The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-02
THROUGH CANADA.


From an Occasional Correspondents
MONTREAL, Canada, July 29-With full
train of passengers we left the Fails Monday
morning for Lewiston, thence took the steamer
City of Toronto to Toronto, and were transferred
to the steamer Passport. We found the greater
part of it already taken possession OF by her
Najesty's troops q detachment of the Royal
29th, who were going to Quebec and the west
Indies. This so crowded the boat that but little
room was left us to move around in. We felt
imposed upon, rs the agents at the Falls and in
New York had promised ample accommodations
of berths and statc-rooms, and we thought that
soldiers might have been sent by an extra con-
veyance, so as not to interfere with hundreds of
visitors to their Inconvenience We enjoyed the
sail down the lake through the day but num-
ber including our party, not being able to OBJ
tain any sleeping accommodations left the boat
at Cobourg, having nights rest there, and next
day took the Grand Trunk 10 Kingston. We
had a delightful drive for miles around the
town. which is finely situated at the lower end
of Lake Ontario.
There is a lack of thrift about all these Cana
dian towns apparent at once to traveller. |
was told by fifteen years resident that King
stOn had not progressed any during that time.
There is no reason why it should not improve,
its situation and natural advantages being great.
But the restrictions OF Tue NONeTuluGnI, nBu
duties. heavy taxes, and imposition on strau-
gers and Americans passing through, retard its
growth materially. Lately they have been in fear
o a Fenian rising here, and many families have
kept watch night and day. There is no danger,
as far as we could sec, of anything of the kind,
but the least rumor will excite and frighten some
timid people. If it were not for the matter of
pride, believe the majority of the population
in the Canadas would be willing, if not anxious,
for annexation to the United States. 1t would
be the best thing that could happen to them, and
would make Canada n very different country
from what it is at present.
Leaving Kingston early yesterday morning in
the fine steamer Cornthian we had a splendid
sail through theaSt. Lawrence. The Thousand
Islands" were everything weanticipated in beauty
and constant change of scene they extend for
about fifty miles, in some places were very close
together covering the surface of the wide river
in all directions, and appearing as if they tloated
upon the water. We were sorry not to be able
to stop at Alexandria Bay, and spend day or
two in. fishing and rowing about among the
charming slets GannanoQue, Brockvile, Pres
colt, Cornwall, and other places touched at on
the Canada side, all appeared as dilapidated and
antique as if the improving hand of man had not
touched them in the last century. Ogdensburg
is a thriving New York town, and showed great
contrast to Prescott its 'UiS-d-UiS."
The passages through the different rapids
there being eight of them, were very exciting to
us all. The principal ones are Long Sault
Coteau, Cedar, Cascade, and La Chine. At the
first the noisy pillows and breakers made me
feel as if was on the broad ocean in heavy
gale, the spray of the big waves dashing to our
upper deck. These rapids continue for about
nine miles, though it requires but a few minutes
for us to rush through. The Cedar and Cascade
rapids almost as good though they were
shorter. But the grand excitement was in going
through the La Chine rapids, just before ending
our voyage. The captain agreeably disappointed
us all, as he had told many he would have to go
through the canal on account of having troops
on board. We passed the steamer Grecian, sunk
in Cascade rapids not long ago. She had a reg-
ment of soldiers on board some of whom were
drowned, and as the Queen does not care to lose
her property in this reckless manner, all troops
were ordered to be sent through the canal in
stead of these last rapids, the most dangerous
of all.
But we were all overjoyed to see the Indian
pilot awaiting us in his canoe in mid stream to
guide us safely through Scylla and Charybdis
We went down the Lachine handsomely at the
rate of thirty miles an hour approaching within
a few feet on either side of huge rocks, to have
struck one of (which would have been our death
blow. But our boat was handled skilfully, and
it is very seldom an accident occurs.
We now came in sight of the mammoth ''VIc.
toria Bridge" an iron tubular structure for the
Grand Trunk Railroad. We had good view Of
the entire bridge which is a mile and hal
long, supported by twenty-siX piers and abut
ments solidly built of granite, and will last fol
ages. We gracefully glide under the centre
span, and admire the mighty work the more the
nearer we approach it.
On the steamer with us were the 18th Roya
Hussars, the same regiment that was in the charg,
at Balaklaya immortaliZed by Tennyson. Severa
of the men had medals, showing they were th
survivors of that dreadful day, and bloodet
mare, noble animal, the only horse that cam
out of the charge alive, was on our forwar,
deck below. She is eighteen years old, and is
pet of the men, who take care of her for her pas
services These troops are ordered home Il
England, though few wish to co. as they hav
made many friends here, and fear being sent t.
India or China.
Montreal as you know, is a good-sized cit
for Canada of about 100000 population. w
had few hours ride through the town ant
suburbs, visiting the cathedral, bridge cemetery
and water works The Jesuit and Euglis
Cathedrals are magnificent specimens of archi
lecture, especially the former which is very ex
pensively built. The old Notre Dame Cathedra
is an immense building capable of holding Is, 90
persons. We shall hasten home by way O
Lakes Champain and George. SIG.
NEWS sUNGnTARY.