IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The ATHENA was a wooden propeller launch built in 1894 by Wm. Johnson in Hamilton, Ontario. Launches like the ATHENA were smaller vessels typically used for short-distance transportation and general utility purposes on the Great Lakes. The ATHENA measured 58 feet in length and had a modest tonnage, making it suitable for a variety of tasks within harbors and along coastal waters.
HISTORY #
The ATHENA was launched in 1894 and operated primarily out of Hamilton, Ontario. Owned by McDonald & Clendenning, the vessel served as a versatile propeller launch, contributing to the maritime activities in the region. However, the ATHENA met a tragic end on August 27, 1897, when a fire broke out at the Hamilton Wharf.
The fire originated on the steamer ACACIA and quickly spread to the ATHENA, resulting in the vessel’s complete destruction. Despite the severity of the incident, details regarding the cargo on board at the time or any potential loss of life remain unavailable. There is some conflicting information regarding the exact date of the loss, with one source suggesting April 1898 as the date of the fire, but August 27, 1897, is the more commonly cited and accepted date.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The ATHENA was destroyed by fire on August 27, 1897, at the Hamilton Wharf in Hamilton, Ontario. The vessel was lost along with the steamer ACACIA, and no records suggest that the ATHENA was ever rebuilt or salvaged.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The ATHENA was completely destroyed in the fire, and no remnants of the vessel are known to exist today. The site of the fire at Hamilton Wharf is of historical interest, but there are no significant artifacts or remains related to the ATHENA.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
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ATHENA, propeller launch, Hamilton Ontario, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, 1897 fire, Hamilton Wharf, maritime history, Great Lakes, Wm. Johnson.
