Comet (Steamer, 1848)

Description

Identification

Construction and Ownership

Built at:: Portsmouth, Ontario*
Vessel Type:: Steamer
Hull Materials:: Wood
Bow Type:: Plain Head
Builder Name:: George N. Ault
Ownership Notes:: Platt, Joseph, (1848-1849); Platt,Lewis, (1848-1849) Platt, James, (1848-1849); Fraser, John, (1849); Macpherson, John, (1849-1857); Crane, Samuel, (1849-1858); Macpherson, David D., (1849-1857); Campbell, Alexander, (1853-1854); Hill, Hamilton A., (1854-1857); Kirkpatrick, Thomas, (1858-1860); Holcomb & Cowan, (1860-1861);
Master(s):: Platt, James, (1848); Sinclair, D., (1856-1857);

Power

Hull Dimensions

Tonnage

Enrollments/Registration

July 3, 1848: Port: Kingston Number: 19 of 1848
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: New Vessel

History

Classification:: a. Steamer, Comet (1848-1852);
b. Steamer, May Flower (1852-1861);
c. Steamer, Comet (1861-1861)
Nationality:: Canada (1848-1861)
Chronology:: 1. 12/3/1848, Scarborough Bluffs, below Toronto, Ontario, ashore and released;
2. 4/20/1851, Oswego, boiler exploded, sank and raised, (8 lives lost);
3. 8/6/1853, Scarborough Bluffs, near Toronto, Ontario, ashore and released, $2, 000 loss;
4. 5/7/1861, Kingston, collision with the Cataraqui Bridge and repaired;
5. 5/14/1861, off the Ducks, Nine Mile Point, Lake Ontario, collision, (Schooner, Exchange), sank, (3 lives lost), $12, 000 loss;

Notes

General notes:: Ran Kingston - Toronto - Hamilton;
1857 Vessel Register said she was built in Bath, Ontario;
Home Ports: 1848, Kingston; 1854, Boston; 1858 , Kingston;
She was valued at $22,000, in 1856; $14,000, in 1860;
Machinery: Two Vertical beam engines; Wheels, 30' diameter;
Sources:: 1. Enrollment: Kingston, Ontario;
2. John Poole's notes;
3. Early American Steamers, Vol. V;
4. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser: 1/22/1862;
5. Wright's Master Sheet;

Contact

Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Email:[email protected]
Website:

Agency street/mail address:

75 Maritime Dr.
Manitowoc, WI,54220
920-684-0218