So noticeable and dangerous did this become that the directors of the Niagara Company felt it necessary to make public protest and the following announcement was published in the Toronto morning papers of August 6th, 1879:
STEAMER CHICORA.
Efforts of Her Owners To Prevent Racing and Avoid Collision.
Minutes of a meeting of the directors of the Niagara Navigation Company, held Monday, August 4th, 1879:
President, Hon. F. Smith; Col. F. W. Cumberland, Barlow Cumberland, John Foy.
(1) Captain Harbottle made a full report respecting the occurrence of Saturday, August 2nd, and of the circumstances in which the Rothesay twice crossed the course and bow of the Chicora.
That in the first occasion he was obliged to slow the engine, and in the second he stopped in order to prevent collision.
(2) That before the season opened Capt. Harbottle proposed to Mr. Lunt, the owner of the Rothesay, that in order to prevent all possibility of racing the first steamer clear of the Queen's Wharf, or Niagara river should be allowed to keep her place across the lake, but this Mr. Lunt declined.
(3) That as there seemed to be a determination on the part of the Rothesay to provoke racing, the above offer was repeated by the directors in a letter dated 16th June, and then Mr. Lunt in his reply dated 19th June, again declined to accept the proposition.
(4) That under all the circumstances the solicitor be instructed to take all known and possible proceedings at law to put an end to the dangers arising from the action of the captain and the owners of the Rothesay.