No one knew what exactly had just happened.
Seafarers can be a suspicious lot.
They are wary of a wide array of omens that can dictate their actions or their fears. One of the most ominous is changing the name of a vessel. A curse of bad luck is certainly to follow. Perhaps that haunting omen assisted in wrecking the steamboat Champlain on the night of July 15-16, 1875. Then again, maybe other factors came into play that fateful night.