The Wreck of the Circus Ship Royal Tar: Tragedy in Penobscot Bay

Lost in the Flames

On October 21, 1836, a bustling crowd gathered at the docks in Saint John, New Brunswick, to witness an extraordinary spectacle. The steamship Royal Tar was embarking on yet another voyage from New Brunswick to Portland, Maine, laden with a cargo of peculiar passengers. For this fateful voyage, the Royal Tar had been transformed into a circus ship. Onlookers watched as cages slowly rolled past--exotic birds in one, two lionesses in another and the regal striped Bengal tiger in a third. Then the star of the show slowly made his way across the gangplank. Mogul, the mighty Asian elephant, took his spot on the upper deck of the ship as it steamed out of the port.

After four days of stormy weather, a devastating fire engulfed the ship. The ensuing chaos left thirty-two people dead, and many of the animals were pushed overboard into the frigid waters of Penobscot Bay in a last-ditch effort to save them. The rest died in their cages. Jane Parks Gardner reveals how this tragic event left an indelible mark on Maine’s maritime history.

Jane Parks Gardner is the author of numerous STEM-focused books and study guides for K-12 learners and adults. In researching this book, Jane embarked on a journey to New Brunswick and Maine, tracing the route of the Royal Tar. She explored the steep streets of Saint John and gazed out at the docks at Peter’s Wharf. Traveling down the coast, she stopped in Eastport, where the Royal Tar spent several days, and continued to Owl’s Head Lighthouse, where she looked out at Penobscot Bay and the waters off Vinalhaven, where the ship met its fiery end. Many of the photos in this book were taken during this trip, reflecting her belief in experiencing her stories firsthand.