels which went ashore on Lake Ontario during the month of November
last, and to the assistance rendered to them by Canadian tugs.
It is not my desire to renew discussion upon the several heads of
arguments already so fully treated of in our correspondence heretofore
and in the reports of the Dominion council which you have been so good
as to transmit to me from time to time, but rather to show that this
government is not only desirous, but has already proceeded, to carry out
the principle of reciprocity in facilitating aid to disabled vessels, of
whatever flag. The case of the Jane McCloud is, in particular, notable.
That schooner went ashore at the mouth of the Six Mile Creek, near
Wilson, on the morning of November 2 last, and was towed off by a
Canadian tug, which latter was not only not detained and heavily fined,
but was permitted to accomplish her humane work without her name even
being ascertained. I need scarcely advert to the treatment which an
American tug might, under similar circumstances, have met with in the
waters of the Dominion, inasmuch as past correspondence has served to
familiarize both of us with that aspect of the subject, and to make
clear the difficulty which in such a case, or indeed in almost any case,
might attend the exercise of the discretionary power of deciding whether
life or property was or was not imminently endangered within the meaning
of the recent explanatory circular of the Dominion Government.
I have, &c.,
[Page 506]
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Sherman to
Mr. Evarts.
Treasury Department,
December 27, 1879.
Sir: Referring to former correspondence on
the subject of the wrecks of Canadian vessels on our coasts, I have
the honor to inclose herewith, for your information, a copy of the
reports from customs officers stationed at Wilson and Olcott, in the
district of Suspension Bridge, N. Y., relative to certain Canadian
vessels which went ashore on Lake Ontario during the month of
November last, and to the assistance rendered them by Canadian
tugs.
These reports were sent to the department by the collector of customs
at Suspension Bridge.
Very respectfully,
[Inclosure 1 in Mr. Sherman’s letter of
December 27, 1879.]
Mr. Kenney to
Mr. Nichols.
Olcott, Niagara County, New
York,
December 13,
1879.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 9th instant at
hand, and contents noted.
In reply, will say there have been two schooners partially stranded
at this port; both Canadian. The Gold Hunter, Captain Lundy
commanding, grounded between piers inside harbor on November 3, and
was considerably damaged; was unloaded of her cargo of coal, some
300 tons, and assisted by the tug C. P. Morey, of Oswego, and taken
away by the tug Neelon, of Port Dalhousie, on November 10, 1879.
On December 5, 1879, the Wave Crest, of Toronto, struck east pier at
this port and went ashore east of piers, where she was scuttled, and
after a few hours’ delay was got off and into harbor; was loaded
with the coal left here by Gold Hunter, and started for Toronto.
When outside of piers, swung around and went ashore west of west
pier. After throwing some seventy-five to one hundred tons coal
overboard, was hauled back to pier, and got back into harbor, where
she remained until December 9, when the tug Samuel Perry, of St.
Catharines, came and towed her away.
Any further information you may desire will be cheerfully sent
you.
In the season of 1879 there have been seven American and eleven
foreign vessels put in this port on account of weather.
Very respectfully, yours,
HENRY KENNEY,
Deputy
Collector.
[Inclosure 2 in Mr. Sherman’s letter of
December 27, 1879.]
Mr. Stockwell
to Mr. Nichols.
Wilson, December 12,
1879.
Sir: In reply to yours of the 9th instant,
I have to report that the only vessel which has put into this port
on account of bad weather was the schooner J. J. Hill, of
Youngstown, commanded by Capt. Henry Bunn.
That vessel put into this port for shelter on the night of November
1, and also in the afternoon of November 12; was not disabled, and
had no assistance. The schooner Jane McCloud, a British vessel,
commanded by F. McPherson, with a cargo of coal, bound from Oswego
to Toronto, went ashore at the mouth of the Six-mile Creek on the
morning of November 2; said vessel was pulled off and towed into
port by a Canadian tug; name unknown to me.
The schooner St. Andrews, also a British vessel, commanded by Samuel
Rogers, went ashore about the same time about two miles east of the
mouth of the creek, with a cargo of coal, bound from Oswego to
Toronto. This vessel was pulled off and towed into port by a tug
from Buffalo, as I am informed. The cargoes of both vessels were
saved.
I was told by the captains of these vessels that if there had been a
light-house at this port they could have put in here for shelter,
and would have done so.
Yours, respectfully,
R. STOCKWELL,
Deputy
Collector.
