Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Montreal Transportation Co., 1868-1921, p. 37

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ESCORT was built for the Welland Canal Tug Co. (de Witt Carter). She was fitted with a new boiler in 1905. On 23 November 1907 she was in collision with the schooner barge BENJAMIN HARRISON (U 3424, 535 tons gross) that was being towed by Montreal Transportation Co.'s canaller WESTMOUNT (1) off Port Dalhousie Ontario. This happened during a race for the last tow of the season. ESCORT sank and three men were killed. She was raised but sank again. She was raised yet again using pontoons and docked and rebuilt at Port Dalhousie in 1908. Montreal Transportation Co. bought her at that point. In the fall of 1918, she and the Montreal Transportation Co. barge BROOKDALE collided with the Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto lift bridge over the Welland Canal. The bridge was closed at the time and therefore ESCORT's master was found to be at fault. Canada Steamship Lines got her from Montreal Transportation Co. in 1920. Canada Steamship Lines sold her to the Harrigan Tug Line for $15,000 in March 1921 as part of a package with the tugs ALERT and P.B. McNAUGHTON. ESCORT sank for a fourth time after a collision with the American bulk carrier STEEL CHEMIST (U 225935, 1,694 tons gross) in the canal near the town of Welland Ontario in October 1927. She was raised and repaired but was finally abandoned and stripped above Lock One at Port Dalhousie in 1937. Removed from the register in 1938. This very small tug had been specifically built to handle the Montreal Transportation Co. barge MINNEDOSA in the restricted space of the Welland Canal locks. Montreal Transportation Co. Annual Directors' Reports 1917-20; Montreal Transportation Co. Directors' Minutes 3 May 1917 and 11 January and 11 November 1921; Alpena Public Library Great Lakes Maritime Database; Bascom and Gillham Early Ships of Canada Steamship Lines; Bowling Green Great Lakes Vessels Online Index; Bureau Veritas Great Lakes Register 1914 and 1915; Canada List of Shipping 1918 and 1937; Canadian Heritage Ship Information Database; Lloyd's Register 1930; Mercantile Navy List 1923 and 1925; Merchant Vessels of the United States 1903; New Mills List; Buffalo Evening News 4 January 1908; Canadian Railway & Marine World February 1908 and February 1919; Detroit Marine Historian April 1952; Scanner December 1977; Watertown Herald 12 May 1917. 24 FAIRMOUNT steel canaller (C 112276). 1903-1915. 1,895 tons gross, 1,184 net, 248.6' (between perpendiculars), 255' (overall). Launched on 30 April 1903 at Newcastle (Wallsend) England by C.S. Swan & Hunter. Yard #288. Fitted with electric light 1904. Had a tall forward superstructure that was located aft of her raised fo'c'stle. Triple expansion = 230 rated horsepower. 1903 value $125,000. 1906 value $115,000. 1908 value $110,000. 1910 value $107,000. 1912 value $106,000. 1913 value $104,000. 1914 value $103,000. 1914 insurance rating = 100/100. This canaller was a sister to WESTMOUNT and a near sister to NEWMOUNT. In 1905, FAIRMOUNT was chartered for two trips to Pulley Island. On 19 November 1906, she had two plates loosened during a storm on Lake Superior. Repairs were done at the lakehead [see definitions]. On 9 37

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