: Gerald C. Metzler Great Lakes Vessel Database

Description

Identification

Construction and Ownership

Built at:: Niagara, Ontario
Vessel Type:: Steamer
Hull Materials:: Wood
Bow Type:: Plain Head
Builder Name:: Niagara Dock Company (Edwards)
Ownership Notes:: Great Western Railway, (1854-1857); Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad Company, (1857-1858); Hargous, (1858-1860); Roberts, Marshall O., (1862); People's Line, (1862-1864); Central American Transit Company, (1864-1866); North American Steamship Copmpany, (1866-1868); Pacific Mail Steamship Company, (1868-1869);
Master(s):: Masson, (1854);

Power

Hull Dimensions

Tonnage

Enrollments/Registration

Next document: Hamilton 8-14-1858
August 14, 1858: Port: Hamilton Number: 30 of 1858
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner
Next document: Quebec 9-15-1858
September 15, 1858: Port: Quebec
Document Type: Enrollment
Reason: Changed Owner

History

Classification:: a. Steamer, America (1854-1859);
b. Steamer, Coatzacoalas (1859-1862);
c. Steamer, America (1862-1869)
Nationality:: Canada (1854-1859); American (1859-1869);
Chronology:: 1. 7/13/1852, Lake Erie, collision, (sank Propeller, City of Oswego), repaired, $70, 000 loss;
2. 7/00/1855, off Hamilton, Lake Ontario, collision, (Schooner, Emblem, towed in for repairs, (8 lives lost), $4, 000 loss;
3. 4/12/1858, Toronto, sank at her dock and raised;
4. 4/12/1858, Hamilton, Lake Ontario, sank at her wharf and raised, $1, 000 loss;
5. 6/00/1858, she was taken to New York via Lachine Rapids and the St. Lawrence River;
6. 1/19/1859, she was admitted to U. S. Registry by a special act of Congress;
7. (3/00/1861) - (9/00/1862), she was under frequent charter to U. S. Quartermaster Department:
8. 11/00/1863, she departed for Pacific Coast, via Cape horn and was to run San Francisco and Frazer River;
9. 3/11/1869, San Juan, Nicaragua, caught fire and burned while refueling; French Frigate "Du Chayla" rescued the crew;
(Steamer, America was bound from Panama to San Francisco, California);

Notes

General notes:: 1854, she was to run Hamilton to Oswego in International line;
She was valued at $120,000 in 1856;
1858, she was rebuilt at Sneeden's shipyard, New York, New York; The guards were narrowed 3', main deck built up, additional framing added to hull;
Machinery: Vertical beam, built by West Point Foundry Company, West point, New York in 1854; Cylinder: 70" diameter x 144" stroke;
Lytle-Holdcamper says tonnage in 1854 was 2,030,and she was admitted by Act of Congress, 1/19/1859; Renamed America, on 9/24/1862;
Sources:: 1. John Poole's notes;
2. Enrollment: Hamilton, Ontario;
3. Buffalo Morning Express: 1/11/1856;
4. Buffalo Commercial Advertiser: 1/15/1859;
5. Wright's Master Sheet;
6. Detroit Free Press: 4/13/1855, 7/24/1855, 10/18/1855, 4/22/1858, 3/11/1859, 3/12/1859,

Contact

Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Email:[email protected]
Website:

Agency street/mail address:

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