Identification & Site Information

• Wreck Name: Queen Victoria
• Former Names: None
• Official Registration Number: Canadian registry (C)
• Type at Loss: Sidewheel Steamer, Wood, Passenger & Package Freight
• Builder: A. Cantin, Hull, Quebec
• Year Built: 1861
• Specifications: Length: 169 ft (51.5 m) Beam: 23 ft (7 m) Depth: 8 ft (2.4 m)
• Tonnage: 651 tons
• Date of Loss: September 13, 1883
• Place of Loss: Thames River, 6 miles below Chatham, Ontario
• Lake: St. Clair

Vessel Type

The Queen Victoria was a wooden Sidewheel Steamer built in 1861 for passenger and package freight service. Designed for river navigation, she operated primarily along the Thames River and Lake St. Clair, serving as a critical link between Ontario communities and larger shipping hubs in Montreal and the Great Lakes.

Description

Constructed by A. Cantin in Hull, Quebec, the Queen Victoria measured 169 feet in length with a 23-foot beam and an 8-foot Draft. At 651 tons, she was sizable for a river Steamer, with a design optimized for navigating the narrow, shallow waters of the Thames River and connecting waterways.

The vessel featured sidewheel propulsion, a hallmark of river steamers in the mid-19th century, and was equipped to carry both passengers and package freight. Her relatively shallow Draft allowed her to operate in rivers and shallow harbors, providing a crucial transport link for goods and people throughout southern Ontario.

Historical Summary

Launch & Early Service (1861–1883): The Queen Victoria was launched in 1861 by A. Cantin in Hull, Quebec, and quickly became a staple of river transportation in Ontario. Owned by Burns et al. of Montreal, she provided passenger service and freight transportalong the Thames River and into Lake St. Clair, contributing to the economic growth of Chatham and surrounding communities.

As a river Steamer, the Queen Victoria transported a wide range of cargo, including lumber, agricultural products, and manufactured goods. She also played a role in passenger travel, connecting rural communities to larger urban centersand facilitating regional commerce.

Ownership. The vessel was owned by Burns & Co., a Montreal-based shipping firm with interests in Great Lakes trade and regional river transport. Under the command of Captain St. Armour, the Queen Victoria maintained a reliable schedule, serving as a key vessel in the regional transportation network.

Final Disposition and Loss (1883)

• Cause of Loss: Fire
• Date of Loss: September 13, 1883
• Location: Thames River, 6 miles below Chatham, Ontario, Lake St. Clair

On the night of September 13, 1883, while the Queen Victoria was loading lumber along the Thames River, the vessel caught fire under uncertain circumstances. It is believed that a spark from a passing Barge may have ignited the blaze, which quickly spread through the wooden structure of the Steamer.

Despite efforts to contain the fire, the vessel was engulfed in flames and burned to a Total Loss. The crew and any passengers were able to escape unharmed, and there were no casualties reported in the incident. The Queen Victoriawas Abandoned at the site, with the wreck considered unsalvageable due to the extent of the damage.

Loss of Life Fortunately, there were no fatalities associated with the loss of the Queen Victoria. The crew managed to escape safely, and the vessel’s position on the river facilitated swift evacuation.

Final Disposition

The Queen Victoria was declared a Total Loss after the fire and was Abandoned in the Thames River, 6 miles below Chatham, Ontario. There are no records of salvage attempts, and the vessel decomposed over time due to river currents and seasonal ice.

Historical Significance

Role in Regional Transportation: The Queen Victoria was a vital part of the regional transportation network in southern Ontario, connecting small river towns to larger hubs on Lake St. Clair and the Great Lakes. Her service contributed to the economic development of communities like Chatham, supporting both passenger travel and freight transport.

Challenges of River Navigation: The fire that destroyed the Queen Victoria highlights the risks faced by wooden steamers operating in tight river corridors. Sparks from passing vessels or boiler malfunctions were a common cause of fires on 19th-century steamships, and the close quarters of river navigation exacerbated these dangers.

Burns & Co. of Montreal: The vessel’s ownership by Burns & Co. reflects the interconnected nature of Canadian maritime trade, with firms based in Montreal investing in regional shipping along the Great Lakes and inland waterways. The Queen Victoria exemplifies how river steamers complemented larger lake-going vessels in the Canadian shipping network.

Wreck Discovery and Current Status

There are no known records of the Queen Victoria’s wreck site being discovered or explored. Given the vessel’s wooden construction and the nature of the fire, the remains decomposed over time in the Thames River.

Potential for Future Discovery:

The site can be of interest to maritime archaeologists studying river steam navigation and 19th-century shipping on the Thames River. However, the likelihood of significant wreckage remaining is low due to river conditions and the passage of time.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) & Advisories

There are no current NOTMARs issued for the Queen Victoria wreck site. River Navigation Hazards in the Thames River may still exist, though not directly related to this wreck.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Maritime Database
• Chatham-Kent Museum
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Library and Archives Canada

Conclusion

The Queen Victoria, a wooden Sidewheel Steamer built in 1861 by A. Cantin in Hull, Quebec, was an integral part of Ontario’s river transportation network for over two decades. Her destruction by fire in 1883 along the Thames Riverreflects the vulnerabilities of wooden steamships and the challenges of river navigation in the 19th century. While the vessel has long since vanished, her story remains a testament to the importance of river steamers in Canada’s maritime history.

Suggested Keywords: Queen Victoria Steamer, Thames River shipwrecks, Lake St. Clair maritime history, Ontario river steamers, 19th-century Canadian shipping, Burns & Co. Montreal.

Categories: Shipwrecks of the Thames River, Canadian River Steamers, Maritime Disasters in Ontario, Great Lakes Regional Transportation.

Glossary Terms: Sidewheel Steamer, River Navigation, Great Lakes Passenger Steamers, Thames River Maritime History.