PERSIA C88533

• Stone Hooker Schooner
• 163ft 54m
• 101ft length
• Point Petre, Lake Ontario N43 48.315 W77 03.34

The schooner PERSIA, with official number 88533, was a Canadian vessel registered in Hamilton, Ontario. It was built in 1867 by A. Robertson in Hamilton and had a length of 101.50 feet, breadth of 9.66 feet, and a gross tonnage of 160.95. Constructed as a two-masted schooner with a carvel wood hull, the PERSIA was primarily propelled by sails.

Throughout its history, the ownership of the PERSIA changed hands several times. It belonged to P. McCallum of Hamilton, R. & M. Baldwin of Toronto, J. & R. Matthews of Toronto, Henry W. Allen of Port Robinson, Eliz. J. Peters of Windsor, and William Lennen of Sarnia. In 1888, the vessel underwent a rebuild, increasing its dimensions to 101.5 x 24.8 x 9.66 feet. It was then registered in Hamilton under the ownership of David O’Hagan from Picton, Ontario, and David O. Allison from Adolphustown, Ontario.

On September 8, 1891, the PERSIA foundered in Lake Ontario approximately six miles off Point Petre Light. It was carrying a load of building stone from Kingston to Toronto. Despite the loss of the vessel, all crew members aboard were saved. News articles from that time confirm the sinking of the PERSIA and mention its ownership by D. W. Allison, M. P., and Captain David O’Hagan. However, it’s worth noting that the Buffalo Enquirer made an incorrect reference to another vessel named PERSIA, which was an American vessel and not involved in the 1891 casualty.

After the sinking, the PERSIA’s registry was closed on September 15, 1891, and the vessel’s papers were lost. In later years, there was an attempt to revive the PERSIA. It underwent extensive repairs and restoration in the winter of 1893-1894, but unfortunately, during a subsequent voyage with a cargo for Brown and Love’s dock, the vessel encountered further trouble. It began to take on water and ultimately sank off Long Point. The crew managed to escape in a yawl boat, along with their pet raccoon.