On September 18, 1870, the schooner DOMINION set sail from Charlotte bound for Shannonville, Ontario, accompanied by the FLORENCE HOWARD. Approximately 15 miles into their journey, the two vessels crossed paths, and the fully-sailed HOWARD collided with the DOMINION amidships. The impact caused the DOMINION to heel over and sink rapidly, forcing the crew to hastily abandon ship in their yawl. Fortunately, they were rescued by the lumber schooner GEARING. Both the DOMINION and the HOWARD were owned by David Andrews of Charlotte or Napanee, Ontario.
The DOMINION, a two-masted wooden schooner, was built in 1867 by D. Tait in Wellington, Ontario. It had a size of 79 feet in length, 19 feet in beam, and 6 feet in depth, weighing 76 tons. Tragically, the DOMINION met its second loss on November 20, 1879. While anchored under South Point for shelter during a severe storm, the anchor chains gave way, prompting the crew to set sail in an attempt to navigate towards Oswego. However, as they approached the harbor, the schooner struck the Ford’s Shoal, causing it to be pounded into pieces. The DOMINION had been en route from Oswego to Mill Point, Ontario. It was owned by Captain O’Hagan and E. W. Rathbun of Oswego.
In a separate incident in November 1871, the DOMINION collided with the steamer DROMEDARY in Hamilton and sank. However, there are no further details available regarding this particular incident.
Sources and External Links
- Great Lakes Ships C. Patrick Labadie
- Donald V. Baut
- Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory
- Canadian Registers
- Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
- Buffalo Commercial Advertiser September 20, 1870 3-5
- Toledo Blade Wednesday, September 21, 1870
