Belle was a wooden steamer that was built in 1850 by J.W. Banta in Buffalo, New York. It had a length of 142 feet, a beam of 21 feet 8 inches, and a depth of 8 feet 2 inches. The vessel had a tonnage of 240.02 tons and was powered by a sidewheel propulsion system with two engines. It was equipped with one low-pressure boiler.
On May 16, 1852, Belle foundered in a storm off Cape Croker in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The exact details of the loss, including the number of lives lost and the cargo being carried, are unknown.
Belle had a relatively short history before its loss. In November 1850, it assisted in rescuing the schooner William, which had run aground on rocks near Dunkirk, New York, in Lake Erie. In geoJune 1851, Belle operated a daily service between Buffalo and Silver Creek, Dunkirk, and Barcelona. In 1852, it was chartered to Charles Thompson of Collingwood, Ontario, to run between Penetanguishene and Sault Ste. Marie.
Unfortunately, Belle met its demise when it ran ashore in thick fog, resulting in a total loss off Cape Croker in Georgian Bay.
