Site Description #
- Sidewheeler
- 24ffw
- 119ft Length
- Timber Island (bar), Lake Ontario
- N43.56 29
W76 50 43
History #
In January 1862, the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser reported a casualty involving the propeller BANSHEE on Lake Ontario. The vessel, carrying a cargo of flour and other goods, sank near South Bay Point, resulting in a total loss. Sadly, one man named John Nagle, a printer and passenger on board, drowned in the incident. However, the majority of the crew were saved, with ten individuals reaching the shore safely in a small boat and seven others clinging to floating timber. The purser, Mr. Scott, managed to save the books and cash under his care. The wreck of the BANSHEE was left in 18 feet of water but was considered salvageable.
On August 30, 1861, the Weekly British Whig in Kingston received telegrams from concerned individuals who mistook the propeller BANSHEE for another vessel with the same name. These individuals had friends on board and were anxious about their safety. However, it was confirmed that the steamer BANSHEE had passed through the storm between Cobourg and Kingston without incident.
The Toronto Globe on August 23, 1861, reported the loss of the propeller BANSHEE. The steamer RANGER encountered the sunken vessel in 18 feet of water between Duck’s Island and Timber Island. One person, a passenger from Montreal, had drowned in the accident. The crew of the BANSHEE managed to reach the nearby island safely. At the time, no further details were available regarding the incident, but it was mentioned that the rough conditions prevented the crew from being immediately rescued by the RANGER.
During the winter of 1861-62, residents from Babylon to Cape Versey in Marysburg Township were able to salvage some of the cargo from the sunken propeller BANSHEE. The ship had met its demise in Lake Ontario near Timber Island, approximately one mile off the Point Traverse mainland. The vessel had experienced machinery failure during a severe storm on August 21, 1861. It became unmanageable, broke apart, and sank. Ten individuals escaped by hastily boarding a small boat, while seven others clung to a piece of wreckage. Unfortunately, John Nagle, a printer, lost his life in the incident. The BANSHEE’s cargo consisted of about 3,000 bushels of wheat, 250 barrels of flour, and 300 kegs of butter. The ship was owned by Mr. Robe of St. Thomas, Ontario.
In 1969, the Q.A.D.’s Newsletter featured information about the BANSHEE. The vessel operated as a freight boat between Montreal and Port Stanley, departing from Port Stanley at the beginning of that week with a general cargo. It had passed through the Welland Canal a couple of days prior. The BANSHEE was owned by Captain Howard of the steamer MAGNET and Mr. Chas. Rose of St. Thomas. It was reported that the vessel was insured.
On October 15, 1967, Mr. Dennis Kent and members of the Quinte Aqua Divers from Belleville discovered the wreck of the propeller BANSHEE, which had been lost one mile off Pt. Traverse. The remains of the wooden ship were located in approximately 24 feet of water on the Timber Island Bar. After a period of being lost during the winter, the divers successfully rediscovered and pinpointed the wreck on July 30, following nearly two months of searching. The Quinte Aqua Divers are currently exploring the BANSHEE wreck
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