The Forest Queen

The Forest Queen was built in Springhill, York County just upriver from Fredericton in 1848. She was a 155-foot side wheeler with a gross tonnage of 201. She was twenty-four and a half feet in the beam and forty-one feet when including the paddle wheels.The engine, imported from New York was the "walking beam" type and had a 36-inch vertical cylinder and a stroke of seven and a half feet. The boiler was twenty-four feet long and eight and a half feet in diameter. The smokestack was 22 feet high and 3 feet in diameter.

Her passenger accommodations were superior to that of any other steamer that had been placed in river service. For a time, she left Fredericton every morning and Indiantown at Saint John every evening. Fare between the two cities was five shillings cabin, or three shillings forward. Her owner was Frederick W. Hatheway. In 1850, he was joined by Otis Small and from this partnership they formed the Union Line, a name that became familiar on the Bay of Fundy, as well as the St. John. An idea of the Union Line's rapid growth is conveyed by a report showing no less than six steamers were flying its pennant on the river in 1852. By 1875, this firm had seventeen steamers.

There was heavy demand for the Forest Queen and her total business done in that first year was said to be as much as her original cost.

Rivalry between the Forest Queen and the Reindeer was very keen. With regard to speed, the two boats were evenly matched and although the Reindeer was the winner of the first race to Woodstock, there were times when the Forest Queen prevailed.

On Saturday, August 4, 1860, the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII, along with his entourage, boarded the Forest Queen at Rothesay en route to Fredericton. Also on board were members of the Legislative Council, and a band to supply music. At Boars Head the Anna Augusta with a large party of excursionists met the Forest Queen and followed a short distance astern. While passing Hardings Point the Prince called attention to the beautiful elm tree growing near the water's edge. The Forest Queen arrived in Fredericton and on the return trip to Saint John the Prince expressed a desire to again see the beautiful elm he had so admired four days earlier. The Captain, when they were nearing Hardings Point, steered the Forest Queen reasonably close to the shore. Since that time, the tree has been known as the Prince of Wales Elm.

One dark night, late in October 1867, while on her way to Fredericton, the Forest queen ran aground on Whelpleys Point and considerable damage occurred. The hull filled with water and her passengers and freight were taken to Fredericton the following day on the Antelope. A few days later, with the use of two wood boats and two lumber scows, the Forest Queen was re-floated and towed to Saint John. While passing through the Reversing Falls, this cumbersome flotilla collided with another tow of scows which was proceeding in the opposite direction. The Forest Queen suffered more extensive damage and was beached immediately. Further examination disclosed that repairs were impractical.