IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION
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- Type: The Argyle, later known as Glengarry, was a steam-powered propeller vessel initially built as a passenger and package freight steamer. After its significant rebuild, it was converted into a steam barge, adapting to the demands of the Great Lakes shipping industry.
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HISTORY The Argyle was constructed in 1872 at St. Catharines by J. Shickluna, originally designed to serve as a passenger and package freight steamer. Shortly after its launch, it encountered difficulties, going ashore on Grenadier Island in the St. Lawrence River in August 1872. Despite this setback, the vessel joined the “Merchant’s Line” and operated between Montreal and Chicago from 1873 to 1880.
Over the years, the Argyle changed ownership several times and suffered various incidents, including a significant mishap in September 1877 when it hit a pier at Port Burwell, Ontario, causing it to sink. However, the vessel was raised, and its journey continued. In May 1884, it wrecked at Michipicoten on Lake Superior while carrying supplies for Canadian Pacific Railway construction crews. The ship was scuttled to protect the hull but was later salvaged and laid up at Collingwood.
In 1885, the vessel was purchased by Rorie McLennan of Prince Arthur’s Landing and subsequently acquired by the Montreal Transportation Co. in September of that year. The Argyle was rebuilt as a steam barge at the company’s Kingston yard, with the reconstruction completed in April 1886. This rebuild involved significant modifications, including lengthening the ship by 35 feet, widening it by 3 feet, and reinforcing the hull to make it suitable for service on the upper lakes.
Throughout its career, the vessel endured multiple collisions, fires, and groundings. In August 1888, the Argyle collided with the American paddle steamer Sylvan Stream during a gale in Rochester, New York. After repairs and further modifications, including the installation of a new boiler, the vessel resumed operations.
In 1893, another round of rebuilding saw the pilothouse relocated forward and three masts added. The Argyle often towed the consort barges John Gaskin and Glenora, forming the “three G’s” towing unit. Despite further incidents, such as a collision with the American dredge Clinton in 1898 and a sinking in 1903, the vessel was rebuilt and continued its service.
The Argyle was eventually sold to James Richardson and Sons of Kingston in 1908. The ship met with another accident in August 1909, striking a pier of Montreal’s Victoria Bridge and sinking. It was rebuilt in Sorel, Quebec, in 1912, but continued to face challenges, including a collision with the canaller J.H. Plummer in 1915.
Eventually, the vessel was converted into a barge and, after being waterlogged at the entrance to the Berthier Channel of the St. Lawrence River in 1920, it was abandoned. The Argyle was ultimately laid to rest in the Amherst Island Graveyard, where it remains today.
FINAL DISPOSITION The vessel, after decades of service and multiple rebuilds, was converted into a barge and eventually abandoned in 1920. It was laid to rest in the Amherst Island Graveyard, Lake Ontario, where it remains submerged at a depth of 70 feet (21 meters).
NOTMARs & ADVISORIES No specific Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) related to this vessel have been identified, though the site is part of the known ship graveyard at Amherst Island.
LOCATED BY & DATE
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- Discovery: The wreck is located in the Amherst Island Graveyard, known to divers and maritime historians. The exact date of its discovery or documentation as the Glengarry is not specified.
- Date: The vessel was originally built in 1872, with significant rebuilds in 1886 and 1893, and was abandoned in 1920.
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CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY
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- Condition: The wreck is submerged in Lake Ontario, with its structure largely intact due to the cold, freshwater environment. The modifications and rebuilds over its lifetime mean the vessel’s structure may show different layers of historical shipbuilding techniques.
- Accessibility: The site is accessible to divers, with the wreck lying at a depth of 70 feet (21 meters). It is part of the Amherst Island Graveyard, a known site for historical shipwrecks.
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RESOURCES & LINKS
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- Additional Resources:
- References:
- Information compiled from historical records, the Great Lakes Ships Database, and maritime history references.
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ANALYSIS The Argyle, later known as Glengarry, represents a vessel that adapted to the changing demands of the Great Lakes shipping industry. Its multiple rebuilds and conversions from a passenger steamer to a steam barge highlight the vessel’s resilience and the evolving nature of maritime commerce during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The vessel’s final resting place in the Amherst Island Graveyard serves as a testament to the challenges faced by ships navigating the Great Lakes, and the wreck remains a point of interest for divers and historians alike.
KEYWORDS: Argyle, Glengarry, steam barge, Amherst Island Graveyard, Lake Ontario, shipwreck, maritime history, Great Lakes, ship rebuilds, Rick Neilson, dive site
