The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-15
Cutting Out the HarbOr.

General Agent Austin of the Boston and Bangor
steamship line was in Belfast last week and author
lied Mr. +. W. Pote to give so towards a fund for
cutting out Belfast harbor and bay. Mr.. Geo W.
Gorham, Baker x Shalcs Swan \ Sbey Bros,
Ben lIaZcltnc, Critchett II Sibcy and other ship
pcrs contributed and in a short time $500 were
raised. saturday morning the work of cutting out
began under the management of Mr. Charles
Baker, Mckecn Perkins, four horses with four
ice plows and twenty five men made up the
working crew. Operations were begun at the edge
of the ice just above the wharf at the Northport
camp ground, and IL channel ten rods wide started
which narrowed as they proceed up the river.
Tic steamer RockIand rendered valuable assist
for four hours in towing out ice cut by the
crew, and in breaking of large sections. A chan
mel mile long was cut and when the crew left
on work saturday night they We're opposite Little
River. The ice is about ten inches thick and much
of it hard and firm. Sunday by keeping near the
shore teams were driven below the Camp Ground
The revenue cutter Woodbury. was sent for and
her arrival Monday forenoon necessitated change
in the programme. channel four feet wide was
plowed out, and the detached ice sunk under the
main ice; leaving an open passage. Into this cut
the Woodbury. drove her bows, breaking down the
tcrs could not work fast enough and the Woodbury.
was obliged to wait for Them She came into the
ice of Little River and at night was nearly abreast
of Cottrell's shipyard. Captain Fengar said that
had he known the ice was so thick he would not
have put his vessel into it, He told at Rockland
that the ice but four inches thick. Monday
the Woodbury. plowcd through ice fourteen inches
thick, although most of it was from ten to twelve
inches.
The Woodbury. remained in the Ice Monday
night The easterly gale drove the loose ice into
the channel and packed it about the steamer
that Tuesday morning she was immovable. The
weather cleared in the forenoon, and at noon the
workmcn resumed operations, but the snow on
the ice impeded their progress. The first thing
to be done was to release the Woodbury., and this
proved no easy task. The ice was packed in to
such a depth that cutting it out almost i'm
possible, and at last powder was used with good
results, and at three O'Clock in the afternoon the
steamer was liberated. In the meantime the cut
tiers were preparing channel for her. When the
Woodbury. got to work she made good progress
and at nightfall was above J. Y. Cottrelrs ship
yard.
The Woodbury. begun operations early Wednes-
day morning, and by ten O'Clock reached the open
water at the head of the harbor. She then turned
around and steamed out of the channel made on
entering. The services of the Woodbury. have
been rendered free of expense, and Capt. Fengar
deserves much credit for the work he has done in
the interest of all our citizens.
Wednesday the wind was still from the east, and
not much more can be done until it changes, when
the ice will he cut up and allowed to go out with
the tide.
There is an open passage TO the west of Turtle
Head, IslcsDoro, and in u few days we shall have
an open harbOr.