The true northerner., 1900-08-17
500 RIVER
BLOCKED
DIG STEEL BARGE MAZDA SUNK AT
{ SAILORS ENCAMPNIENT,
COMPLEyrF.LY BLOCKING UNITED
1 STATES OANa
ONLY LIGHT DRAUGHr VESSELS
CAN Get TIROUGH.

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Aug. 15.-
Another blockade occurred In the
United States ship canal opposite Sail
ors' Encampment Tuesday, and, COM
ing during the hight Of the season, IL is
likely 10 prove as disastrous, not
more so, than the delay caused by the
sinking Of the Douglass Houghton at
the same place Last fall.
The blockade this time is caused by
the schooner Mazda. OF the Minnesota
Steamship Co. The Mazda was bound
down I'm tow OF the steamer Matoa,
both ore hiden Just after they had
entered the Encampment cut the Mai
da's steering chains broke. causing her
TO sheer and run her nose on 10 the
bank. She then swung across the chan
mel and partly sunk. AS she is 80
feet long. she extends clear across the
channel, which is only 800 feet wide.
The accident occurred at 3 O'Clock on
Tuesday afternoon.
General Supt. Ripley, OF St Mary's
Falls Canal, on receipt of the news,
departed at once for the scene OF the
wreck. He will take prompt measures
to remove the blockade.
The Mazda brought up I'm almost eX-
actly the same position where the
steamer Douglass Houghton was sunk
across the channel last year. This
wreck delayed the commerce TO Lake
Superior for over a week and cost the
business interests over a million dol
lars. The Mazda struck the rocks on
the side of the cut with such force
that her bow is stove i'm and her fore
peak full of water. No boats can get
through by this route until the vessel
is lightered off.
No boats have come from the wreck
last night. except the steamer Yuma.
bound up light, which came around 10y
the old Canadian channel. which is
safe for light-draught boats in day
light. Her captain reports that he saw
one tug with the Mazda, and he could
not ascertain how much damage she
had suffered
The steamers Roumania and Mary
McGrogor. Roby and the schooner Bar
lum. bound down, are held here for
further information regarding the
wreck. The Matoa and Mazda passed
down Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock.
Ali craft which passed down since
that time must be delayed on this side
of the Encampment. The following
boats are supposed 10 be in the block
ade: Griffin, King, Teutonia, GAVIN,
Fiske. Fischer and car ferries, Manola,
Massachusetts and Moonlight The
names Of the up-bound boats could not
be learned this morning.
The towing companies sent fleets of
tugs to the wreck as soon as the trouble
was learned. The tug General is eX-
pccted 10 return at any time now and
vessel men are anXiously awaiting the
news she may bring The Congress
sional party which comprises the com
mittees on harbors and waterways now
making a tour Of the lakes are now
in Duluth. They will not return until
Aug. Is. and they will therefore miss
the spectacle which would be an edify-
Ing one for them.
The VI aida belongs TO the Minnesota
Steamship Co. a part Of the Federal
Steel Co. She Is nearlv 100 feet in
length and 4G feet beam The wreck
is a mUch less troublesome one than
that OF the Houghton. for the latter
boat was rammed by her consort and
sunk. neceSsitating a patch which was
put on by divers and took up much
valuable time. IL Is believed that the
Matla can H. lrhtered of the rocks in
n day and n half at the most. All that
is required is the removal Of enough
cargo 10 enable her 10 float off the
rocks.
l.
happen 10 any large craft in this cut
and was due 10 the negligence OF no
one. Vesselmen have been loud i'm
their demands for an extra channel
around this point since last years les
son from the HoughtOn. Running with
the current In the narrow cut when the
wheel chains parted there was no
time TO do anything before the boat
went across the river and was hard
aground.