Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Alice Hackett
  • Former Names: None
  • Official Number: None
  • Date Built: Unknown (pre-1828)
  • Builder: Unknown
  • Vessel Type: Schooner, wood
  • Hull Dimensions: Estimated at 60 tons
  • Date Lost: November 4, 1828
  • Place of Loss: Fitzwilliam Island (later known as Horse Island), near Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
  • Cause of Loss: Navigational error, storm, and intoxication of the crew
  • Cargo: Military supplies, livestock (horses, cows, sheep, pigs), personal possessions, and barrels of whiskey
  • Loss of Life: None

Vessel Type

The Alice Hackett was a wooden Schooner, likely built in the early 19th century. The ship was used for transporting cargo and passengers, and in this case, was chartered to evacuate the remaining military personnel and settlers from Drummond Island to Penetanguishene, Ontario.

Description

In 1828, the British were forced to abandon Drummond Island after a boundary agreement gave the island to the United States. The military and settlers had to be relocated to Penetanguishene, Ontario, and the Alice Hackett was one of the final vessels tasked with transporting people and cargo to the new settlement.

Onboard were several passengers, including tavern keeper Alexander Fraser, who had brought 13 barrels of whiskey, as well as William Solomon, a government interpreter, who was transporting livestock such as horses, cows, sheep, and pigs. Among the passengers was also a French-Canadian settler, Pierre Lepine, along with his wife Angelique and their infant child.

History

As the Alice Hackett set sail across the tempestuous waters of Georgian Bay, conditions deteriorated rapidly. A powerful November storm, combined with the inebriation of the crew—who had indulged heavily in Fraser’s whiskey—led to disaster. The Schooner was thrown off course and ran aground on a rock near what is now known as Horse Island (Fitzwilliam Island).

The intoxicated crew and passengers managed to scramble ashore, bringing with them the barrels of whiskey and some supplies, but in their drunken state, they failed to realize that Angelique Lepine and her infant child were still aboard the stricken vessel.

During the night, as the storm raged, the Alice Hackett was battered by waves. A cannon in the hold broke loose, crashing through the bottom of the ship and causing it to take on water rapidly. Fearing for her life, Angelique tied herself and her child to the mast, enduring the terrifying storm for hours until dawn.

By morning, the now-sober crew launched a rescue effort and miraculously found Angelique and her child still alive, though weakened by their ordeal. The Alice Hackett was declared a Total Loss, with the remaining cargo and livestock either washed away or Abandoned.

Among the most famous elements of the wreck was William Solomon’s white stallion, Louie. Unable to retrieve the horse, Solomon left him behind. For years afterward, sailors reported seeing Louie roaming the island. His presence led to Fitzwilliam Island being renamed Horse Island. Some claim the ghostly figure of a white horse can still be seen galloping along the shoreline, adding a supernatural dimension to this already legendary shipwreck.

Final Disposition

The Alice Hackett was a Total Loss. It is unclear if the ship was ever salvaged or if any remnants of the wreck remain today.

Located By & Date Found

There is no record of an official discovery of the wreck site. However, Fitzwilliam Island remains a point of historical and maritime interest due to the Alice Hackett’s legacy.

NOTMARs & Advisories

Nil returns.

Resources & Links

Conclusion

The wreck of the Alice Hackett is a remarkable tale of survival, recklessness, and maritime history. While the ship itself may be long gone, its legacy endures in the form of Horse Island and the legend of the ghostly white stallion. The story highlights both the perilous nature of sailing the Great Lakes in the early 19th century and the enduring folklore that arises from these historic disasters.