IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Flora L. Baines was a small steam propeller tug designed for light towing and ferry services. Measuring just over 31 feet in length and with a gross tonnage of 9 tons, it was one of the smaller steam vessels operating on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century. The tug was constructed with a wooden hull and featured a round stern, which was typical of the vessels of that era.
Equipped with a single-cylinder engine producing 4 horsepower, the Flora L. Baines utilized a screw propulsion system, which was standard for tugs of its kind. The vessel’s modest size and power made it suitable for short-distance towing and ferrying tasks, particularly in and around harbors and rivers.
HISTORY #
The Flora L. Baines was built in 1874 in Penetanguishene, Ontario, a town known for its shipbuilding industry. Owned by Edward Baines of Toronto, the tug initially served as a ferry in Toronto, providing essential transportation services within the harbor. Its small size and maneuverability made it well-suited for operations in confined waterways.
In 1876, the Flora L. Baines was transferred to Lake Simcoe, a large lake in southern Ontario, where it likely continued its ferry services. However, the vessel returned to Toronto later that year, indicating that it may not have been as successful or needed in the new location as anticipated.
The Flora L. Baines continued its service in Toronto until its unfortunate demise in 1879. On September 13, 1879, the tug was caught in a freshet in the Credit River—a sudden rise in water level caused by heavy rain or snowmelt. The powerful current carried the tug out into Lake Ontario, where it foundered and sank during a storm off the coast of Oakville, Ontario. The exact circumstances of the sinking are not fully documented, but it is clear that the small vessel was overwhelmed by the forces of nature.
There is some confusion regarding the exact date of the tug’s sinking, with some sources suggesting it may have occurred on September 13, 1878, instead of 1879. However, most records indicate that the vessel foundered in 1879.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Flora L. Baines was lost to the depths of Lake Ontario on September 13, 1879. The vessel’s registry was officially closed on January 21, 1880, marking the end of its brief career on the Great Lakes. The tug’s small size and the conditions of its sinking have made it difficult to locate and document the wreck site. As a result, the current status and location of the wreck are unknown.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The exact location of the Flora L. Baines wreck has not been identified, and the status of the vessel remains a mystery. Given its size and the circumstances of its sinking, it is likely that the wreck, if found, would be in a fragmented and deteriorated state. The depth and condition of the wreck site are also unknown, making it unclear whether the site is accessible or suitable for diving.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Great Lakes Ships
- Marine Museum of the Great Lakes – Mills Listing
