Laid down at Winnipeg in 1887, the Antelope measured 100.5 feet stem to stern, had a beam 18 feet 2 inches wide, hull of 4.5 feet, draught of approximately 2 feet, and weighed 120 gross tons with a net tonnage of 75. It featured a double-hull design, the outer of which was steel-plated, and contained three water-tight compartments. The paddle steamer’s original configuration was that of a single stern-wheel powered by a single 80-horsepower engine. It was built at the foot of James Street along the western bank of the Red River under the oversight of Captain Patterson, its owner and Master (1887-1893).
On 9 May 1887, she traversed the slipway and, though work still remained, entered the Red River for the first time. Fitting of machinery and the upper deck were completed within the next month and the Antelope was made ready for the season. In June, bookings began for private trips on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and regularly scheduled trips from its James Street moorings to Fraser’s Grove in Kildonan were conducted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The steamship operated on the Red River system and into Lake Winnipeg primarily transporting passengers, while also hauling lumber for the Sprague Lumber Company in the excursion off-season.
In April 1889, the Antelope’s large stern-mounted paddlewheel was ditched in favour of two smaller, paddlewheels in side-wheeler configuration. In advance of the winter of 1892-1893, she was moored on the eastern bank of the Red River across from the Sprague Lumber plant in Point Douglas. Despite measures taken to winterize the ship, water managed to ingress and freeze, the result of which compromised the hull’s integrity. In April 1893, her boiler was lit in attempt to generate enough heat to loosen the ice, but with no result. To help lighten its weight (and premptively salvage what could be removed), the stack, upper desk, and spare machinery were removed. In early May, while still a prisoner to the ice, the Antelope was caught in the spring ice flow and floundered towards the Louise Bridge. An attempt was made to lash the vessel to the bridge superstructure, but that too failed, and she was dragged further downstream and wrecked. Despite statements by Patterson that downplayed the severity of the damage and stating a desire to pump out the hull and return the Antelope to seaworthy condition, it remains uncertain to what degree, if ever, this was carried out. What remained was reportedly dismantled.
Antelope (circa 1891)
Source: Archives of Manitoba, Transportation - Boat - Antelope #1.
“City and province [Capt. Patterson’s excursions teamer],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 9 May 1887, page 4.
“The catamaran,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 10 May 1887, page 4.
“City and province [The annual excursion],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 9 June 1887, page 4.
“General Assembly,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 11 June 1887, page 4.
“Amusements [A grand pic-nic],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 13 June 1887, page 4.
“The new steamer,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 18 June 1887, page 8.
“Folicsome youths,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 20 July 1887, page 4.
“Knox Church picnic,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 29 July 1887, page 4.
“The Antelope afloat,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 6 April 1889, page 4.
“The Antelope,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 8 April 1889, page 4.
“The Queen’s birthday,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 18 May 1889, page 4.
“Wrecked in the Red,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 5 July 1889, page 4.
“The reportorial round [Capt. Patterson],” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 18 March 1890, page 4.
“People in paragraphs [Capt. Patterson],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 19 March 1890, page 8.
“The reportorial round [The Antelope ...],” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 5 April 1890, page 8.
“City and country [The steamer Antelope],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 20 April 1891, page 6.
“City and country [The steamer Antelope],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 9 May 1891, page 8.
“City and country [Capt. Patterson’s first venture],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 11 May 1891, page 8.
“An unfounded report,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 12 May 1891, page 1.
“She stemmed the rapids,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 9 July 1891, page 4.
“Str. Antelope,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 28 July 1891, page 4.
“The antelope,” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 15 April 1893, page 6.
“The flood of 1852 [Present state of The River],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 28 April 1893, page 8.
“Good-bye, Antelope,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 4 May 1893, page 5.
“The reportorial round [Capt. Patterson ...],” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 5 May 1893, page 8.
“City and country [Capt. Patterson],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 3 June 1893, page 8.
“Capt. Patterson interviewed,” Winnipeg Daily Tribune, 29 March 1894, page 5.
“Morning edition local [Capt. Patterson],” Manitoba Daily Free Press, 30 March 1894, page 8.
Loudon G. Wilson fonds, Photos 187-190, PR1978-14, Archives of Manitoba.
Ship Registrations 1787-1966, Antelope, Library and Archives Canada.
Antelope (1), The Nauticapedia Project.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 12 February 2022
