THE ETTA BELLE

Built in Dexter, NY the Etta Belle (US 8730) was enrolled on June 3, 1871 in Cape Vincent, NY. Little is known about the Etta Belle, perhaps due to a lack of continuity in naming (many reports refer to her as the Etta Bell or Etta Ball). She was reportedly constructed on the wooden hull of the Canadian schooner Champion in 1871. The 93 foot, 94 ton Etta Belle hosted two masts, one deck, a 19 foot beam, and a semi-circular bow.

Owned byHillaker & Wells of Dexter, NY, the Etta Belle was enroute from Fairhaven, NY to Toronto, CA on September 3, 1873, when she sprang a leak. According to the captain, Pelow, the Etta Belle had shown no sign of damage prior to departure. While some reports mention the boat sank in calm water, others state that a storm played a role in her demise. In the September 5, 1873 Oswego Palladium, He theorized that “the butts were sprung when the schooner was leading, and that they opened still more when she got out on the lake, by reason of jumping into the heavy dead swell.” Pelow reportedly discovered the leak on the port bow at approximately 6 PM, yet the pumps were unable to remove the water. Thus, the crew rowed ashore in a small rowboat. While everyone survived, many lost much of their clothing. By 7 PM, the schooner had reportedly sunk. At the time of her demise, the Etta Belle was valued at $4,500. Wells was insured for $2,000, however his co-owner, William E. Hillaker was not.