The schooner CANADA, initially built as a barkentine in 1861 by L. Shickluna in St. Catharines, Ontario, experienced a loss on November 11, 1882. At the time of the incident, the CANADA was a three-masted wooden schooner measuring 143 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and 12 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 399 tons.
The vessel ran aground on Colchester Shoal in Lake Erie during a storm. Although it initially sustained minor damage, the CANADA was eventually destroyed by wave action. Despite the efforts of the tug ERIE BELLE, the wreck was completely broken up by November 25. The cargo aboard the CANADA consisted of black walnut and oak lumber. No lives were lost in the incident.
The wreck of the CANADA was located near the remains of the tug MAYFLOWER, which had gone down the previous year. The CANADA was en route from Toledo to Quebec when it ran aground. The vessel was owned by S. Neelon of St. Catharines, who later sued the Canadian Government due to the non-operation of the Colchester Shoal lightship.
In 1871 and 1874, the CANADA underwent significant repairs. In 1873, the vessel had previously encountered an incident where it burned near Quebec while carrying lumber to South America, resulting in one fatality.
It is worth noting that there seems to be some confusion or discrepancy regarding the vessel’s name and specifications in the provided information. One record mentions it as a schooner while another identifies it as a barkentine.
