Canopus: A Collision on Lake Erie
The Canopus, a wooden two-masted brigantine, met its tragic fate in a collision on Lake Erie on June 24, 1865. Built in 1855 by F.D. Ketchum in Huron, Ohio, the Canopus had a length of 136 feet, a beam of 26 feet, a depth of 12 feet, and a tonnage of 386 tons.
On that fateful morning, between 3 and 4 am, the Canopus collided with the bark Republic off Claybanks on Lake Erie. Despite efforts to avert disaster, the Canopus sank in approximately 7 fathoms of water within 20 minutes of the collision. The crew managed to escape in the ship’s yawl, and fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.
The Canopus was carrying a cargo of 16,500 bushels of wheat at the time of the collision. The vessel was owned by Munn & Scott, based in Chicago. Following the sinking, the tug Dispatch recovered the outfit of the Canopus two weeks later.
The Canopus had encountered challenges prior to its sinking. In September 1859, the vessel went ashore and was expected to break up at Erie, Pennsylvania. However, it was later rescued, and repairs were undertaken to keep the ship afloat.
This wasn’t the first accident the Canopus experienced during its years of service. In August 1857, the brigantine collided with the brig Champlain in Chicago, Illinois, on Lake Michigan. In October 1858, the Canopus lost its canvas during a gale on Lake Huron and collided with the propeller Globe in Buffalo Harbor.
The sinking of the Canopus serves as a reminder of the risks faced by vessels and their crews navigating the waters of the Great Lakes. Collisions and accidents were all too common, with ships meeting unfortunate fates due to storms, navigational errors, or other vessels. The Canopus joined the long list of vessels that succumbed to the perils of Lake Erie, leaving behind memories of its once active presence on the waters of the Great Lakes.
