QUEEN OF THE LAKES C77626

James Richardson & Sons received a telegram bearing distressing news— the schooner Queen of the Lakes, owned by the Richardsons, had foundered off Sodus Point, New York. The vessel, en route from Charlotte to Kingston carrying a load of coal, met its untimely demise approximately ten miles from Sodus. Miraculously, the crew managed to escape in a yawl and reach the safety of the shore. The coal shipment was destined for James Swift & Co., with the purpose of supplying Queen’s University.

The crew members, including Captain Chauncey Darryaw, Frank Darryaw (the captain’s son), R. Watts, Thomas Watson, Francis Truesdall, and Samuel Cannem (the cook), all hailed from Kingston. They were expected to arrive in the city via the Cape boat at noon the following day. The schooner had departed from Kingston ten days prior, laden with feldspar for Charlotte. After successfully completing that voyage, the vessel had sought refuge in Charlotte due to inclement weather before setting out on its ill-fated return journey on Wednesday morning.

While details of the tragic incident remain scarce, it is known that the vessel encountered severe seas, leading to speculation that a leak caused its demise. Distressingly, the schooner lacked insurance coverage. Queen of the Lakes had undergone reconstruction at Deseronto several years earlier, following its acquisition by the Richardsons from Captain Taylor. Since then, the vessel had avoided mishaps until this fateful event. Throughout the busy past season, the schooner had primarily been engaged in transporting coal and feldspar.

The coal shipment aboard the Queen of the Lakes consisted of 500 tons of soft coal screenings, destined for James Swift & Co. in Kingston. This load was specifically designated for Queen’s University. As the vessel and cargo were not insured at this late stage of the year, both the Richardsons and Swift & Co. faced significant losses. Moreover, to fulfill their contract with Queen’s, Swift & Co. would incur additional expenses exceeding $500 to transport the coal by rail.

On November 30, 1906, the Kingston Daily Whig reported the sinking of the schooner Queen of the Lakes owned by Richardson & Sons. The vessel, carrying coal from Charlotte to Kingston, encountered treacherous conditions on Lake Ontario, leading to a substantial leak. The crew of six, recognizing the dire situation, abandoned ship near Sodus Point and safely reached the shore. Unfortunately, the schooner could not be saved and sank shortly after their escape. The vessel had an estimated value of $5,000, while its cargo was worth $1,700. Regrettably, no insurance coverage existed for either.

The Schooner Queen of the Lakes had a long history, originally built in 1853 at Portsmouth, Ontario, with an official Canada number of 77626. It measured 128.0 feet in length, 23.3 feet in width, and 10.3 feet in depth, weighing 190 tons. Throughout the years, it changed ownership multiple times, undergoing repairs and modifications. The sinking in 1906 marked the end of its maritime journey.