1825.

Opening of the Erie Canal. -- The year 1825 was notable for the formal opening of the Erie canal, an event described elsewhere in this volume. In the celebration of that event a simultaneous discharge of cannon took place throughout the entire distance between Albany and Buffalo at intervening points, during which a line of canal boats were en route on the passage westward.

Valuable Fur Cargo. -- The schooner Mariner, Captain Blake, August, 1825, landed at Buffalo a cargo of furs worth $267,000, belonging to the American Fur Company. Usually the finer furs were conveyed to Montreal by an inland route. From Mackinaw they were taken to the mouth of Canadian river, which communicated by portage with Grand river, and thence down to the St. Lawrence in bark canoes. The skins and coarser portions were taken in vessels to Fort Erie, and by boats to Chippewa; across the portage to Queenston, and by vessels to Kingston; thence down the St. Lawrence in boats.

Severe October Gale. -- The schooners Minerva and General Huntington were caught in a severe gale near Cleveland in October 1825. The former let go her anchors off the port, while the latter was driven down the lake and went ashore ten miles above Erie. She was freighted with ashes. In the same storm the steamboat Pioneer and the schooner Phoebe went ashore at Grand River, but were got off. The schooners Mercatur, William, Neptune and Prudence went ashore in the same gale at Cleveland, and the William became a total loss. The schooner John Q. Adams went ashore at Buffalo.

The Steamer Niagara was built at Toronto about 1825 as a sailing vessel, owned and commanded by Captain Mosier, and at first called the Union, of Wellington Grove. She capsized in the St. Lawrence river near Prescott, and, being righted, she was cut in two, about 30 feet added to her length, and she was then converted into a steamer, and named the Niagara. After this transformation had taken place she was described as a handsome and well-built boat, with a powerful engine and excellent accommodations for passengers. She once made the trip from York to Prescott and back again in less than four days.

In 1825 there was built at Queenston the steamer Queenston, of 350 tons, owned by Hon. R. Hamilton, which ran between Queenston and Prescott, by way of York. The steamer Caroline, 75 tons, was built at Kingston in 1825, and ran from the head of the bay of Quinte to Prescott. The steamer Toronto was built in 1825 at the foot of Church street, Toronto, and ran a few years; proving, however, at last a failure, she disappeared.

Other Events of 1825. -- January 1: About 60 sail craft registered for the season's service on the lakes. March 20: Navigation opened at some ports on Lake Erie. May 11: Schooner Superior in command of Captain Sherwood, ashore at Cedar Point, while attempting to enter Sandusky during a gale. June 9 -- Steamer Henry Clay, 300 tons burden, launched at Black Rock. August 6: Schooner Bolivar, in command of Captain Miles, and schooner Commerce, in command of Captain Gillett, arrive at Buffalo on their maiden trips. August 17: Steamboat Pioneer in command of Captain Pease, makes her maiden trip. September 20: Schooner Commodore Perry ashore near the mouth of Fox river after springing a leak. September 28: Schooner Mariner in command of Captain Blake, arrives in Buffalo from Green Bay with 30 tons of maple sugar, made by the natives of that place. The canal-boat Troy, of the Merchants line, in command of Captain Stillwell, arrives at Buffalo via the Erie canal November 12, being the first boat from the Atlantic ocean. December 9: Schooner Good Intent, bound for Sandusky, and in command of Captain Talbott, wrecked on Lake Erie off Dunkirk. Schooner Milan damaged during a gale off Point Albino; 20, navigation closed at several ports.

First Lake Vessel on the Erie Canal. -- Capt. Sam Ward, of Newport, Mich., built at that place, in 1824, a schooner of 30 tons burden, called the St. Clair. He loaded her with skins, furs, potash and black walnut lumber for gun-stocks in June, 1826, and started for New York city. He arrived at Buffalo, took out her spars, and towed her through the canal to Albany with his own horses. She was then towed by steam down the Hudson river to New York, and returned the same way to his home, making the voyage in eight weeks. This was the first vessel that passed from the lakes to the ocean via the Erie canal.

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Volume II

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