Georgetown Stories: 1901-1904 41

figure and the advantages to the town [which the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium and bath provides in Charlottetown] are obvious.” (Patriot, Oct. 4, 1902)

New Building on Water Street

“The old Wightman building formerly used as a store and warehouse has been purchased by Mr. W. W. Jenkins from the owner, D. J. McCormack of Boughton Island. He will have it removed to a lot owned by him on Water Street after which it will probably be remodeled.” (Patriot, Dec. 4, 1902)

Boughton Island Progresses

Boughton Island’s 56 residents successfully petitioned the Government in 1902 to get their mail at Launching instead of Georgetown [where it sometimes might lay for weeks in winter] A bridge had been constructed from the Island to Launching. (Patriot, Jan. 29, 1903)

Peter Ross Makes Limb for Willie Bell

“The lame boy, Willie Bell, who had his leg amputated in the RBI. Hospital some months ago has lately been provided an artificial limb, the workmanship of Mr. Peter Ross, the well~ known blacksmith and foundry man of the town. The limb was made of a piece of willow well-hollowed out, with 2 iron joints and a leather socket and weights a little over four pounds, being nearly 2 pounds lighter than the expensive limb which was used as a model. The boy is now able to walk with comparative ease. Mr. Ross is a practical Christian and seldom

misses an opportunity to aid the unfortunate.” (Patriot, Feb. 4, 1903)

_ The Stanley and the Minto Caught in Floating Ice Pan

The winter of 1902 was one of the severest on record on P.E.I.. On Jan.12, the S.S. Stanley , loaded with passengers, including men, women & children and cargo, became lodged in an ice pan between Pictou and Georgetown and began to drift with the floe. Some of the passengers seeing it was possible to get to nearby Pictou Island landed there. The S.S. Minto “coaled”

the Stanley as she passed on her usual route, proceeded to Georgetown, then returned to the aid of her sister ship. The situation was made much worse, however, when in her attempts to draw near the Stanley, she lost her propeller blades. Now both . ships drifted helplessly. Provisions for the passengers and crews were brought over the ice, but for weeks all attempts to free the vessels were frustrated. Meanwhile, the docks at Georgetown and Pictou were piling up with cargo waiting transportation, some of it in danger of being ruined. Would-be passengers had to change their plans to get on or off the Island and certain stores ran out of supplies. Finally, it was decided to use an expert diver with dynamite to get through the ice to repair at least temporarily the Minto’s propellers. Reuben MacDonald, the Patriot’s News Editor a native of Georgetown, accompanied the group who went with the diver and wrote daily reports about the exploit for his paper. The Stanley was freed at last on Mar. 16 through the judicious use of dynamite and came on to Georgetown with 47 passengers. A special train was sent out from Charlottetown to meet the passengers. The Minto , operating with what repairs could be made at sea, had to limp to Yorston’s shipyard in Pictou for overhaul. (From almost daily reports in The Patriot from Feb.26 to Mar. 19, 1903)

Seymour Knight Returns from the Klondyke

Seymour Knight arrived home from Dawson, July 1903 after five years away. For much of the time he was assistant fire-chief at Dawson, though he did some prospecting—— rather unsuccessfully, and has some prospects. The Patriot says; “Mr. Knight is a man of great strength and a splendid specimen of physical manhood. Among the Islanders he met in Dawson was Mr. James McLeod, brother of Donald McLeod of Georgetown. He and Daniel McPhee are working together and doing well. The latter expects to visit his home in Burnt Point this fall.” (From Patriot, July 29, 1903)

Hot Water Heating in the Railway Station

“The splendid new station in Georgetown which is generally conceded to be in the right place,

' being at the head of the railway wharf, well-

situated for the business men and