Steam Tug Young Lion (1862)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Young Lion
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: None (Canadian registry)
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
• Builder: Donaldson & Andrews, Port Dalhousie, Ontario
• Year Built & Launched: 1862
• Specifications:
  • Gross Tonnage: 98 GT
  • Net Tonnage: 62 NT
• Date Lost: November 23 or 28, 1874 (Some sources give January 21, 1875, which may be the document surrender date)
• Location of Loss: Off Port Credit, Ontario (near Toronto), Lake Ontario
• Cause of Loss: Fire near the boiler
• Loss of Life: None
• Cargo at Time of Loss: None (empty for winter layup)

Vessel Description & History

The Young Lion was a wooden-hulled propeller steam Tug, built in 1862 by Donaldson & Andrews of Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Tugboats like the Young Lion played an essential role in towing vessels, assisting with docking, and performing salvage operations.

She was owned by Captain Frank Jackman of Toronto, who operated her in harbors and along shipping routes on Lake Ontario.

In 1874, she was taken to Port Dalhousie for recaulk repairs, a standard maintenance process to reseal wooden hulls and prevent leaks.

Final Voyage & Loss

On November 23 or 28, 1874, the Young Lion was en route from Port Dalhousie to Toronto for winter layup when she caught fire near her boiler while off Port Credit, Ontario.

The fire spread rapidly, making it impossible for the crew to extinguish the flames. With no chance to save the vessel, the crew Abandoned ship in a small boat that was luckily aboard. Battling rough conditions in a half-gale, they rowed to safety in Toronto.

The Young Lion burned to a Total Loss, leaving no recoverable wreckage.

Final Disposition

• Declared a Total Loss due to fire.
• No salvage attempts recorded.
• Some reports list January 21, 1875, as the official document surrender date.

Located By & Date Found

No known discovery of wreckage.  Given that she was destroyed by fire, any remains are likely scattered debris or fully deteriorated.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Port Credit, Ontario, remains an active shipping area, but no known navigational hazards related to the Young Lion exist today.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Young Lion was a reliable steam Tug that had served Lake Ontario for over a decade before her destruction by fire in 1874. Her loss highlights the dangers of early steam-powered vessels, where boiler fires were a constant threat. Though her crew survived, she was completely lost, leaving behind only her brief but important role in Great Lakes navigation history.