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BREAK IN WELLAND CANAL
STEAMER OUTHWAITE CARRIED AWAY THE GATES OF LOCK 7,
AND THERE WAS A BIG OVERFLOW
[Welland Tribune, 28 May 1897]
St. Catharines, May 21-About six o’clock this morning the propeller Outhwaite of Cleveland, Capt. Burke up bound, light, under a full head of steam, forced the gates of lock 7. The level above the lock, extending a distance of a mile and a quarter, emptied the flood of water with irresistible force on the steamer, nearly capsizing her and forcing her back to lock 6, overflowing the banks of the canal, tearing deep washouts in the embankments and flooding the adjourning lands, uprooting trees, felling fences an causing great loss.
The gates of the damaged lock were carried about 500 feet from their position. Gas lamps were overturned and gas mains exposed and twisted. Tom Nihan is said to have had 17 acres of oats washed out by the deluge and many other owners of adjacent properties will suffer by the flood.
David Leith, a lockman, had a narrow escape, having climbed a lamp-post to escape being drowned. He was hurled with the lamp-post over the embankment and carried a considerable distance into an adjoining field.
Michael Driscoll, another canal employee, tried to escape by getting on a fence but he, too was washed away, but escaped with a dunking.
This is the most serious accident which has occurred since the canal has been built, and will entail heavy expenditure on the part of the government.
It is understood that the Outhwaite’s owners will give bonds and that the boat will be allowed to proceed on her homeward journey in a few days, when the canal is freed from its blockade.
A large force of men are at work on the repairs necessary to renew navigation, but as the west wing of lock 2 is damaged, in many places seriously impaired embankments in many places seriously impaired, it will be some time before all repairs are completed.
Quite an excitement occurred among these residing near the canal, many being under the impression that the banks had entirely broken away, and that they would be ruined by having their orchards torn up and buildings destroyed. At present it is possible to closely estimate the cost of repairs, but it is said that $25,000 will have to be spent during this year to replace the canal in its former condition.
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