1826

The Steamer Henry Clay, of 1,300 [sic] tons burden, commenced plying between Buffalo and Detroit, in connection with the Superior, in 1826, their order of sailing being every fourth day from either port, leaving Buffalo at 9 o'clock A.M. and Detroit at 4 P. M., calling at Dunkirk, Portland, Erie, Grand River, Cleveland and Sandusky. If bad weather intervened the two first ports were omitted. The Clay was the first arrival at Detroit from Buffalo on the opening of navigation in 1826, which was May 8, and is thus announced by the press at the time:

"The first arrival from Buffalo the present season is the new and elegant steamboat Henry Clay, Capt. Walter Norton. This vessel is worthy of the name of the great Western orator and statesman, and we have no doubt the enterprise and liberality of her owners will be amply remunerated. The Henry Clay is of 301 tons, and has an engine of 60-horse power. Her model is highly approved, and her cabins are elegantly and expensively fitted up. The well known politeness of Captain Norton, his experience and skill as a seaman, together with a circumstance that considerable of her stock is owned in Detroit, will insure to the Henry Clay a profitable business".

New Steamer Canada. - In 1826 Joseph Dennis was engaged in ship- building at Toronto. The Loyalist of June 3, that year, speaking of a new steamer just built by Mr. Dennis, said: "The new steamer Canada was towed into port this week from the mouth of the Rouge, where she was built during the past winter. She will shortly be fitted up for her end route, which we understand will be from York to Niagara, around the head of the lake, and will add another to the increasing facilities of conveyance in Upper Canada. Six steamboats now navigate the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario. In this Province, besides the Canada, they have one nearly ready for launching at Brockville".

The Loyalist of August 12, 1826, thus announces the first trip of the Canada across from York to Niagara: "The new steamboat Canada, Captain Richardson, made her first trip to Niagara on Monday last (August 7), and went into the harbor in fine style. Her appearance reflects much credit on her builder, Mr. Joseph Dennis, and the machinery, manufactured by Messrs. Ward Brothers, of Montreal, is of superior workmanship. The combined excellence in model and machinery of this boat is such as will render her what is usually termed a 'fast boat.'" The trip to Niagara was made in a few minutes over four hours.

Erie's First Steamboat. -- The first steamboat launched at Erie was the William Penn, of 200 tons, May 18, 1826. She was 95 feet keel, 25 feet beam, and 8 feet hold, being the sixth American steamboat on the lake, and was built by the Erie & Chatauqua Steamboat Company. The company was incorporated April 10, 1826.

The new steamboat William Penn, of 200 tons burden, and sailed by Capt. John F. Wright, arrived at Detroit August 22. She was described as a powerfully built boat, and well calculated for lake navigation. She had a low-pressure engine, with walking beam of cast iron. On her arrival salutes were exchanged with the steam brig Superior. Simultaneously the good schooner Marion, Captain Blake, arrived from Bay City.

McKenney's Trip up the Lakes. -- An interesting series of letters describing a trip up the lakes during the summer of 1826, was written by Thomas L. McKenney, of the Indian Department, while on his way to Fond du Lac to negotiate a treaty with the Chippewa Indians. Writing from Detroit, June 16, 1826, he says: "I arrived at this place this morning, after an agreeable passage from Buffalo of 37 hours, exclusive of the time lost in stopping at Grand river, Cleveland, Sandusky, etc., to put out and take in passengers -- distance, about 330 miles. It is due to the Henry Clay, in which I made my first lake voyage, that I should speak of her as being one of the first class. She is schooner rigged, and has depth and beams suited to the use of sails, when these are needed, and her timbers are stout and well put together, that she may endure the shocks of this inland sea, and the stormy route, for which she was built.

"In this fine boat I left Buffalo in company with some 30 cabin and perhaps 40 deck passengers, the latter chiefly emigrants from New York and the New England States, to this Territory, and three Indians. A word about Lake Erie. I knew its length, its breadth and depth, and yet I confess I had no more correct conceptions of the lake as it appeared to me than if I had never had the slightest acquaintance with its dimensions. All my previous conception of a lake fell so far short of its actual vastness and ocean-like appearance, as to be wholly absorbed in the view of it. I could but wonder what my opinion of lakes will be, after I shall have seen and navigated Huron and Superior. Lake Erie, though considerably smaller than either, is a vast sea, and often more stormy, and even dangerous, than the ocean itself.

