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LAUNCHING OF DUNBAR & SULLIVAN’S BIG SCOW
[Welland Tribune, 16 April 1897]
One must get a close view of the new mud scow just built for Contractors Dunbar & Sullivan in order to appreciate its immense size. It is the largest mud scow in Canada, and when it glides into the water will represent an outlay of a cool ten thousand dollars. Its size is 125 feet over all, 28 feet beam, and 11 feet sides. It is constructed of solid oak from the mills of McCleary & McLean of Thorold, and the iron work was supplied by Beatty & Sons, manufacturers of contractors’ plant, Welland. There are six pockets on the scow, each one of which has a capacity of 100 yards-600 yards in all. Everything is built on the line of rigid strength-heavy timbers, heavy iron and steel work, etc. each pocket is lined with steel plate; has two steel doors, weighing 4,200 lbs each, and when the load is ready for dumping the chain is let loose, the doors ply downward and the contents of the scow are landed in the bottom of the lake. The boat was begun about Feb. 1st, and under Mr. Hardison’s energetic, pushing supervision the work has been completed right on time, and will be sent to the owners at Lachine Canal as soon as a tug can be secured after the opening of navigation on Tuesday next. Mud scows, like convicts, are not named, but numbered-this one registering No. 18 of the Dunbar & Sullivan fleet. The boys have quietly named the boat “Fitzsimmons.” The launching was first set for 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon, but manager Hardison said it was doubtful if the boat would slip into the water before 10 a.m. today-Good Friday. The scow gets in to the canal end first-there is no distinction between bow and stern; it will do equally well from either end. There will be a large crowd to witness the plunge this morning, if the launching is delayed until then.
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