DALHOUSIE

Propeller

The propeller DALHOUSIE was built in 1869 in St. Catharines, Ontario. It was constructed by Louis Shickluna for the Welland Railway Company. The vessel had a length of 144 feet, a beam of 26.2 feet, and a depth of 11 feet. It had a gross tonnage of 353 tons and a net tonnage of 286 tons. Propelled by a 60 horsepower engine, the DALHOUSIE operated as a passenger and cargo vessel.

The DALHOUSIE had a history of service between Port Dalhousie and Oswego, New York, after its launch in May 1869. In November 1868, it encountered trouble when it struck rocks on Long Sault Rapids. In 1870, the vessel was used for transporting salt between Kingston and Montreal. By 1871, its net tonnage had increased to 256 tons.

Tragically, on September 26, 1872, the DALHOUSIE caught fire while en route from Kingston to Hamilton. The fire occurred ten hours after departure and consumed the vessel until it was burned to the water’s edge. The crew and passengers were rescued by the propeller CITY OF CONCORD and brought to Port Dalhousie.

News articles at the time reported the incident, noting the swift action of the CITY OF CONCORD in responding to the fire and rescuing the crew. The DALHOUSIE was carrying pig iron and general merchandise during its ill-fated voyage. The exact cause of the fire is not specified in the available information.

The DALHOUSIE’s final resting place was approximately two miles off Charlotte, New York, in Lake Ontario, where it sank after being towed by the CITY OF CONCORD. The vessel’s demise marked the end of its service, and it was ultimately destroyed by the fire that consumed it.