- Scow Schooner
The schooner Emperor, an American vessel, encountered a mishap on November 2, with reports stating that it stranded near Presqu’Isle while transporting a cargo of lumber from Port Hope to Oswego. The incident occurred after the ship’s anchor cables parted, leading to its unfortunate grounding at the Outer Range Lights. This information was documented in the Daily British Whig, Kingston, although the exact date of the newspaper is not provided.
According to the Department of Marine and Fisheries’ Statement of Wreck & Casualty for 1870, the Emperor is listed as wrecked. It is described as an American schooner with a tonnage of 185.17 tons and a home port in Oswego. The vessel is identified by the U.S. number 8500.
Additional historical records reveal that the Emperor was originally known as the Leopard. The schooner Leopard, with a tonnage of 214 tons, was built in Port Dover in 1853. It was owned by Bostwick & Co. and had a home port in Port Stanley. Classified as Class B, the vessel was valued at $4,000. The records from 1864 also note that the Leopard underwent significant repairs in 1862.
The Register of British Shipping for Inland Waters in 1854 also mentions the Leopard as a scow schooner of 120 tons. It was constructed in Port Rowan in 1853 and owned by Killmaster & Co., with a home port in Port Rowan. The vessel was classified as Class A1 in hull and A in stores, with a value of £1,200.
The overlapping records indicate that the Leopard underwent a name change and became the Emperor at some point. However, it is clear that the Emperor’s final fate was marked as wrecked, as indicated in the List of U.S. Merchant Vessels for 1871.
