CABOTIA C133825

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HIAWATHA U133852

Freighter
235ft 75m Lengths
Main Duck Island
Lake Ontario

The Propeller Cabotia, known as HIAWATHA until 1913, was a formidable vessel with a tragic end. Officially registered under Canada number 133852, this propeller-driven ship was built in Gibraltar, Michigan, in 1880. With impressive dimensions of 244 feet in length, 36 feet in beam, and 20 feet in depth, it boasted a sizeable tonnage of 1,530 tons. Originally constructed in the United States, the vessel eventually found its way into Canadian waters.

Throughout its history, the Cabotia served different purposes and changed hands multiple times. It started its journey towing the barge MINNEHAHA in the ore trade between Lake Superior and Lake Erie ports after being enrolled in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 14, 1880. Over the years, it transported grain from Duluth, Minnesota, to Buffalo, New York, and played a significant role in the ore trade, connecting Two Harbors with lower lakes under the ownership of Wellington A. Burt and others.

The vessel faced various challenges during its operational years. In 1889, it suffered disabling damage at Sailor’s Encampment and had to be towed by the tug WINSLOW from Sault Saint Marie to Detroit for repairs. The Cabotia was equipped with two Scotch boilers and a fore and aft compound engine, providing it with substantial power for its operations.

Ownership of the Cabotia changed hands several times, with names such as C.H. Lane, Martha Simpson, J.C. Gilchrist, Lake Shore Transit Company, and Gilchrist Transportation Company associated with its management. In 1913, it was acquired by the Cabotia Steam Ship Company and renamed Cabotia, receiving a new registration number, C133825. Later, it came under the ownership of the Canadian Shipping Company and, in 1918, the George Hall Coal Company.

However, tragedy befell the Cabotia on August 27, 1919, when it met its demise near Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario, close to Kingston. Stranded and ultimately breaking in two, the vessel was declared a total loss. Salvage efforts were made, but very little of the Cabotia remained intact, leading to its abandonment in 1921