The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-11
The Procession Of BS1ated Freight
Laden Steam and Sailing Ships Said
to he over Forty Miles Long.
ALL ANXIOUS TO REACH PORT
AND EXCITING RACES WILL BE W.T.
MESSED FOR A FEW DAYS.
Rejoicing Among the Captains, Who
Were Losing from $500 to 81 900
q Day Each by the Tie.Up.

The embargo on Lake Superior navigation
by the sinking of the steamer Douglas
Houghton in the 500 passage last Tuesday
was lifted al $3.50 o'clock this afternoon. The
largest fleet ever accumulated on the lakes,
If not in America, began to move soon after
and one vast naval procession headed down
the lakes while another started on its way
to Lake Superior. In the two there were
over 200 of the largest craft under the
American flag, save the few ocean liners.
The lifting of the embargo was full of
dramatic incidents. 1t was Tuesday last
when the Houghton was sunk in the mar
rowest part of the channel by collision
with the schooner Fritz, which she had in
tow. In passing through a narrow cut of
solid limestone, the wheel chains on the
Houghton had parted, and the steamer
drove her nose far into the limestone rock
on one side, while the current swung her
stern against the opposite side of the chan
mel. The next instant the Fritz crashed into
the side of the big boat, cutting hole in
her side. The Fritz then also swung across
the channel. which was as completely
blocked as If the government engineers had
constructed dam at that point.
Every man who could be secured was nut
to work. Divers succeeded in putting
patch of wood over the break and night and
day after that the ore was shoveled on to
lighters. 1t could not be thrown overheard,
for the channel at that point is ;ust deep
enough for deep-laden vessels. To-day at
noon 1850 tons had been lightered and the
bow of the Houghton had risen out of the
water about five feet 1t was found the
steamer had driven her way into the lime
stone ledge about twelve feet, and the ledge
had to be blasted away.
The first blast of dynamite only cracked
the rock. A second was then placed under
the rock and four tugs were hitched again st
the Houghton's stern on one side and Two
on the other side, while one Was placed at
her bow. The tugs started up at full speed
and the battery was fired. IT was expected
that the next instant would see the Hough-
ton floating down stream, carrying the tugs
and lighters and even the trees from the
| bank to which the boat was hitched by
| twelve-inch hawser. But the Houga.on did
| nothing of the kind. The great boat re- ised
| slightly, and then settled back nine riches
| deeper in the pocket than she was before.
| Again the rocks were charged with dyna-
mite and again the tugs pulled and snorted
| when the charge was fired. Again the
| Houghton did not move an inch. This was
repeated again and again. until finally
\ oAtSh oil UNUSUALLY AcdNy Charge WHICH
shattered the rocks which held the bow Of
| the Houghton In wise, the big boat moved
in the current and drifted and was pulled
! out Of the channel.
| 1t was a time of great rejoicing among
| the captains of the blockaded fleet, over
hundred Of whom were at the scene.
| They hurried back to their ships to pre-
| pare for the procession down the river.
4 They hogan intO noSitiOp in
Hay lake, where they took their places in
the order of their arrival at the locks
| This was done by Captain A. B. Davis, of
| the revenue service, who had taken COM
| mand at the request of the Lake Carriers
| Association.
Tonight the fleet stretches out for miles
in Hay lake. Captains are waiting for word
| from Captain Davis to start. They are
passing down a third of a mile apart in
| order to avoid danger of collision. The pro-
| cession is over forty miles long. AS most
| Of the up-bound boats have been got out
| of the way, the procession will be prac-
| tically continuous and doubtless it is the
| greatest naval display ever given in the
| United States. Their order will be main
| tanned until they are out of the narrow
| places of st. Mary's river. Then a mighty
| race will begin. The prize will be first place
at the receiving dock With this great feet
to be cared for, the prize which will go to
the swift one will be worth large sum,
| for with freight at boom prices every day
| lost now means from $500 to $1,000.
Clearing the channel by blasting out the
| Houghton was a surprise to the assembled
| captains. They were unanimously predict
ing this morning that it would take forty
| eight hours more to get the Houghton out
| of the way, but the wreckers were only
three and a half hours behind their original
| estimate.
The down-bound fleet is carrying nearly
10000 tons of iron ore. IL. 10000 feet of lum-
Der and 100000 bushels of wheat. Flour and
general merchandise add materially to these
| totals.
Some accidents attended the moving OF
the fleet. The Northern Wave grounded. but
was eaily released. The Crete lay on the
| powders just astern of the Houghton for
two hours until she was pulled afioat by a
tug. When released there was five feet of
water in the water bottom on the starboard
side of the bow of the Houghton and one
foot on the port side. 1t has not yet been
ascertained how seriously the big boat was
damaged by lying across the channel but
il is considered that her bow was not badly
cut up by blowing its way into the line
stone ledge