First and Last of a Century Line: Schooner Days DCXI (611)

by C. H. J. Snider

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With Some More About The Corinthian, Aground At Grafton Harbor, And The Gildersleeve Steamers Up To Forty Years Ago

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"HAVING noted mention of the S.S. Corinthian in chapter DCVII of 'Schooner Days,' some weeks ago, I send the following information regarding that steamer," writes Mr. Edwin E. Horsey, of 408 Albert street, Kingston, thus taking up T. M. Kirkwood's suggestion of steamer days as well as schooner days.

The Corinthian's adventure at the now vanished port of Grafton Harbor (about which we hope to write more) is what Mr. Horsey refers to. He supplies the following interesting list of steamers owned and operated by the Gildersleeve family of Kingston. The Gildersleeves had a steamer bearing their own name a hundred and three years ago and the list goes back a century and a quarter to the second steamer built on Lake Ontario. The Frontenac, built in 1816 was the first. Here is the list:

GILDERSLEEVE VESSELS

1818—S.S. Queen Charlotte.

1829—S.S. Sir James Kempt.

1833—S.S. Commodore Barrie.

1840—S.S. Henry Gildersleeve.

1842—S.S. Prince of Wales.

1848—S.S. New Era.

1853—S.S. Bay of Quinte.

1856—S.S. City of the Bay (*).

1862—S.S. Empress (formerly New Era).

1865—S.S. Corinthian.

1868—S.S. Norseman.

1869—S.S. Rochester (*).

1871—S.S. Maud (later America).

1877—S.S. Hastings (formerly Rochester).

1881—S.S. Hero.

1891—S.S. North King (formerly Norseman).

1901—S.S. Caspian (formerly Passport, built in 1846).

(*) Opposition steamer acquired by purchase.

ENTER, THE R. AND O. LINE

"Shortly after Charles F. Gildersleeve, of Kingston (who is perhaps best remembered as the progressive general manager of the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company, from 1894 to 1904), assumed control of the Gildersleeve family steamboat interests, in March, 1864, he decided to construct a new steamer for operation on the Rochester-Cobourg-Port Hope route, then being served by their steamer Empress (formerly the New Era).

SCOTCH IRON

"Arrangements were accordingly made for the building of the iron hull in Scotland, to be taken apart and shipped to Kingston. No time was apparently lost, tor an item noted in the Kingston News, October 24th, 1864, says: 'The new iron steamer has now put on a more finished appearance.'

"On December 14th the launching took place, the same paper recording: 'This afternoon, soon after three o'clock, the hull of the new iron steamer building for Mr. Gildersleeve, at the foot of Gore street, was launched from the ways and christened Corinthian. She was constructed in Scotland, then taken apart and shipped to this pert, where she has been finally prepared for service in Canadian waters. The boat will be put upon the lake, perhaps taking the place of the Empress. Her dimensions are: Length 182 feet, breadth 26 feet, depth of hold 9 1/2 feet. During the winter the engine will be put in and the cabins built. After the launch, the friends of Mr. Gildersleeve were regaled at a champagne lunch in the sail loft of Mr. Jenkins' shipyard.'

OLD SCHOONER BUILDER

"This yard was, previous to this date known as the Kingston Marine Railway, Mr. Jenkins being chief clerk. The Canadian Engine and Machinery Works (forerunner of the Canadian Engine and Locomotive Company), had the contract for putting the hull together, and for the building of the engine, beam and boilers. The hull was designed by Mr. Ault, master shipwright, Kingston, from the lines of the New Era. At a trial trip made after completion, the Corinthian ran at the rate of 'almost seventeen miles per hour, with forty pounds of steam pressure and a new engine.' (News, June 9th, 1865). George Ault designed and built many of the lake schooners as well.

OUTRAN RECIPROCITY

"The Corinthian commenced regular service on June 12th, 1865, and, according to the News of November 29th, 1865, was still running on the Cobourg-Charlotte route, and we are informed that 'during recent rough weather, when American steamers laid in port, the Corinthian made her trips.' At this period shipments of livestock from the Canadian side appear to have been very heavy, shipments waiting for the necessary space. The reciprocity era was hastening to its close. It was a ten-year agreement, commencing in 1855.

"Mr. Gildersleeve sold the Corinthian to the Royal Mail Line (official name then being Canadian Navigation Company), in 1868, replacing her with the Norseman, which steamer had been constructed for him at the yards of A. Cantlin [sic: Cantin], Montreal. The engine was built by E. E. Gilbert, of the same place. The Norseman came out under command of Captain R. C. Carter."

The QUEEN CHARLOTTE, second steamer to float on Lake Ontario, was built near Bath on the Bay of Quinte in the shipyard site on Finkle's Point now marked with a cairn, where Ontario's first steamer was launched.

The PASSPORT, built in 1846, became the CASPIAN and last of the Gildersleeve steamers, 1901.