History #
The schooner ALICE had a history of unfortunate incidents on Lake Ontario in the mid-19th century. The first recorded mishap occurred in January 1859 when the vessel was carrying a cargo of staves. A sudden squall off Long Point on Lake Ontario caused the schooner to capsize, leading to the loss of the cargo and the vessel itself. The property loss from this incident was estimated at $1,800. This event was reported in the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser on January 15, 1859, as part of the 1858 Casualty List.
Several years later, in September 1874, the ALICE faced yet another tragic fate. The schooner met its demise at Pultneyville on Lake Ontario, suffering a total loss. The property loss resulting from this incident was even more substantial, amounting to $4,500. The Casualty List for 1874, published in the Chicago Inter-Ocean on December 25, 1874, reported this unfortunate event.
The specific circumstances surrounding the loss of the ALICE in 1874 were not detailed in the records available. However, it is evident that the schooner was no stranger to difficulties at sea, and its final encounter with disaster proved to be devastating. Throughout its existence, the ALICE faced the unpredictable and often treacherous conditions of Lake Ontario, succumbing to the forces of nature on multiple occasions.
These reports serve as a reminder of the risks and challenges that sailors and vessels faced during the era of maritime commerce on the Great Lakes. Incidents like the capsizing of the ALICE illustrate the importance of understanding weather patterns and exercising caution while navigating the inland waterways. The loss of the schooner and its cargo would have had significant consequences for its owners and crew, highlighting the perils and uncertainties of life on the water during that time.
