Part 5 (1/2)

Bruce Mines with its copper mines, then in full operation, was perhaps the most important place, with a population of 2,500. The Sault had perhaps 500, Silver Islet, with its mysterious silver mine, 1,500, and Prince Arthur's Landing about 200 residents, with whatever importance was given by its position at the head of the lake, and as being the starting place of the Dawson Road to Fort Garry, and the supply point for the developing mines of the interior.

Whatever meat, flour, or vegetable foods the people ate had to be carried up to them from the Ontario ports. Westwards the decks were filled with cattle, hogs, and all kinds of merchandise, but there was little freight to bring back east except fish and some small quant.i.ties of highly concentrated ores from the mines.

The business had not developed as had been expected, and the ”Chicora” was found to be too good for the Lake Superior route as it then existed. Her freight-carrying capacity was light, cabin accommodation in excess of requirements, and her speed and expenses far beyond what was there needed.

So the boat had to be withdrawn from service, dismantled, and laid up alongside the docks at Collingwood in the season of 1873.

One splendid and closing charter there had been in the season of 1874, when the ”Chicora” was chartered for the months of July and August to be a special yacht for the progress of the Governor-General, Lord Dufferin, and his suite, through what were then the northern districts of Ontario and through the Upper Lakes.

Col. F. W. c.u.mberland, M.P., General Manager of the Northern Railway, was also Provincial Aide-de-Camp to the Governor-General and thus in general charge of the arrangements for the tour, particularly on the Northern Railway, through whose districts the party was then travelling. The further portions of the tour were through the district of Algoma, comprising all the country along the north sh.o.r.es of Lakes Huron and Superior, which Col.

c.u.mberland then represented in the Provincial Parliament, being the first Member for Algoma.

Was.h.a.go, at the first crossing of the Severn River, was then the ”head of the track” of the ”Muskoka Branch,” which was under construction from Barrie. Beyond this point the party were to proceed through the byways and villages of Muskoka by mixed conveyance of boats on the lakes and carriages over the bush roads to Parry Sound, where they were to join the ”Chicora.”

Every minute of the way had been carefully planned out to satisfactorily arrange for the reception en route, stopping places for meals and rest, stays over night, and allowance for all possible contingencies, for the Governor-General insisted that he should make his arrival, at each place on the way, with royal precision.

There was therefore no room for the insertion of the many special demands for additional functions and time, which increasingly arose as the days drew near, for the fervor of the welcome became tumultuous.

The Presbyterian clergyman at Was.h.a.go had been particularly insistent and had called to his aid every local influence of s.h.i.+pper and politician to obtain consent that the Governor-General should lay the corner-stone of the new church which the adherents of the ”Auld Kirk” were erecting at the village. The ceremony was whittled down until it was at last agreed that it should be sandwiched into the arrangements on condition that everything should be in readiness, and that the proceedings should not exceed fifteen minutes, for there was a long and rocky drive ahead of fourteen miles to Gravenhurst, where an important afternoon gathering from all the countryside and a reception by His Excellency and the Countess of Dufferin had been arranged.

The Munic.i.p.al and the local Society receptions at the Was.h.a.ge station had been safely got through when the Governor and party walked over the granite knolls to where the church was to be erected. The location of the village, which is situated between two arms of the Muskoka River, is on the unrelieved outcrop of the Muskoka granite, which, scarred and rounded by the glacier action of geological ages, is everywhere in evidence.

On the knoll, more level than the others, was the church party expectant.

At their feet, perched upon a little cemented foundation about a foot and a half in diameter, built on the solid granite, was the ”corner stone,” a cube of granite some three inches square. A miniature silver trowel, little larger than a teaspoon, was handed to the Governor, who, holding it in his fingers smoothed down the morsel of mortar and the corner stone was duly laid.

The Minister then announced ”Let us engage in prayer,” and raising his hands and closing his eyes he at once began.

It was a burning hot noon-day in July. Having got fairly started the minister seemed to be in no way disposed to stop. At five minutes a chair and umbrella were brought for Lady Dufferin. At ten minutes motions were made to pluck the minister's coat tails, but no one dared. The fervid appeal covering all possible contingencies, and meandering into varied ”We give Thee thanks also” still continued so the Governor and Lady Dufferin and their Suite quietly slipped away from the group and going to the carriages, which were waiting in readiness near by, drove away.

Shortly afterwards the minister ceased and, opening his eyes, took in the situation.

He at least had succeeded in having his corner-stone laid by a Governor-General and was satisfied, even though he had lost that portion of his audience. There were others also who were satisfied as one of the devout congregation who said as we walked away, ”Wasn't the Meenester powerful in prayer?”

Lord Dufferin's private secretary and myself, having seen our duties to this point satisfactorily completed, returned to the cars and proceeded back by the special train to Collingwood, where the outfit and arrangements of the ”Chicora” for the long cruise were being completed, and active operations had for some time been going on.

The s.h.i.+p was a picture, resplendent in brightened bra.s.ses, new paint and decorations. The staterooms had been re-arranged and enlarged so that they could be used in suites with separate dining and reception rooms arranged for various occasions. Strings of flags of all varieties, and ensigns for every occasion were provided, including His Excellency the Governor-General's special flag, to be raised the moment he came on board.

Captain James C. Orr, his officers, and the picked crew were all in naval uniform, and naval discipline was to be maintained.

About ten o'clock one night we sailed out of Collingwood to make an easy night run across the Georgian Bay and arrive in the morning at Parry Sound, where the Governor-General was to join the steamer in the afternoon.

We were naturally anxious that nothing should occur on our part to mar the arrangements for the much heralded tour, and so I turned out early in the morning, called up by some indistinct premonition. Of all the evils that can befall a s.h.i.+p's captain it is that of a too supreme confidence in his own powers; a confidence which leads him to take unnecessary risks and so incur dangers which a little longer waiting would avoid. Of this we now met a most striking instance.

There are two routes from Collingwood to Parry Sound. The outer pa.s.sage, outside the islands, longer but through open lake and safe, the other the inner pa.s.sage winding through an archipelago of islands, tortuous and narrow. This latter was also known as the ”Waubuno Channel,” from its being the route of the steamer of that name, a vessel of 140 feet and the largest pa.s.sing through it. As a scenic route for tourists it is unsurpa.s.sable, threading its way amid many islands with abrupt and thrilling turns.

Captain McNab, one of the most experienced and oldest navigators of the Upper Lakes, had been engaged as pilot for the tour of the ”Chicora.”

In the early morning, instead of being as had been expected, out in the open lake, we were heading into a bay with the sh.o.r.e line expanding far on each side both east and west.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The ALGOMA. 1862.