The wooden barge Orion (163x30x13, 846 tons gross) was originally built as the steam barge Isaac May by Andrew & Son at Welland, Ontario in 1872.= In 1890, the Isaac May was lengthened to 173 feet long and renamed Orion.

On August 17, 1907, Orion grounded at Calf Island near Galloo and Stony Islands on Lake Ontario. While it was released from the shoal, its machinery was heavily damaged, and the Orion was converted into a barge.

On August 24, 1917, Orion in tow of he tug Conqueror enroute from Fair Haven to Montreal, laden with 1025 tons of coal. Early that morning, while crossing Mexico Bay, the tow was caught in a gale, with waves washing away Orion’s hatch covers and flooding the hold. Orion’s crew signaled their distress and were taken aboard Conqueror shortly before the barge foundered.