Year of Build:

1845

Built at:

Buffalo, NY

Vessel Type:

Steamer

Hull Materials:

Wood

Builder Name:

Mason & Bidwell

Master Carpenter:

Jacob W. Banta

Original Owner and Location:

New York & Erie Railway Co., Erie, PA.

Ownership Notes:

C.N.Reed & Company, Erie.

Propulsion:

Sidewheel

Engine Type:

Vertical Beam (Walking Beam)

# Cylinders:

1

# Boilers:

3

Propulsion Notes:

65 x 120" engine by Shepard Iron Works, Buffalo, NY. 30' wheels.

Length:

230'

Beam:

33.5'

Depth:

14'

Tonnage (old style):

1084

Final Location:

1.5 miles off Port Washington, WI.
Lake Michigan.

Date:

24 Sep 1856

Final Depth:

55'

How:

Burned.

Final Cargo:

General freight & passengers.

Notes:

Bound Collingwood, ONT - Chicago, IL, more than 60 lost their lives.

Was the flagship of Reed Line, ran between Dunkirk, NY & Detroit, MI; later changed to Buffalo, NY & Chicago, IL.

1845, Jun 5 Launched.

1846, Nov 24 Aground, Erie, PA, Lake Erie.

1847 New engine, low pressure by Allaire.

1847, Sep 3 Ran onto rock reef, Bois Blanc Island, released.

1848, Apr 18 Ashore near Charlotte, NY.

1848, Apr Collision with schooner POLAND, St. Clair River; one life lost.

1849, Nov Damaged wheat at Chicago.

1851, Feb Repaired: new arches.

1851, Sep 15 Collision with schooner TRAVELER, Lake Michigan.

1851, Nov 29 Collided with brig A.L.BLOSSOM, Detroit River.

1853, Apr Struck rock at head of Lake Erie; repaired.

1854, Nov 7 Sprung leak on Lake Erie, returned, discharged & drydocked for repairs.

1855, May - 1856 Chartered Simcoe & Lake Huron Railway, ran between Collingwood, ONT & Chicago, IL.

1855, Sep Collision with steamer CATARACT, Niagara River, Lake Ontario.

1856, Sep 24 Burned off Port Washington, WI, Lake Erie.

From the Collection of:

C. Patrick Labadie