The barge No. 23 was built in 1855 in Quebec, Quebec. It was a wooden river barge with one deck. In 1860, it underwent rebuilding and its tonnage increased to 98 tons, with a capacity of 7,000 bushels.
By 1864, the barge was owned by E. Berry & Company of Kingston, Ontario. However, tragedy struck on August 15, 1866, when the barge foundered near Picton, Ontario, in Lake Ontario. The barge was carrying a cargo of lumber when it broke adrift from its tow off Long Point. Unfortunately, the incident resulted in the loss of three lives. The property loss was estimated at $800 for the hull and $1,300 for the cargo.
News reports from that time indicate that there were additional barges involved in the wreck, and some of the crew members were saved. However, the captain of the tug towing the barges was criticized for not providing assistance promptly. An inquest was held on the bodies of the deceased crew members, but due to the negligence of the tug’s captain, the inquest was adjourned for further evidence.
The barge No. 23, also known as the TWENTY THREE, was built in Sorel in 1862. It had a registered tonnage of 109 tons and measured 94.3 feet in length, 18.8 feet in width, and 6.8 feet in depth. Its home port was Montreal, and it was owned by the Sincennes & McNaughton Line, based in Montreal.
This information is based on records from the List of Vessels on the Registry Books of the Dominion of Canada as of December 31, 1874.
