Other Names #
- BONNIE
- BONNIE BOAT
The BONNIE MAGGIE, originally built as the Bonnie Boat, was a wooden propeller freighter. It was built in 1859 by J.M. Keating in Huron, Ohio. The vessel had the dimensions of approximately 111 feet in length, 18 feet in width, and 7 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 203 tons and a net tonnage of 125 tons.
On October 14, 1869, the Bonnie Maggie encountered a storm near Kincardine, Ontario, in Lake Huron. The vessel was thrown ashore and broken up by the waves. Unfortunately, the information regarding the loss of life in this incident is not available.
The Bonnie Maggie had a history of ownership changes. It was sold to Canadian owners in 1865. Over the years, it was owned by various individuals, including G. McAulay from Southampton, Ontario, Rumball & Parsons from Goderich, J. Detlor from Goderich, and J.G. Thomson from Penetanguishene.
The vessel was primarily used on Lake Huron, connecting with the Great Western Railway at Sarnia. It was also referred to as “Bonnie Margaret” in advertisements in the “Globe” newspaper in 1865.
During the incident that led to its loss, the Bonnie Maggie was sailing from Goderich to Southampton. As it was entering the harbor at Kincardine, its rudder chain broke during a gale. The vessel drifted past the north pier and was driven ashore, resulting in its breaking up. The passengers on board and the ship’s log were saved, but the goods on board were lost.
The Bonnie Maggie had a relatively short career in the coastal trade, and its wreckage scattered along the beach and into the water shortly after the incident.
