1900 - Macassa and Fog

 

“Lost in the Fog : Steamer Macassa Did Not Reach Port Until Early Morning.”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1900.

“Owing to the heavy fog, which settled early last evening, the steamer Macassa, which leaves Toronto at four o’clock in the afternoon, and is due to arrive here at seven o’clock, was unable to find the piers”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1900.

It was getting late in the shipping season as the month of October 1900 was nearing its end. However, there still were a few weeks left, so the passenger traffic between Hamilton and Toronto on the steamship Macassa continued.

On October 25, 1900 the Macassa set off from Toronto at half-past 4 p.m. with an anticipated arrival time in Hamilton of around 7 p.m.

The voyage was uneventful until Hamilton was nearly reached. A problem developed near the end of the trip. Avery heavy fog had descended at the western end of Lake Ontario and was especially bad at the canal where the big ship was to enter Hamilton Bay from Lake Ontario :

“The steamer left Toronto as usual, at 4:30 p.m., and made her usual time to the Beach, getting within half a mile of the piers shortly before 7 o’clock. By this time, the steamer was enveloped in the fog that lay like a blanket over the vicinity of the Beach. Capt. Crawford was unable to make out the pier lights and after making a couple of trips up and down the shoreline for an hour or two, waiting in vain for the fog to lift, he decided to drop his anchors and lie offshore until morning.”¹

¹ “Were Out in the Fog : Macassa’s Passengers Spent the Night on the Lake : Had a Novel Experience.”

Hamilton Times.   October 26, 1900.

Getting within a half mile of the Burlington canal, the captain of the Macassa could not see through the pea soup fog at all, could not see the lights at the end of the pier needed to guide vessels. The captain decided to run the ship up and down the length of the Beach Strip hoping that soon the fog would lift but that hope proved fruitless:

“About eight o’clock, Captain Crawford decided it would be taking a needless risk to try and make the piers until the fog raised and decided to anchor for the night.”²

² “Lost in the Fog : Steamer Macassa Did Not Reach Port Until Early Morning.”

Hamilton Spectator.    October 26, 1900.

While the big ship was anchored off shore, residents of the Beach Strip could hear conversations taking place on board the Macassa but were unable to actually see it:

“There were about thirty passengers on board, but being assured by the captain that there was no danger, they rather enjoyed their novel experience and spent the night singing songs and telling stories. Everything possible was done for their comfort and on arriving at the James street dock, they got together and gave three rousing cheers and a tiger for Capt. Crawford, his crew and his staunch craft.”²