CELEBRATION

OF THE

Semi-Centennial of the Opening

OF

THE SAINT MARY'S CANAL

Introduction

BY J. P. NIMMO

RIEST, Frenchman, English-Canadian, Indian and American ioined in the celebration of the second and third days of August, 1905. They were not conquering by discovery nor by arms; they were not marking boundary lines; they were not lifting. scalps, nor coveting them. Consciously or unconsciously they offered thanks that those things were of the past. A few looked on the foaming rapidsnow converted into a great factor in modern manufacture-and the whole panorama of the ages passed before their minds. Some, with the modern spirit of money-making upon them calculated the profits in marine commerce now as compared with 50 years ago, with never a thought of La Salle's Griffon or the venturesome flat-bottomed craft that once dared the great lakes. All of those 40,000 spectators saw a grand pageant, heard statesmen explain it, and went home happy.

It was fifty years since the first boat had gone through the St. Mary's ship canal, and Michigan and her sister states of the great lakes and Canada had sent their citizens to the site to rejoice and give thanks.

"In 1855," says Mr. Peter White, "there was no vessel on the great lakes of more than 600 or 700 tons. As soon as the canal was open the tonnage of vessels went as high as 1,000, then 2,000 and 3,000. I remember well the excitement when the leviathan of the lakes-the Selwyn Eddy of 5,500 tons, was launched at Bay City." This morning of the second of August, 1905, Mr. White saw thirteen vessels of various dimensions go through the Poe lock with one opening of the gates.

Naval salutes from the United States and State of Michigan vessels in the harbor at sunrise had told British subject and American citizen that

the international demonstration had begun. Sunshine direct from Olympus bejeweled the river, threw little rainbows in the rapids, and danced upon the gold and brass of officers and ships. Humanity, good natured beyond its wont, massed itself along the banks of the river and the sides of the huge lock, and cheered out its patriotism as Vice-President Fairbanks appeared on the deck of the Tuscarora at the head of the naval parade and majestically saluted his welcomers after his own manner. Then came Solicitor-General Lemieux and Senator Dandurand, of Canada, on

the Philadelphia, and Governor Warner and his glittering staff with members of the Michigan legislature on the Morrill; and with them all more bowing and cheering. Michigan's statesmen and public men from other states were there in force-all on board the holiday fleet, puzzling over the ensigns at the mast head and making vain endeavors to count the colors that dressed the ships from stem to stern.

Slowly-not quickly-the water rose in the great Poe lock and the vessels of the naval parade began steaming up stream preparatory to an imposing descent on the Canadian shore. Steadily up the river for a mile. or two, with the boats several lengths apart, the novel procession sailed

on with its music and laughter and holiday colors, then turned for the entrance to the Canadian lock. Except for the difference in the design. of the flags Vice-President Fairbanks himself might have found some difficulty in realizing that he was now a guest in foreign waters. British loyalty flouted itself in high and numerous Union Jacks and Canadian ensigns, and Canadians on the American vessels proudly whispered in confidential tones to their neighbors "This is Canada." But the welcome to the American fleet-the screams of boat and factory whistles, and the cheers

for Vice-President Fairbanks as a British flag was run up to the mast head of the Tuscarora were quite as deafening as the most enthusiastic and fastidious American patriot could wish.

Not so quickly, but with comparative speed, the water lowered between the gates, and the Yankees sailed away. The Philadelphia, with her distinguished Canadian guests escorted the visiting fleet well out into the harbor, and with a vigorous salute of her whistle, turned for the Canadian shore, while two Chippewas executed a weird Indian dance on deck. One performer was a grizzly chieftain something under 150 years old. The other was "Rising Sun," known among the English speakers as Mr. B. J. Clergue.

The American fleet made a half-moon maneuver in the harbor. The Vice-President and the Governor left their respective ships to meet on the United States S. S. Wolverine. From the Tuscarora and the Morrill there were nineteen guns for the Vice-President, and seventeen for the Governor. Then they left the Wolverine to visit the Michigan Naval Reserve S. S. Yantic. Now it was the Wolverine that repeated the salutes and now the Y'antic.

And amid all the booming and smoke and crash of the bands, there was not a good Yankee-or Canadian-along either shore of St. Mary's river, who did not feel his blood tingle and his muscles tighten and his lungs expand until he shouted for more. And just to keep his blood at the right temperature three first class bands were filling the air with military, leaping, throbbing music in the canal park at Old Fort Brady-the regimental bands of the First United States Infantry and the Third Michigan National Guard, and the band of the Calumet & Hecla Mining Co., from Houghton-one of the best trained in the country.

The programme for the afternoon of the second of August introduced to the celebrants a connecting link between the prosperous days of the twentieth century and the period of early exploits in marine engineering at Sault Ste. Marie in the person of Mr. Charles T. Harvey, chief marshal of the military parade. With Mr. Peter White, Mr. Harvey related many thrilling experiences in pioneer days. It was most fitting that he should now appear as a leader in the celebration of events with which he was identified.

Nation and state, past and present, were represented in the thousands of spectators who flanked the line of march, as well as in the ranks of the marchers. French habitans chattered in a patois born among the settlements on this continent, when French and Indian, Indian and English, English and French fought together and against each other and struggled for the raw riches of the new country. Rarely has the street throng so completely enjoyed itself. Steamboats and steam coaches and trolley cars carried the sons of men who never saw any of them, nor dreamed of them.