Labouchere (paddle steamer) facts for kids
The Labouchere was a special type of boat called a paddle steamer. It was built in 1858 in London, England, for the Hudson's Bay Company. This company was very important for trade and exploration in early Canada. The Labouchere mostly sailed along the coast of British Columbia and the wider Pacific Northwest region during the 1850s and 1860s. It even traveled to parts of Russian America, which is now Alaska.
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In 1859, the Labouchere's captain, John Swanson, became famous for winning an election in Nanaimo. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Colony of Vancouver Island by just one vote! This was a very unusual election because there was only one person who was allowed to vote.
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Sailing the Pacific Coast
By 1865 and 1866, the Labouchere began sailing a regular route between San Francisco and Victoria. On its second trip along this route, the ship faced a big challenge.
The Shipwreck of the Labouchere
On April 14, 1866, the Labouchere left San Francisco with 100 passengers and a lot of cargo. It was a very foggy night. The ship, under the command of Captain W.A. Mouat, accidentally hit a reef near Point Reyes.
The crew managed to back the ship off the reef. They stayed offshore overnight, hoping the ship was safe. However, the next morning, April 15, the Labouchere began to sink. Eight lifeboats were launched to save the passengers and crew. Sadly, one lifeboat was swamped by the waves, and two people lost their lives.
A ship called the Rescue quickly arrived and picked up everyone in the lifeboats. Twenty-three men had stayed on board the sinking Labouchere. Just before the ship completely disappeared under the waves, an Italian fishing boat named the Andrew rescued them.
Places Named After the Ship
The Labouchere may have sunk, but its name lives on in several places.
Labouchere's Legacy in British Columbia
- Labouchere Channel
- Labouchere Point
These two places are located on the northeast side of King Island. This area is part of the Dean Channel region on the Central Coast of British Columbia, close to Bella Coola.
- Labouchere Passage
This passage is found near Drury Inlet, which is farther south along the coast.
These places were all named after the Labouchere paddle steamer. The ship itself was named after Henry Labouchere, who was an important government official. He served as the colonial secretary from 1855 to 1858. There is also a Labouchere Bay on Prince of Wales Island in Alaska, which was also named after this famous sidewheeler.
