14

The S.S. St. Charles.
1906
Peace River Crossing, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
Missionary Oblates, Grandin Collection at the Provincial Archives of Alberta, OB 13501

15

The St. Charles was used to a great extent from its inaugural launch in 1903 to the summer of 1906 when it was badly damaged near Peace River Crossing. After this incident there are far fewer references to the steamboat being used and, indeed, there are several times that the Oblates are travelling on the S.S. Peace River and the S.S. Messenger (operated by the Hudson's Bay Company). In addition to apparent technical problems it was very difficult for the Oblates to compete with the latter two steamboats. The Hudson's Bay Company was the largest potential costumer for passenger and freight service on the Peace River and this was carried by their own boats after 1905, taking a large amount of potential traffic away from the Oblates.

The Oblates operated the St. Charles until 1910 when it was sold to a company operated by Ford and Lawrence. There are several references to the boat in Hudson's Bay Company business documents at this time. The last reference to the existence of the boat is for April 1915 when it was damaged during the break up of the Peace River. It would appear that this was the end of its days of steaming on the Peace River.

16

The S.S. St. Charles "dry docked" at the St. Augustine Mission on the Peace River.
Circa 1903-1911
St. Augustine Oblate Mission, Shaftesbury Settlement, near Peace River, Alberta, Canada


Credits:
University of Alberta Archives, Arthur Watts Fonds, UAA 76-50-14-240