The steamer Erin, built in 1881, met a tragic end in 1906 when it collided with the steamer Cowle. The collision resulted in the Erin being nearly cut in two, causing it to sink immediately in the exact middle of the St. Clair River. The wreckage of the vessel is divided, with one half in American waters and the other half in Canadian waters. This incident garnered national attention and was covered in numerous newspapers across the country at the time.
The Erin, classified as a steambarge, was constructed in St. Catharines, Ontario, by Louis Shickluna. It was initially owned by Thomas and John Conlon of St. Catharines. The steambarge featured a wooden hull, one and a half decks, and had two masts. Its propulsion system consisted of a high-pressure engine with a single cylinder measuring 24 inches by 30 inches, providing 75 horsepower. The engine was manufactured by George N. Oille. The dimensions of the Erin were 142 feet in length, 26 feet in beam, and 12.6 feet in depth. It had a gross tonnage of 392.49 and a net tonnage of 235.33.
On May 31, 1906, the Erin collided with the steamer John B. Cowle in the St. Clair River, approximately one mile below Courtwright. The impact resulted in the sinking of the Erin, with five crew members losing their lives in the tragedy. To clear the channel, the wreck of the Erin was later dynamited. On January 19, 1907, the vessel’s registry was closed.
Throughout its history, the Erin had experienced various incidents and undergone modifications. It was wrecked at Gull Rock, Keweenaw Point, Lake Superior, in December 1884 but was later released with the assistance of tugs A.J. Smith and Gladiator. The vessel underwent rebuilding in Collingwood, Ontario, in 1886, where it was lengthened by 37 feet and had steel arches added. The Erin had a notable collision with the schooner Ellen Williams on June 11, 1887, causing damage to both vessels. It experienced additional incidents such as being struck by lightning on Lake Erie in May 1896, breaking two masts, and foundering off Whitefish Point, Lake Superior, on November 8, 1903. The vessel also suffered a fire in Sandwich, Ontario, on April 7, 1905, in the Detroit River.
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