Almost 100 years ago today the Canadian steamer Alexandria sank at the foot of the Scarborough Bluffs, a little bit east of Birch Cliff.
Alexandria-Postcard
The Alexandria was on its way from Toronto to Port Hope, carrying a small crew and 300 tons of tomatoes, beans and vinegar.
There’s a fascinating story about it at blogTO, which includes a map of where the shipwreck lies today.
Rescue…then pillage?
One thing that caught our attention involved the role of locals in the rescue effort.
“According to newspaper reports, “scores” of farmers and radial railway workers arrived at the top of the fifty-foot cliff… and (began) forming a human chain into the water to help pull the crew of the ship to safety.”
Another insight shows a considerably less altruistic side of the good folks of Scarborough because it indicates they carried off plunder from the wreckage:
“The next day, with the lake considerably calmer, nefarious locals set about salvaging anything they could from the stricken Alexandria. To quote a newspaper report, “a persistent stream of the curious and thrifty went back and forth from the Bluffs bearing trophies of every conceivable nature. Nearly everything of value above the water line was taken. Many a cellar was stocked with vinegar and canned goods.”
You can read the entire story at blogTO.
