The schooner, built in 1855 at St. Catharines, Ontario, met a tragic end on multiple occasions throughout its history. On October 24, 1855, it was wrecked off Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Lake Michigan. Two years later, in October 1857, the schooner was involved in a collision with and sinking of the propeller Oliver Cromwell in the Straits of Mackinaw. It was also damaged in a collision with the schooner International and both vessels were towed by the tug Sprague at the flats in November 1859.
Ownership of the schooner changed over the years, and by 1860, it was owned by P. Larkins of St. Catharines, Ontario. In 1862, the vessel underwent significant repairs. However, it sustained damage again during a Lake Huron gale on October 6, 1864. The schooner had a gross tonnage of 280 in 1865 and was subsequently owned by Batt & Sheppard of Port Stanley, Ontario, in 1866, following further repairs.
Unfortunately, the misfortunes continued. In July 1868, the schooner ran aground in Port Colborne, Lake Erie. The final chapter in the vessel’s history came on October 31, 1870, when it was wrecked on the north side of Salmon Point in Lake Ontario. The schooner, bound from Toronto to Kingston, drove ashore and was completely wrecked, resulting in the loss of all nine crew members. Its final cargo consisted of wheat.
The schooner was originally built by Louis Shickluna, with J. L. Ranney listed as the original owner. It had a length of 122 feet, a beam of 25 feet, a depth of 10.5 feet, and a tonnage of 312 (old style). The tragic end of this vessel serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges faced by sailors and ships navigating the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.
