The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-04
CoBoURG. c. w.. Nav 30. 1863.


CoBoURG, c. W., May 30, 1863
Here am, brought up by necessity over
which had no control, and compelled to sus-
pend progress for an indefinite period. This
, unexpected obstruction, however, has proved
anything but disagreeable, and afforded oppor-
tunity to survey, very hurriedly it is true,
thrifty little Canadian city l had formed no
idea of visiting. But will not anticipate.
In taking leave of Montreal should have
said word about the evidences of accumula-
ted wealth, which meet the eye at all points.
Everything is built with view to endurance.
Strength and massiyeness characterize the ex-
hibitions of architectural skill Along the
river front the most substantial stone quays
are constructed, making leyee upon which
ships and other vessels discharge and from
which ascent is made to the street on the level
above, by easy inclined planes. The river is
now full of vessels, many of them of large
size, and the whole river front presents scene
of life and activity of the most pleasant char
acter. .,.... 3.
Near the Victoria Bridge is an enclosed
square of perhaps two acres, in the center of
which, resting on broad, square pedestal, is
large, smooth, but irregularly shaped boulder,
in its natural state, weighing several tons, with
deeply chiseled inscription, showing that it
was erected in 1859 by the workmen upon the
bridget to preserve from dissertation the resting
place of 5000 immigrants who died of ship
fever in 1867. 1t is memorial stone com
memorative of tale of sadness and lonely
suffering not often met with, and its erection
eyinced fellow-feeling on the part of the i'm
migrant workmen creditable to their sense of
humanity.
From Montreal to Toronto is 33l miles.
The evening train leaves at 6 o'clock, and is
due at Toronto at 10 the next morning For
about twenty miles the traveller is hurried
along at rapid rate, over very smooth road,
and through fine, fertile and we'll cultivated
country, then the train crosses the upper
branch of the Ottawa, the lower branch empty
ing into the st. Lawrence thirty miles farther
down, and thus forming, with the latter river,
the island on which Montreal is situated. As
you pass along you can occasionally see
steamers smoke pipe or a vessels masts, lift
ed high above the river, as they wend their
way through the canals by which return
passage is secured past the rapids in the st.
Lawrence Several Of these rapids are white
with foam, the current rushing along from
eight to twelve miles an hour, thus excluding
all possibility of any upward navigation of
the river except as the various craft are locked
past the rapids in the government canals. The
Lachine Rapids, nine miles above Montreal,
are the most fearful. The waters of the
mighty river rush down their rocky bed, foam
ing and tumbling, hemmed in on either side
by solid lodges over which but thin sheet of
water glldes, and though this narrow race
makes a sudden turn, the large steamers run
down in safety, the passengers upon deck ex-
periencing the sensation of going dozen hill,
the vessel seeming to give way beneath their
feet as though going suddenly down into the
trough of the sea. Though this running the
rapids seems to be fraught with so much haz-
ard, and though the slightest arrangement of
the steering apparatus would seem to threat
en- instant destruction to the vessel and all on
board, yet for twenty years these fearful feats
have been performed daily and several times
day, when the river is free of ice, and no seri-
Gus accident has ever yet occurred.
One of the inventions of the age and not the
least important to night traveller by rail, is
the sleeping car. For the paltry fee of half
dollar the passenger is provided with COM
Portable bed-matrass, pillows and blanket
and he may lie down, extend his cramped
limbs TO his hearts content, and sleep soundly
at the rate OF thirty or forty miles an hour, ac-
cording to the condition of the road, the pow
er of the engine, and the will of the conduct
or A man puts the beds in order and at
gers, and it was not little amusing to notice
how promptly he would respond when an old
scattering man, Capt. H., would call upon the
chamber-n,aids He seemed to understand the
appelation as well as the sable females who look
after the lady passengers on our passenger
steamers. After nights rest in the sleeping
car. and refreshing wash in the morning, the
passenger is prepared to commence the day
without feeling for hours that his eyes are full
of sticks, or that his eyelids have been in close
proximity to the brush from mechanics glue
pot.
About six o'clock this morning, when all
hands were looking forward to the smoking
tea and coffee urns with their usual accompa-
niments at the next station-only fifteen min
utes ahead-the signal was suddenly given to
apply the breaks. A red flag was seen short
distance ahead, at a curve in the road waving
in the hand Of man sent out to signalze the
approaching train, and to warn it of danger.
Word was soon passed through the cars
that train was off the track. In company
with Mr.. L.-of our party-I went forward to
see what the prospect was of delay. We soon
came to the rear of long train of empty box
cars, going backward, and mounting to the
top of the rear car we could see nothing for at
least mile ahead but apparently one contin-
uous string of freight cars, all stopped by the
same catastrophe which had SO suddenly
brought our own train up standing. We
pushed ahead, stepping from car to car, and
getting down from one train and climbing
upon another, until we had passsd over no
less than three very long trains = did not
count the number of cars - when we found
that the night mail train from Toronto 20
Montreal had met with most fearful smash
up. The coupling between the tender and the
mail car had broken in consequence of some
Stcuction ut,on the track and the mail car