IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION: #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The Prince Albert was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1841 in Prescott, Ontario. Originally designed as a passage boat for the Rideau Canal, the vessel featured a gross tonnage of approximately 150 tons and was equipped with two engines manufactured by Ward & Co. in Montreal. The vessel’s 30 berths made it a large and impressive steamer, perhaps too luxurious for its later role as a towboat after around 1860. The Prince Albert was launched in mid-May 1841 and quickly became a prominent vessel in the region.
HISTORY: #
The Prince Albert began its service as a passage boat on the Rideau Canal, a critical waterway for transportation and trade during the 19th century. The vessel was noted for its grandeur, which was somewhat at odds with its later role as a towboat. Throughout its history, the Prince Albert changed ownership several times through various partnerships, reflecting the dynamic nature of maritime commerce in the region.
The vessel’s service was not without incident. In early July 1842, the Prince Albert was involved in a collision that led to it ramming and sinking another vessel named “Propeller” near Kingston on the Rideau Canal. The steamer also suffered fire damage while docked in Kingston on December 11, 1854. Despite these challenges, the Prince Albert was refitted during the winter of 1857-1858 in Prescott, allowing it to continue its operations.
FINAL DISPOSITION: #
Tragically, the Prince Albert met its final fate on March 18, 1862, when it was destroyed by fire in Ottawa. The fire broke out around 8 o’clock in the evening while the steamer was lying in the Canal Basin. Despite the rapid response of the Fire Companies and their efforts to extinguish the flames, the fire had already gained too much momentum. Ultimately, only a substantial portion of the hull was saved from the blaze.
The vessel was owned by Mr. Griffin, a Provincial Land Surveyor, at the time of its destruction. Unfortunately, Mr. Griffin did not have insurance coverage for the Prince Albert, resulting in a significant financial loss. The Ottawa Citizen reported on the incident, noting the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the steamer’s end.
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES: #
No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to the Prince Albert wreck have been identified.
RESOURCES & LINKS: #
- Ottawa Citizen: Historical coverage of the fire that destroyed the Prince Albert in 1862.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides records and historical accounts related to the vessels of the Great Lakes and surrounding waterways.
CONCLUSION: #
The Prince Albert’s history is marked by both prominence and tragedy. As a sidewheel steamer, it played a significant role in the transportation network of the Rideau Canal and later served as a towboat, despite being perhaps too grand for such a role. The vessel’s destruction by fire in 1862 in Ottawa brought an end to its service, but its legacy remains as a part of the rich maritime history of Ontario. The loss of the Prince Albert serves as a reminder of the ever-present dangers faced by steamboats during this era and the challenges of early maritime transportation.
KEYWORDS: #
Prince Albert, Sidewheel Steamer, Prescott Ontario, Rideau Canal, Ottawa River, 19th-century maritime history, wooden shipwreck, fire, Mr. Griffin.
