History #
The propeller steamship Antelope had a tumultuous history, including a devastating fire and subsequent rebuilding. Here is a summary of the vessel’s events:
The Antelope was built in Newport, Michigan, in 1861 by J.L. Wolverton. It had a tonnage of 627 tons and was classified as A 2. The vessel was initially owned by E.B. Ward of Detroit. In 1867, it was sold to Lathrop & Co. of Racine.
On November 17, 1867, tragedy struck when the Antelope caught fire in front of Reed’s elevator in Buffalo. The vessel, carrying a cargo of seventeen thousand bushels of wheat and six hundred barrels of flour, burned to the water’s edge. The fire was believed to have started near the boiler. The total loss was estimated to be $150,000, including the vessel and its cargo. The Antelope was insured for $44,000, while the cargo had insurance coverage of $50,000.
Despite the significant loss, efforts were made to salvage and rebuild the Antelope. The burned hull of the vessel was towed to Detroit by the tug Winslow in August 1868. It was then purchased by Ballentyne and Crawford, who planned to rebuild it as good as new.
By November 1868, the Antelope was undergoing reconstruction at Clark’s drydock in Detroit. The intention was to rebuild it as a steam lumber barge. The vessel was rebuilt successfully, and it continued its operations under the new configuration.
In terms of its final fate, the Antelope encountered another tragic event. It foundered in Lake Superior in 1897, marking the end of its service.
The history of the Antelope serves as a testament to the resilience of vessels in the face of adversity. Despite the initial fire and subsequent rebuilding, the vessel continued to navigate the Great Lakes for several more years before meeting its final demise.
