KATIE ECCLES C75911

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Schooner
95ffw
95ft Length
Timber Island, Lake Ontario, N44 00 617 W76 44 614

KATIE ECCLES, constructed in 1877 by William Jamieson in Mill Point (Desoronto), Ontario, had a wooden hull and a single deck. The vessel had two masts and measured approximately 95 feet in length, 24 feet in beam, and 8 feet in depth. With a gross tonnage of 122, the KATIE ECCLES was primarily used for transporting cargo.

Tragically, on November 28, 1922, the KATIE ECCLES met its final demise. It foundered in a storm off Timber Island, Ontario, in Lake Ontario. At the time of the incident, the schooner was carrying a cargo of coal. This unfortunate event marked the end of the vessel’s long-standing service.

Throughout its history, the KATIE ECCLES changed ownership several times. In 1878, it was owned by D. Eccles of Amherst Island, Ontario. Ownership then transferred to A. Campbell of Colborne, Ontario, in 1886. The vessel underwent a rebuilding process in 1889, further extending its operational lifespan.

Prior to its final loss, the KATIE ECCLES faced other challenges. On May 8, 1883, it ran aground near Presque Isle in Lake Ontario. Additionally, on September 22, 1909, the vessel ran aground in Newcastle, Lake Ontario, while carrying coal. It was successfully released with the assistance of the Donnelly Wrecking Company.

Concerns arose when the KATIE ECCLES went ashore on the east shore of Timber Island on a stormy Sunday night. Efforts to reach the vessel with the tug MARY P. HALL proved unsuccessful due to its position on the shore. Miller Donnelly of the Donnelly Wrecking Company believed that the schooner would likely be a total loss, as it had been driven too far onto the shore for a tug to effectively pull it off. Despite smoke emanating from the cabin’s smokestack, indicating the crew’s safety, the fate of the coal cargo destined for the Schuster Coal Company remained uncertain.

The news of the KATIE ECCLES’ location on Timber Island and the crew’s well-being reached the Schuster Coal Company in Belleville on Tuesday afternoon, prompting relief among concerned parties. However, due to the low water levels and challenging conditions, the chances of salvaging the coal cargo were deemed minimal.