Other Names #
- KAMINISTIQUIA
- JESSIE OLIVER
- ALBERT NEFF
History #
The BUTCHER’S MAID, originally built as the KAMINISTIQUIA, was a propeller vessel that was constructed in 1871 by S. Neff in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It had a length of 80 feet, a beam of 17 feet, and a depth of 8 feet. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 129 and a net tonnage of 75.
The Butcher’s Maid had a varied history of ownership and name changes. It was renamed JESSIE OLIVER in 1873 and later renamed ALBERT NEFF in 1875. In 1885, it underwent a rebuild and was once again renamed Butcher’s Maid. The official number of the vessel was C71223.
In 1872, the Butcher’s Maid was sold to Canadian owners and used as a commissary boat during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The vessel operated as a passenger and package freight steamer, primarily trading between Port Arthur and points on the north shore of Lake Superior.
On October 20, 1886, the Butcher’s Maid was wrecked during a storm near Porphyry Point on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The vessel was driven ashore and subsequently broke up in the waves. Fortunately, there was no loss of life in the incident.
The exact cargo the Butcher’s Maid was carrying at the time of the loss is not specified in the available information. However, it is mentioned that the vessel was carrying quarry stone in its final voyage.
After the wreck, the Butcher’s Maid was considered a total loss. It was valued at $6,000 and had no insurance coverage. The vessel and its cargo were lost in the incident.
External Links #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Marine Museum of the Great Lakes – Mills List
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Ships
