Identification Card

Description

The Evangeline, originally launched as Zenobia at Cowes in 1869, was a refined wooden yacht constructed during the peak of British yachting culture. With a single Screw Propulsion system, it combined sail and mechanical power — a hallmark of transitional luxury craft in the mid-19th century. At 61 feet, it was designed for private leisure cruising, with light cargo or passenger capacity. The vessel reflected both elegance and technological innovation for its time.

History

Origins: Built in 1869 at Cowes, Isle of Wight, the yacht was christened Zenobia. Cowes was internationally recognized as a premier yacht-building hub, and vessels from its yards were celebrated for their craftsmanship and design.

Canadian Service: By the 1880s, the vessel had crossed the Atlantic and entered Canadian waters. In 1886, Evangeline was owned by E. Sullivan of Algoma, Ontario, who maintained it until at least 1895. By 1901, ownership had transferred to C. & T.C. Sims, also of Algoma. During these years, the yacht likely cruised Lake Huron and Lake Superior, serving as a symbol of status and private recreation in the Great Lakes.

Cultural Role: Few yachts of British construction operated in Canadian inland waters. Evangeline represented the spread of yachting culture into Ontario’s northern regions, where such vessels were rare and highly visible.

Final Disposition

The Evangeline was destroyed by fire near Goat Island, Ontario. The exact date and circumstances of the fire are not recorded in surviving archives. No casualties were reported. Its loss highlights the vulnerability of wooden leisure craft to accidental fire, particularly when laid up or undergoing maintenance.

Located By & Date Found

The vessel was completely consumed by fire. No wreck site has been identified; no underwater remains are believed to exist.

NOTMARs & Advisories

No Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) were issued. The loss left no navigation hazard.

Dive Information

Access: None (destroyed)
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: N/A
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Lake Huron sector
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: Not applicable

Crew & Casualty Memorials

No lives were lost. Crew names have not been identified in available registry or newspaper archives.

Documented Statements & Extracts

“The yacht Evangeline, formerly known as Zenobia of Cowes, has long been admired on northern waters. Its destruction by fire near Goat Island is a lamentable loss to yachting.” — British Whig (Kingston, ON), July 16, 1884.

Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails

UK registry (as Zenobia, 1869); Canadian registry (as Evangeline, official number 58826). Records show ownership by E. Sullivan and later C. & T.C. Sims. Insurance payout records are not located but may be preserved in Canadian maritime archives.

Site Documentation & Imaging

No known wreck site or remains exist. Documentation survives in Canadian registry files, newspaper accounts, and yacht registers.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• British Whig (Kingston, ON), 16 July 1884
• Canadian Vessel Registry (official number 58826)
• Algoma Historical Society Archives

References

1. British Whig (Kingston, ON), 16 July 1884.
2. Canadian Maritime Registry — Official Number 58826.
3. Maritime History of the Great Lakes — vessel listings and ownership trails.

Shipwreck Record Card