The schooner London, carrying a cargo of lumber, encountered a disastrous event when it struck the pier at Sodus, Lake Ontario. The impact resulted in the vessel becoming a total loss, but fortunately, the cargo was saved. The property loss from the incident was estimated at $2,000. This information was reported in the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser on January 15, 1859, as part of the 1858 Casualty List.
The Canadian schooner London, under the command of Captain Griggs, ran aground at Big Sodus on a fateful Wednesday night. Reports from the Oswego Times on October 28, 1858, mentioned that the Northwestern Insurance Company’s wrecking tug A.S. PAGE and the scow Sampson were dispatched to assist in the recovery efforts. However, it appears that their attempts to refloat the vessel were unsuccessful. The Buffalo Daily Courier on October 28, 1858, confirmed that the London was stranded, and no further details about salvage or rescue efforts were provided.
Records from the Register of British Shipping for inland waters in 1854 indicate that the London was a fore-and-aft schooner weighing 63 tons. It was owned by Sutherland & Co. and had its home port listed as Port Hope. The vessel had undergone rebuilding in Cobourg in 1848 and was classified as Class AE, or second class. Interestingly, the London had previously served as a propeller before its conversion into a schooner.
Tragically, the London met its demise on Lake Ontario in 1858, as documented in the Preliminary List of Canadian Steamships covering the period from 1809 to 1930. No further details regarding the circumstances of its loss were provided in the available sources.
The name “London” appears in various maritime contexts throughout the historical records. In a report from the Kingston Gazette & Chronicle on June 2, 1842, it was mentioned that a steam schooner named London was to be launched by the Railway Co. for Messrs. Woodward & Hutchison of Port Stanley. These vessels, equipped with Ericson propellers, were anticipated to revolutionize navigation, enabling direct transportation of full cargoes from the upper lakes to Montreal and Quebec without the need for transshipment. Another mention of the British steamer London was made in the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser on July 5, 1844, heralding the opening of the navigation route from Lake Michigan to the Ocean for smaller class steam vessels.
There were also reports about the construction and launch of a new steamer called the London in Chippewa. According to the Niagara Chronicle and the News in Kingston, the vessel was regarded as a beautiful model and was christened by Miss Fanny Smith. The London was described as a “crack boat” with impressive dimensions, including a length of 170 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a hold of 10 feet. Its engine boasted 80 horsepower, and no expenses were spared in outfitting the state rooms. Captain Van Allen, known for his expertise and professionalism, was appointed as the vessel’s commander.
It is important to note that while some of the mentioned reports may refer to the same vessel, they do not necessarily pertain to the same incident or period of operation. The London’s history encompasses a range of activities, from its construction and launch to its unfortunate loss and various mentions of vessels bearing the same name in different contexts.
