IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Beagle was a wooden propeller vessel, a relatively early example of screw-driven technology in the mid-19th century. Constructed in 1843 by the Niagara Harbour & Dock Company, the vessel measured 90 feet in length with a beam of 17 feet and had a tonnage of approximately 95 tons. Powered by a single-cylinder engine driving two propellers, the Beaglewas designed for efficient navigation of the Great Lakes.
HISTORY #
The Beagle was launched in 1843 and quickly became part of the vibrant maritime trade on Lake Ontario. Initially owned by the Toronto & St. Lawrence Navigation Company, the vessel changed ownership multiple times, reflecting the dynamic nature of the shipping industry during that period. By 1849, it was under the ownership of J. H. Glassford of Montreal.
The Beagle encountered its first significant trouble in November 1847 when it was driven ashore near Presque Isle during a storm. Although the damage was minimal, it was an ominous sign of future challenges. In October 1849, the vessel was wrecked near the wharf at Port Hope during another violent storm. While no lives were lost in either incident, the vessel’s condition after the wreck at Port Hope was severe enough to warrant its eventual auction in May 1851.
The Beagle was offered “as she now lies at Port Hope,” suggesting that the underwriters deemed the vessel irreparable. However, some sources indicate that the vessel may have been salvaged and rebuilt under the name Hope. The specifics of this transformation, if it occurred, are not well-documented, leaving the vessel’s ultimate fate somewhat of a mystery.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The Beagle was wrecked near Port Hope, Lake Ontario, in October 1849. The vessel was later offered for auction in May 1851, and while it may have been salvaged and rebuilt as the Hope, this aspect of its history remains uncertain.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The remains of the Beagle have not been extensively documented, and it is unclear if any significant portions of the vessel exist today. The site near Port Hope where the wreck occurred is of historical interest, though the exact condition of any remnants is unknown.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES #
- No public domain pictures available.
Beagle, wooden propeller vessel, Niagara Ontario, Lake Ontario shipwrecks, Port Hope, 1849 storm, maritime history, Great Lakes, Hope.
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