This morning on our regular seven day a week Afterburner Chat on Echolink, we discussed the loss of the Steamer Huronic by Fire.
I again received an education by digging through what material I have on Steamers. As I often say, I try and stay out of Hot Water, and usually stick to sail. Storms may test our sailing skills, but fire is the real danger at sea.
First note the coincidence in that so many of the old steamers with names ending in the same way, ended up in the same way. Fire.
Much of this information comes from a Mr. T.H. Jackman who was the purser on the Hamonic which was destroyed by fire at Point Edward Ontario. Our friend Dr. Ernie Myers who will be celebrating his 92nd birthday this week, was, I believe, at one time a purser on the Noronic.
There was what was known as the White Line owned and operated by T. Long and Co., of Collingwood, and the Black line owned by C.T. Stephens of Collingwood. The White Line consisted of steamers ending in the letters "IC" and the Black line vessels were all called "City" of. With time, and the coming of the Railway, these companies merged into the Northern Navigation Company, That name from the two former companies which at the time of the merger was The Great Northern Transit Co., and the North Shore Navigation Company.
The northern Navigation Company was later absorbed by the Canada Steamships Ltd., which at the same time took in the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company, and other companies operating on lake Ontario.
But our conversation was about vessels burning. What a history our Great Lakes have of Steamers Burning.
The Great Northern Transit Company (The White Line) had the Manitoulin, partially lost by fire, rebuilt and called the Pacific which ws lost by fire; Atlantic destroyed by fire; Baltic destroyed by fire; the Brittanic, Germanic, and the Waubic were all destroyed by fire. Actually the Waubic was sold and was later burned by fire.
The North Shore Navigation Company, (The Black Line) lost the City of London by fire, and the City of Parry Sound, and the City of Collingwood, and the City of Collingwood, all Destroyed by fire.
Then the Amalgamated companies known as the Northern Navigation Company, (the Black and White Line) lost the Majestic, destroyed by fied, as was the City of Midland. The City of Windsor was sold and then it was lost by fire.
The Huronic was sold by the Northern Navigation Company to Canada Steamship Lines, and then it was burned, repaired, and later scrapped.
Hamonic, was also sold to Canada steamship Lines, and then it was destroyed by fire.
The Canada Steamship lines also got into hot water. Withe the los of the Noronic by fire, and the loss of the steamers Saronic Quebec and the Ionic, by fire.
In the twentieth century there was only the one disaster, the Noronic that had a significant loss of life. Unfortunately the nineteenth century was not so fortunate.
Some years ago I donated a dinner plate to the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston from one of the early cruise ships of the Richelieu and Lake Ontario Navigation Company. In fact is was the only known relic of that line. Maybe Sue can tell me the name of that vessel (I have a seniors moment) and if she was lost by fire.
Bob
