1872 Cuba 1950
Iron twin-screw Great Lakes passenger and package freight vessel
Built at Buffalo NY by King Iron Works
Launched May 9, 1872
246’ LOA, 231’ LBP, 35’6” beam, 24’6” depth
2 decks, 6 hatches @ 24’, 2 coal-fired boilers, 2 steeple compound engines, 600 IHP
Enrolled at Buffalo NY June 1, 1872 (#175)
231.7 x 35.7 x 13.35, 1526.01 tons (1359.97 NT 1882) US 125028 to:
Charles Ensign, Buffalo NY (home port Buffalo NY) (Operated as Holt & Ensign Commercial Line)
Sold 1884 (after death of Charles Ensign) to John Donaldson, Buffalo NY
Sold 1906 to Northern Navigation Co. of Ontario, Sarnia ON and renamed Ionic. U. S. enrollment surrendered Sept 13, 1906. Passenger cabins removed and converted to package freighter.
Enrolled Canadian 238.2 x 35.6 x 12.6, 1708 GT, 1030 NT Can 116954 (home port to Sarnia ON)
Fleet renamed Northern Navigation Co. 1911
Fleet sold early 1913 to Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co., Montreal QC Richelieu & Ontario fleet merged late 1913 into Canada Steamship Lines, Montreal QC. (Vessels remained under the ownership of Northern Navigation Co. until 1922 and were operated as Northern Navigation Division while in the Canada Steamship Lines fleet.)
Transferred 1916 to Canada Steamship Lines fleet
Sank Nov 8, 1919 in Williamsburg Channel, St. Lawrence River. Repaired over winter 1919-20 and renamed Maplebranch (1) 1920.
Sold 1929 to The Steamer Colin W. Ltd., Quebec QC, St. Lawrence Tankers Ltd., Mgr. and converted to tanker at Montreal QC.
Remeasured 1934 to 1046 GT, 650 NT
Rammed Aug 13, 1934 by British cruiser H.M.S. Dragon in Montreal QC harbor and sank. Raised, sold to Manseau Shipyard (Les Chantiers Manseau Ltd.), Sorel QC, towed to Sorel and rebuilt.
Remeasured to 231.8 x 35.5 x 12.6, 1014 GT, 634 NT
Transferred 1937 to Marine Industries Ltd., which organized Branch Lines Ltd. to operate her.
Laid up 1946 at Sorel QC and did not operate again
Scrapped about 1950 at Sorel QC
X021
See history in Scanner May 1972 (#22)