Marine Losses on the Lakes in 1854.

The following tables show the cause of disaster, amount of loss, and character of vessel, in 1854,

The disasters for the several months compare in number as follows:

Months.No. In 1852 No. in 1853No. in 1854Amount in 1854
April 71948$320,900
May 193027217,000
June 24171140,900
July 15111358,921
August 16282168,000
September 213040129,000
October 273966408,000
November 85so84456,000
December 151268490,000
Total229268384$2,186,921

 

 Steam Vessels.Sail Vessels.Total.
Causes.No. Loss.No.Loss,No. Loss.
Wrecked and sunk.9 $480,00051 $509,62660$787,626
Fire 4240,000222,5006262,500
Stranded 2110,00051507,62653617,626 [1]
Damaged, &c 54140,800198321,875252461,675
Jettison 872,00022 36 , 77030108,770
Collisions 10100,70018155,65034256,350
Total 93 $1,143,000291 $1,043,991384 $2,186,921

RECAPITULATION.

 No.Loss.
Steamers41$463,400
Propellers 52679,500
Barks 17148,000
Brigs 55184,125
Schooners, &c 219711,796
Total loss  $2,186,921

The proportion of losses on each of the four large Lakes traversed by the shipping is shown by the following figures for the past three years:

Lake:1852.1853.1854.
Ontario $ 78,939$288,077$ 246,300
Erie 741,800250,5121,113,271
Huron 89,600161,338411,500
Michigan 78,820212,316397,950

The proportion of steam to sail craft by which losses occurred during the last seven years is shown by the annexed table.

Years.Steam.Sail. Total.
1848 $140,000 $280,512 $420,512
1849 185,900182,271868,171
1850 281,700277,126558,826
1851 348,700881,837730,537
1852 635,620359,039994,669
1853 461,800412,343874,143
1854 1,143,0001,043,9912,186,921

The loss of life attending the disasters of 1854, is stated at 119, of which 18 were on Lake Ontario, 40 on Lake Erie, 12 on Lake Huron, and 49 on Lake Michigan. The loss of life for the series of seven years, compare as shown by the figures below:

1848 55
1849 34
1850 395
1851 79
1852 296
1853 81
1854 119

The nature and causes of the disasters which resulted in these losses, during the last three years, compare as follows

Causes.1852.1853.1854.
Wrecked and sunk$730,709$608,871$987,626
Fire  132,055262,500
Stranded.  110,000
Damaged  461,675
Jettison  108,770
Collisions 261,95055,823256,350
Explosions  77,394 

 

Refs: The Canadian Journal, a repertory of Industry Science and Art. September 1855.

[1] [Back] typoed as $110,000 in the original

 

 



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Revised: 31 March 2012