VOYER, N. Public. A. DUMAS. Not.

Pub.

[See page 200.]

THE ICE-SHOVE. APRIL, 1874

WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY - A SAD SPECTACLE

"At the very moment of its departure, and when the entire city was rejoicing in the longed-for event - at the very time when the glad news was flashing over the wires to Montreal and the West, that Nature's barrier to the uninterrupted navigation of the St. Lawrence was so slowly floating away - we regret to say that the ice-bridge of 1874 was making itself memorable yesterday to Quebec in a shape more formidable than its perverse tenacity or its injurious effects upon trade. It was rioting in a perfect orgie of destruction, crushing man's handwork in its passage like so much frail glass in the grasp of a giant. At 3.20 p.m., when the glad announcement passed from mouth to mouth that the ice was moving, it began its destructive work. The scene was at Blais Booms and the immediate neighborhood, where the Government steamers Napoleon III and Druid, the Gulf Ports steamers Georgia, Miramichi and Hadji and a large number of tug steamers and other craft belonging to the St. Lawrence Tow Boat Company and other parties were in winter quarters and have been in the habit of so doing for years on account of the superior facilities and safety offered by the place. Nearly a hundred craft of all kinds, steamers, ships, schooners, and barges, were here congregated, moored in many instances together and extending over a line of nearly 300 yards. The floating ice as it came down, struck the outside craft - a sailing vessel, we believe - driving it against its neighbor, the Georgia, and then hurrying both of them against the others, jamming them against each other and against the wharves in inextricable confusion and causing a tremendous amount of damage, if not irreparable loss. Some were stove in, filled with water and sunk, only leaving their bows or masts above water to mark where they had gone down, while others disappeared from view altogether. Fortunately no lives were lost. The loss and damage to property cannot fall far short, we believe, of a million of dollars. The following is a summary of the accident:

Government steamer Napoleon III driven against the Mariner's Chapel wharf had her side completely stove in; full of water and almost keeled over, very badly damaged, and will cost a heavy sum to repair. She had steam up at the time, but could not move out. Broke her cables and lost her anchors.

Gulf Ports steamer Georgia - Hole stove in her side; hold, full of water. Damage easily repaired.

Gulf Ports SS. Hadji - Singular to say, though the boat was in the very middle of the confused mass, it received no damage worth mentioning.

Gulf Ports SS. Miramichi - very slightly damaged. Will be extricated to-day and proceed to her wharf, to sail for below on Tuesday next.

Government steamer "Druid," - on her beam ends, slightly damaged.

Steamboat "Napoleon," - keeled over,

Steamboat "Mersey," - on her side.

Steamboat "Canada," - sunk.

Steamboat "Beaver," - sunk, completely disappeared.

Steamboat "Castor" - disappeared.

Steamboat "Rival" - badly damaged.

Steamboat "Shannon," - badly damaged.

Steamboat "Rescue," - sunk, lies under the bows of the "Miramichi."

Steamboat "Conqueror No. 1," - badly damaged.

A schooner, owned by Mr. Kennedy, of Gaspe, laden with provisions, and which was detained here last fall, was also sunk and lies near the "Georgia." In addition two of Mr. H. H. Hall's blocks or piers were completely carried away by the crushing weight of the ice." - (Quebec Budget.)

[See page 317.]

THE PISTOLS AND SASH OF GENERAL WOLFE, 1759.

(To the Editor of the Morning Chronicle.)

DEAR SIR, - Would you allow me to supply in your columns additional information on an incident relating to the siege of Quebec in 1759. By the following documents, which come to me with every guarantee of reliability in the writer, it would appear that the gallant General Wolfe, before expiring on the Plains of Abraham, on the 13th of Sept, 1759, bequeathed his pistols and sash to one of the surgeons who attended him. Dr. Elihu or Edward Tudor was a Welshman, born in 1733. He graduated at Yale College, 1750, joined the English army in 1755, was present at the taking of Quebec, and left the service about 1767, receiving a pension and grant of land from the English Government. These relics are now in the possession of Dr. Tudor's grand daughter, Mrs. Strong, at Monkton, awaiting farther particulars.

I remain, Dear Sir,

Yours, &c.

J. M. LeMoine.

STATE OF VERMONT,

SENATE CHAMBER,

MONKTON, April 26th, 1875.

J. M. LeMoine, Esq., Literary and Historical Society, Quebec.

SIR, - Please find enclosed statement of Mrs. Strong relative to the pistols and sash of Gen. Wolfe. You will undoubtedly remember that I wrote to you last winter, and that you answered asking for something more authentic. Consequently I drew up a set of questions, leaving after each question space for answer. Now I return them to you. There is no question in the minds of people here about the facts as stated by Mrs. Strong. The authority of the matter is as established here as that Mr. Harrower is proprietor of Gen. Montgomery's sabre. I should be very happy to receive one of the books that are being prepared of that era in the history of Quebec.

I have the honor, sir, of being at your service, G. E. SMITH.

STRONG AND MIDDLEBROOKE,

VERGENNES, Vt., 1875.

Dr. Elihu or Edward was descended from Owen Tudor, who came from Wales with the Puritans, was born 1733, graduated at Yale College 1750, joined the army 1755, was at the taking of Quebec and the Havana; about 1767; he was discharged and returned to his native place; he received a pension during his life, and also a grant of land from the English Government.

The above statement is made by C. W. Strong, of the above firm.

C. E. SMITH

Will Mrs. Strong please answer the following questions:

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