The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27
OJEER LAKE CARGOES.
Coal, Birthstone. GunpOwder and Mstches
Made In One Of Them.
From the Buffalo Times.

From the Buffalo Timer.
vesselmen are commenting on the cargo
If the barge James Mowatt, which arrived
in Buffalo on Tuesday night In tow OF the
steamer jim Sherifs. The Mowatt started
to load lumber. but when 100000 Feet nao
been put on it was found that there was not
enough lumber available to complete the
load cant. E. p. Titus and the owner didn't
care to take the trip to Buffalo with only
half cargo. and, as ore was available. the
Nowott finished loading with iron. 1t 10
probably the first case on record where
similar cargo has been reported at the Buffalo
custom house.
Cant. Hi smith. who was for years engaged
in the vessel brokerage business. In referring
to the Mowatt's makeshift for full cargo
mentioned other stran ge consi 9nments which
in times past have been sent up the Lakes.
Il remember one strange assorted cargo,
| said Can't, Smith which probably exceeded
| in it's incongruous nature any consignment
ever sent from this port 1t was some time
| in the COS, during the civil war. and was loaded
| on the schooner Oliver culver. commanded
| by Capt. Wheaton Of Chicago.
at consisted Of $50 tons Of coal 100 tons OF
brimstope. 80 tons of gunpowder and 40 tons
F., of matches. Oh you needn't laugh. This
q an absolute fact. and the records OF the
| custom house. il they have been preserved.
] will bear me out in the statement
Customs officials were unusually watch
| full at that time, and when Capt. wheaton
went to the Office to get his clearance the
| clerk refused to issue It, An appeal TO the
! Collector was equally frutless, He sug-
eested that the only man who could authorize
| the issuance of a clearance FOR such sus-
picious combination OF freight was the Fed
eral Judge. at that time J, X. Hail. whose
office was in the old postof1ce building. at
Seneca and Washington streets.
and reported. ! had chartered his schooner
and, OF course, felt in duty bound TO help
him out sbs oI 20 sne wa went
clearanee en- 81 sa'd IA Sh sss Judge
the % Sf"fe D our v se
"'Oh, said Wheaton, I've got birthstone
and matches. and powder, and. ..
dhs qdse rrn "a Re ihserTnp,ed
soapa T5 1sr.6 il r. end name are
retur MelI W w. Sons were bound for Han
cock etI' on Lake superior, and. Capt. Smith
vii Ell ,an XIII f. my al ma rsh said the Judge
band Of war in that cargo. Give him clear
Mr. Ts. snoher cargo went Up tho Lake
some years ago. continued, CAPT Smith
That proved hs saly snd Of the vesssl y
Watson, took on a miscellaneous cargo from
Buffalo to Lake Michigan port. Among
other freight loaded were zoo toR aS or cement H.
other stun being loaded on top Of the cement.
Shortly after quitting the harbor. some
s sdan o asHsf for rS witch rD as
for her y years. was buTsted BY the heavy seas
shs Sprsns saE nS
the pumps were worked to the utmost. il
looked for time as though the brig and
crew were doomed f9r no small Y, boat os could
real lied that to abandon the craft was only
perhaps to Rro!ons thsr sS 4; y. for
some time inspection showed that the water
the hold wss not sadnngh shs men spEban1
it was demonstrated concluslve!g that they
were gaining on the water; Finally tht
70 oS MSk The % sag f
in the hold. but they pumped the brig prac-
'N o e1pi anatiop Of the strange oijrcYm.t.p 0.
was obtained until the Fox reached milwaukee,
il t was found that tn, entire bottom Of the boat
was covered with coatins Of cement, as hard
When the brig had sprpng z leak the in.
Of the cargo and the rolling Of the vessel IL
the heavy sea had aided TO carry the cement
into every crevice Of the old boat. PLUGGING
most enectualy the opened seams and makinl
the craft as thoroughly seaworthy as tht
most expert caulker could have done. Will
any other cargo, under similar circumstance
| there isn't doubt but that the brig anc
| probably the crew. would have been lost
| The Fox had to go into dry dock for genera
| repairs, but IL was said at the time that thu
| portion OF the work causing the most trouble
was the digging out by tbs dry dock en-
Ployees Of the cement thas had been foroe<