Glossary
Back to "Time and Place"
Homepage
Events
During her short career, the P.S. Lady Sherbrooke was involved in many adventures. Journalists carefully reported some of the events as follows.
Last week, ...in consequence of an unusual rise of the water, the ice moved, and tore the steam-boats Lady Sherbrooke, Malsham, and Caledonia from their mooring, and carried them nearly a distance of 30 acres. They are now on an island belonging to Mr. Souligny, about an acre beyond the ordinary watermark. (Montreal Herald, 24 January 1818)
The P.S. Lady Sherbrooke would stay on that island for a complete year. She only got back in the water at the end of December 1818.
Last Sunday morning, he (the elephant) was led to the Lady Sherbrooke steam-boat, but apprehending some disaster from the narrowness of the pontoon thrown from the shore to the vessel... he obstinately stood still... As a last resource, a cable was reaved round his body, and attached to the capstern, but his strength was soon found to be superior to that of the machine (Quebec Mercury, 14 July 1820)
The elephant decided, only on the following morning, to go on board the P.S. Telegraph.
A soldier... in passage down the river, on the steam-boat Lady Sherbrooke...went upon one of the wheel houses, and laid himself down to sleep, from which situation, by some movement of the boat, he was precipitated into the river and drowned. (Canadian Courant, 8 May 1821)
At night it is always dangerous to navigate the Saint Lawrence River.
The Malsham steam-boat...by some unlucky accident, came in contact with the Lady Sherbrooke. The bowsprit of the Malsham tore away the iron railing of the round house at the stern of the Lady, and the head piece forced itself through the floor of the round house. (Canadian Courant, 16 June 1821)
The P.S. Lady Sherbrooke was able to complete her trip. Two years later, the Lady Sherbrooke hit a vessel, this time the P.S. Salaberry.
On Wednesday morning about one o'clock, as the steam-boat Salaberry was coming round from Chambly to this place, she was met betwixt Verennes and Pointeau Tremble by the Lady Sherbrooke on her way to Quebec, when the latter ran foul of the former and carried away the quarter railing and a boat that was hanging over the stern. (Montreal Gazette, 2 May 1823)
The P.S. Salaberry was a competitor to the P.S. Lady Sherbrooke. It is possible that this ramming was done on purpose