Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-09

the independent Order III Foresters an,
IN which are located the head officers o
| thaL great fraternal benefit socfety TIL
building is ten stories high and suImount
ed by central tower rising twn stnria
higher. Is built OF brown stone. brick ter
ra Gotta and steel. From the top OF tn,
| tower, which Is nearly 200 feet above IN,
| street level. magnificent view can he m
| tanned OF the entire city and surrnundin.
country. In the basement Of the huiid
ing are u s,duasea the safe deposit vault.
finest largest and most thorouphi,
equipped vaults in Canada. Among m,
tenants are bank and one of the larges,
publishing companies in the dominion
| assembly halls and lodge rooms used h,
| the order and by the Masonic fratern,ty
| The building Is practically fireproof: in
deed it is the only building in Toronto in
a certain class of risks.
The title of "City of Churches, IN
which Montreal and Brooklyn aspire il
also claimed by Toronto, and in view OF
less variety Of architecture its right Will
not be disputed Toronto's fire depar !
ment is OF the best and we were permit
ted to witness a division of the depart
ment prepare for a fire which showed
how thoroughly all connected with 1t are
drilled. Our ride to Kingston where We
took the boat was done while We slept
and at five O'Clock we changed from cars
to boat and began the 1S5 mile trip down
the st. Lawrence to Montreal.
Kingston has quite an extensive ship
building and ship repairing industry, and
II carries on an extensive grain trade and
has large smelling works for extracting
metal from the ore. The general appear
ance of the city is that of Solidity and
antique beauty. We launch out at early
morn upon the silent bosom of the ma
Jestic st. Lawrence. Towards the south
west stretches the vast calm surface OF
ontario, beyond the gap dimmed by the
hfting mist and bearing on it's bosom the
shadowy outline of distant ships. Be
fore US lies the entry to the sinuous
the Thousand Islands. These commence
near Kingston with Wolf, the largest Of
their number, where the waters OF Lake
ontario issue into the broad channel If
the st. Lawrence and extend down to
Rockville, distance of some fifty miles.
They number some seventeen hundred
varying in shape, size and appearance
from small barren rock to the large
fertile area of land crowned with richest
foliage and lofty trees. AS we wind in
out amid these charming islands the rap.
idly changing picture almost bewiders
us. Delightful indeed would be a vaca
ton spent in their midst. The scenery of
the Thousand Islands. the advantages
for boating, fishing and camping and the
purity Of the climate contribute towards
making this region the most unique of
Canada's pleasure ground.
Leaving the Thousand Islands we pass
Morristown and Ogdensburg. while on
Prescott where connections are made for
Ottawa. Montreal and the east and south
i few miles farther on in the very heart
of The archipelago the steamer passes
Thousand Island park, on Wellesley
island. an extensive summer resort. laid
out III small parks and avenues and
cupied by five or six hundred beautiful
cottages. Originally established as a de-
nominational park II is now conducted by
business men as a strictly undenomina
tional resort where as a Chautauqua the
II. all .sr.t.a
heard and summer schools and university
extension lectures are available at mod
crate charges. A fine and large hotel
The Columbian" has been erected In
this park. in the form of a Greek cross
thereby avoiding inside or badly ventilat-
ed rooms. The hotel is under able man
agement and has all modern improve
ments. The run of the steamer from
Thousand Island park to Alexandria bay
is superb. Hundreds of islands lie across
the steamers tortuous and zig gag
course. all differing in size and forming
an intricacy OF channels through which
only the experienced pilot could guide the
way. Alexandria bay is the Saratoga of
the St. Lawrence" undoubtedly the cen
Of the Thousand Islands 1t is one of
the most popular as well as one OF the
most fashionable watering places n
America and numbers among its, fire.
known men of the United States.
The calm stretch Of the river varied here
and there by 4 few islands would scarce
ly prepare one for the boisterous scenes
Prescott fades from sight We pass
through the first of the troubled waters
of the St. Lawrence. the Gallops. These
are only foretaSte of what is to follow
for on rounding a point We find ourselves
in the Rapids du Plat After shooting
these rapids the steamer glides on with
steadily increasing motion, passing PCT,
uresque points and holder shores until
We come into sight of the turbulent wa
tiers of Long Sault with its snow crested |
pillows Of raging waters. Through these |
rapids we gain a speed of twenty miles |
an hour, and with steam almost com |
pletely shut off our steamer dashes in
and out among the waves that seem 10 |
advance to meet her up the hill and is |
carried along by sheer force of the cur
rent. Navigation of Long Sault requires |
exceptional nerve and precision in pilot |
ing as well as extra power to control
the rudder is provided with tiller (be- |
side the regular apparatusl and is |
manned while four men are kept at the |
result of such precautions fatal accidents |
are unknown. |
Coteau Rapids are the next we enter |
after passing under a magnificent iron
bridge of the Canada Atlantic Railway, |
one of the greatest engineering master |
pieces that adorn the ST. Lawrence. Ii |
IS about one mile and a half long. Co |
teau Rapids is about two miles in length |
very DeduuIul ana frequently having an |
exceedingly swift current. About seven |
miles further down we enter Cedar Rap |
ids just after rounding a very sharp |
curve. This is a turbulent stretch of wa
ter and its passage is most exciting. |
Scarcely have we left the Cedar when We |
enter what appears to be the most peril |
Gus of all. the Split Rock Rapids. One |
cannot help shudder of fear as the ship |
approaches this threatening rock, but the |
skillful hand of the helmsman at the |
proper moment quickly turns the boat |
aside and we pass unframed. The cas- |
cades are the last we pass ere We enter |
Lake St. Louis. We quickly cross this !
calm body of water eighteen miles long |
and about four miles wide, and after is |
suing from the lake we come to the town |
At this village the famous Lachine Ca |
nal commences having been built to |
overcome the descent of the river in the |
Lachine Rapids. AS We pass along we |
can see the enclosed waters of the canal |
bearing upon their bosom the huge form |
Of some up going steamer. Across from |
Lachine Is the Indian village, Caughna- |
Naga on the south bank of the river. It's |
name. meaning praying Indian" Is very |
appropriately attached to the inhabitants
who are devoted adherents of the Roman |
Catholic faith and annually in June. join |
n the celebration of the Fete Dieu, in all |
ing under the bridge of the c. p. r., a
structure. the steamer glides |
into the mid stream that moves with |
calm majesty of irresistible power and |
speed indicative of the coming rapids |
which appear in full view as we sweep |
around a curve. And now We are before
The fiercest. most celebrated, most diff.