Part 7 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration: OLD WELLAND Ca.n.a.l

LOCK 1

_Plan of Lock at Port Dalhousie with Upper Gate closed, only 200 ft. long_

_The Lock at Port Dalhousie with Upper Gate open--233 ft. 6 in. long._

_”Chicora” 230 ft. long as placed in Lock and lowered to Lake Ontario Level._ page 74]

Capt. D. Muir, the proprietor of the Dry Dock, with whom both now and later many a pleasant hour was spent, was a fine old character, and although then on the far side of sixty he held himself with square-set shoulders upright and sprightly. He had sailed the lakes until his face had taken on a permanent tan; eyes a deep blue with s.h.a.ggy overhanging brows, a strong mouth and imperturbable countenance. He was not greatly given to conversation and had a dry, pawky humour which gave much point to his slowly spoken words, but when, as sometimes, he was in narrative mood, he would string off incidents of early sailing days on the lakes the while he chewed or turned from side to side, some sliver of wood which was invariably held between his teeth. He had no fancy for metal vessels, or ”tin-pots,” as he called them. ”Give me,” said he, ”good sound wooden vessels, built right,” (as he said this you would glean from his emphasis he meant ”as I build them.”) ”If ye hit against anything in the Canawl, ye don't dint; if ye go ash.o.r.e ye don't punch holes in your bottom, and ye ken pull yer hardest without enny fear uv rippin' it out.”

There is this to be said that whatever work was done in his dock, was well done.

As soon as possible the two parts were put into the dock, the bulkheads taken out, the parts drawn together on launching ways (very cleverly done by Muir's men), and the plates and beams rivetted together again by rivetters brought down from Buffalo. The hull, both inside and out, was diligently sc.r.a.ped in every part and thoroughly oiled and painted. The main deck was relaid and _Chicora_ was a s.h.i.+p again.

While all this was going on, Mr. J. G. Demary, the ”Overseer” of this section of the ca.n.a.l, and I, had been carefully looking over the ca.n.a.l lock and arranging the procedure for putting the boat in for the final lowering down to Lake Ontario level.

Close examination had proved that the conditions of the Port Dalhousie lock, under water, were much more favorable than appeared on the surface.

The lock had been built about thirty years previously and there was very little local knowledge about it.

The lock itself was 200 feet on full inside measurement, with both gates closed. The upper gates opening to the upper level, instead of being half the height of the lower gates, were of the same height, and the lock itself was continued at its full size and depth for 33 feet further beyond these upper gates until it came to the ”breast wall” of the upper level. With the upper gates open and pressed against the sides, there was thus created an un.o.bstructed length of 233 feet, into which to place and lower the 230-foot steamer, as is shown in the accompanying drawing. It was a very welcome and satisfactory solution which investigation below the water level disclosed.

Like many other problems, it all seems very simple when once the unknown has been studied out and the results revealed, and so it was in this case.

The project and the plan of the whole enterprise of bringing the _Chicora_ down had been created by close search into conditions, by the adapting of a sudden opportunity which happened to become available, and thus rendered practicable that which all others had considered to be, and was, impossible.

It was a trying risk and worthy of a good reward.

In an undertaking so exceptional as this was it was unavoidable that unexpected difficulties should from time to time arise, as they often did, yet only to be overcome by decision and pertinacity. Another, at this stage, cropped up which for a time looked most unpleasant and caused much anxiety.

The 230-foot steamer was to be placed in the 233-foot lock, and the water run off so as to bring her to the Lake Ontario level, or 11 feet 6 inches below the upper ca.n.a.l level. It was now found, when trying out every inch of the proposition, that under the water in front of the breast wall there was a big boom, or beam, extending across the lock from side to side.

Demary did not know how it was held in position, for it had been there before he came into the service, but he understood it had been intended to stop vessels laden too deeply from coming up the ca.n.a.l and striking and damaging the stonework of the breast wall.

Enquiry at the Ca.n.a.l Office at St. Catharines resulted in learning that there were no records of it, although Mr. E. V. Bodwell, who was then the Ca.n.a.l Superintendent, gave us every aid. That beam had to be got out of the way or difficulty might be caused, so permission was obtained from Ottawa for its removal at our own expense.

First we thought we would saw it through, but soon found that it was sheeted from end to end with plates of iron, so we had to begin the long job of cutting the iron under water. Many a pipe was smoked while watching the progress, when one day it was noticed that heads of the round rods which held up the beam in the grooves were square, suggesting screws on the lower end. So huge wrenches were forged, blocks and tackle rigged up, and after an afternoon's work with a team and striking blows with sledge hammers, we succeeded in getting the screws moving and, happy moment, the beam dropped to the bottom of the lock, where, no doubt, it still remains.

So another kink had been untwisted.

Navigation ceased for the year, the ca.n.a.l was closed for the pa.s.sage of vessels and the upper gates of the lock were opened and firmly secured. The _Chicora_ was brought from her mooring, and placed in the lock with her bow up-stream. The water in the lock was now the same level as that of the upper level. On the 5th December, 1877, the process of drawing off the water of the five-mile level was begun, unwatering the ca.n.a.l as far as St.

Catharines. It took ten days or so before the wider areas of the drowned lands were uncovered.

We watched the waters falling lower and lower until at length the steamer began lowering into the lock. Being fully secured, she was held in position clear of all obstacles. All was going well, but slowly, the time taken for the last few feet seeming to be interminable. At last suspense was over and on the 20th December we opened the lower gate and _Chicora_ floated out into the harbour at the Lake Ontario level! The barges were quickly brought alongside, the guards were jacked up and fastened back into place to be completed after we reached Toronto, and the material which had been brought along in the expedition collected and loaded.

Arrangement had been made with Capt. Hall to keep the tug _Robb_ in commission to be ready to tow us over. Being telegraphed for the tug duly arrived, and about noon on 24th December, started out from Port Dalhousie with _Chicora_ in tow.

Navigation had long been closed and we were the only boats out on the lake.

The air was cold but clear, and we had a fine pa.s.sage, delighting greatly when the buildings of Toronto came clearly into view--soon we would enter the haven where we fain would be. As we crossed the lake a smart and increasing breeze rose behind. As we came abreast of the shoal near the New Fort (now called Stanley Barracks), and rounded up to make for the entrance to the harbour, suddenly the _Robb_ _stopped_. Something had evidently gone wrong with the engine. Carried on by our way we swung broadside to the sh.o.r.e under our lee. A quarter of an hour, half an hour, three-quarters of an hour pa.s.sed as we were steadily drifted by the breeze nearer and nearer to the beach. We could not do anything for ourselves--still there was no movement from the tug--would she never start again? A little nearer and we would go aground among the sand and boulders, to stick there perhaps through the whole of the winter which was so close at hand. After working out our enterprise so far, were we to be wrecked just when safety was less than a mile away? It seemed hard lines to be so helpless at such a stage.