GRECIAN, built in 1864, was a steamer constructed at Montreal, Quebec. It was commissioned by the Canadian Inland Steam Navigation Company and operated out of Montreal. The vessel was made of iron and featured two decks. A. Cantin served as the builder, with Livingston as the master carpenter overseeing the construction. The GRECIAN was equipped with a single sidewheel for propulsion and had one mast. Its powerful engines, measuring 45 x 120 inches, were manufactured by the Eagle Foundry in Montreal.
With a length of 177 feet, a beam of 27 feet, and a depth of 11 feet, the GRECIAN had a tonnage of 496 according to the old measurement system. However, the ship’s history was marred by unfortunate incidents and accidents.
On May 18, 1869, tragedy struck when the GRECIAN met its final fate in the Split Rock (Cascades) Rapids of the St. Lawrence River. The vessel was wrecked due to a failure in the steering gear, resulting in the loss of one life. Despite attempts to refloat the ship in September 1869, these efforts proved unsuccessful.
The GRECIAN’s timeline of events includes its launch on October 28, 1863. It was officially registered in Montreal on June 2, 1864. Over the years, the vessel encountered various mishaps, such as being stranded in Lachine Rapids on July 5, 1867, and later in Cascades Rapids on July 16, 1868. It faced yet another stranding in Galops Rapids on October 30, 1868.
