​Bruce County Memories: Shipwrecks of Bruce County - Storm smashes “Kaloolah” at Southampton

The side-wheeler, "Kaloolah," was one of the most famous steamers of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

Built in Buffalo, New York, in 1852 by Francis N. Jones, the "Kaloolah," of 620 tons, measured 138 feet long. Her engine was very old, having been built for the side-wheeler "Uncle Sam" which launched at Grosse Isle, Michigan, in 1833. When that vessel was converted to sail in 1844, the engine went into the "Lexington" which was wrecked on Lake Michigan in 1850. After salvage, the engine was put into the brand new "Kaloolah." 

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An 1860 advertisement says Captain Rowan sales three times per week between Southampton and Goderich

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The "Kaloolah" was sold to, or leased by, Charles Thompson of Collingwood and re-named "Collingwood." For several seasons, it busied itself hauling passengers and freight on Georgian Bay and into Lake Superior. In 1857, Thompson reverted to the original name, and in 1858 the "Kaloolah" was rebuilt at Detroit, probably as a result of severe damage sustained by running ashore on Superior’s Michipicoten Island the previous summer.

By the spring of 1860, the "Kaloolah" was in the hands of T.E. Van Every and George Rumball of Goderich, who placed the well-known Kincardine mariner, Duncan Rowan, in command.

Four times a week, she steamed north to Southampton, touching at Kincardine, Port Head, Inverhuron, Baie du Dore, and Port Elgin. Twice a week, she sailed south to Sarnia and Port Huron. As occasion required, the big side-wheeler was also used for special excursions, including a 4th of July trip to Detroit and a run up the lake, with decks crammed with London “pleasure-seekers,” many of whom “had the pleasure of getting their stomachs emptied” while the Volunteer Artillery Band played into a fresh wind.

During the autumn and winter of 1860, the "Kaloolah" was taken in hand at Goderich and extensively reworked. In the spring, she was advertised as having been “thoroughly overhauled, repaired and painted; her engines and boilers have also been overhauled and refitted and she is, altogether, better than ever. She has superior cabin and state-room accommodation (having been fitted with fifteen additional state-rooms), and large carrying capacity.”

On Aug. 18, 1862, the St. Catharines brig, "Sir Charles Napier," went aground at the mouth of the Saugeen River, Southampton. The vessel's master quickly went over to the "Kaloolah," then lying inside the bar, and requested assistance of the captain. The brig lay in an awkward position and, in trying to pull it off, the "Kaloolah" fouled a paddle-wheel. This required it to withdraw to the Bogus Dock, south of the river near the pumping station, to have it cleared. While this was being done, a gale sprang up and forced the "Kaloolah" to make for the shelter of the Saugeen River. It was too close to the beach and fetched up on the rocks abreast of Southampton’s main street.

Within a few days, the salvage tug, "Magnet," came up from Detroit, but on the 22nd, before anything could be done to save it, the "Kaloolah" was ravaged by heavy seas and went to pieces. Although it was still a relatively new vessel, the "Kaloolah" was described on the occasion of the wreck as a “floating coffin” (no one died during the accident).

Her owners had her insured for $10,000 among three companies, but had great difficulty in collecting on their loss. Van Every brought a lawsuit against the Phoenix Insurance Company of Brooklyn, New York, which went through three trials before it was resolved in 1871. His claim foundered when a United States Circuit Court ruled that the alleged custom of one vessel aiding another in distress was not universal enough to fall within the policy assigned the "Kaloolah" for her usual employment.



The side-wheeler, "Kaloolah," in a drawing by C.H.J. Snider, dated about 1915; digitalarchiveontario.ca
 

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Patrick Folkes of Tobermory is a Great Lakes marine historian who has authored the books, "Shipwrecks of the Saugeen, 1828-1938" (1970); "Cabot Head: a history of its lighthouse, shipwrecks, fishery and timber industry" (1998); and "The saddest calamity: the wreck of the steamer J.H. Jones" (2000). His article on the "Kaloolah" appeared in the 2002 Yearbook of the Bruce County Historical Society.
 

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You can get the latest edition of the "History of the County of Bruce" by sending an E-mail to Bill Stewart, willstew@bmts.com, at the Bruce County Historical Society, or by visiting the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre in Southampton, Treasure Chest Museum in Paisley, Holst Office Supplies in Walkerton, Little Blue House Café/Gallery in Tiverton, Hamilton's Toys and More in Kincardine, Berford Street Books in Wiarton, Shops at 84 Main in Lion's Head, or Readers' Haven Book Store in Tobermory.