"It is hardly possible for anything to exceed in beauty the river Detroit, and its shores and islands. The British schooner, the Wellington, was lying at Malden, full of British soldiers destined, we were informed, to Drummond's island.

"The steamboats Superior and Henry Clay are surpassed by few, if any, either in size, or beauty of model, or in the style in which they are built and furnished. But there is business for more; and three or four, it is believed are now in a state of forwardness, to run also between Buffalo and Detroit. I should infer from what I have seen that they all may do a profitable business. * * * I have just returned from the Governor's, where I have spent the evening, and most agreeably, notwithstanding a most furious gust of wind and rain, accompanied by vivid and frequent flashes of lightning, and the most appalling thunder. Great fears are entertained for the steamboat, the Superior, which was expected up about and hour before the gust arose, and has not yet arrived. I have this moment heard the signal gun, announcing the arrival of the Superior. She is several hours out of her usual time, no doubt in consequence of the gust."

When Mr. McKenney next writes, he is aboard the schooner Ghent, Captain Hinkley, bound up from Detroit. While becalmed on St. Clair river he says: "At 2 o'clock the John Quincy Adams came down from Michilimackinac, and, on nearing us, anchored. We heard of the Young Tiger, with our provisions and stores. The J.Q.A. passed her about 100 miles ahead. At sundown the wind shifted to the southwest, but did not blow strong enough to force us through this current. How invaluable are steamboats felt to be by persons thus circumstanced."

At Drummond's island the party left the schooner Ghent, and with a total of 43 persons embarked for the Sault in four large barges, each capable of carrying 40 barrels, and propelled some of them by 12 oars, and from Sault Ste. Marie the journey was continued up Lake superior to Fond du Lac in barges and canoes.

While on his return trip from Fond du Lac, Mr. McKenney says: "Heard that the Ghent, in which we came to Drummond's Island, had returned to Detroit, was condemned and sunk. Her bottom was entirely decayed, so much so as to yield to the slightest pressure. She went from the Detour, after we parted from her, to Michilimackinac, took in part of a cargo, returned to Detroit and, while in the act of receiving her return cargo, sunk. Our escape was indeed narrow."

Mr. McKenney made the trip down Lake Huron in the little revenue cutter, Captain Knapp. He says: "The deck of this little cutter is made of the masts of the Lawrence, Perry's ship. In one of the planks immediately under the tiller is the bruise of a shot. Whatever can be made into convenience and fitness for the duties of a cutter for the lake service, Captain Knapp has most ingeniously effected in this, now ten-years-old boat. But, after all, the thing is too small. These lakes and their commerce, and the thousand offices of accommodation to officers charged with the government business, besides the duties, for the execution of which this boat was provided, demand a vessel of other dimensions; and when a suitable one can be provided for $2,000, as I am told it can, it is not unreasonable to expect that, if requested, authority will be instantly granted to build one."

Embarking at Detroit on the steamer Superior, Mr. McKenney pays this tribute to her worth: "The Superior is a fine boat, 140 feet long and 30 feet broad in the widest part, with ladies' apartments on the deck. She is schooner rigged, and in all respects a boat of the first class. Her commander is active and intelligent, and adds to his vigilance, in the conduct of his charge, the polish of the gentleman."

Other Events of 1826. -- In 1826 a sailing vessel, the Young Tiger, when visiting Chicago, undertook to enter the river, but, failing, anchored out in the lake. She slipped her cable and went ashore. In 1826 the American steamer Martha Ogden was placed on the line between York and Niagara. The Canadian sloop Richmond was wrecked near Brighton, on Presque Isle bay. The schooner General Brock, of Toronto, is mentioned for the first time in 1826. May 15: Congress appropriated $15,000 for improving Buffalo harbor, being the first appropriation ever made for that purpose. July 17: Lighthouse at Dunkirk began by Garnsey & Dox. August 1: Steamer Henry Clay damaged on Lake Erie by the breaking of her shaft; 16, steamboat Wm. Penn, 217 tons burden, in command of Capt. J. F. Wright, arrives at Buffalo on her maiden trip. November 7: Sloop Ohio ashore near Buffalo during a severe storm; 26, piers at Black Rock severely damaged by a storm. Black Rock severely damaged by a storm. In November, 1826, the Canadian steamer Niagara struck on a reef of rocks off Poplar Point, about 50 miles from Kingston, but all her passengers were saved and most of her cargo.

Return to Home Port

Volume II

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.