ROTHESAY C54485

Table of Contents

History
2022 Photos by Matthew Charlesworth CC
2010 Photos Tom Rutledge CC
2000 Photos Tom Wilson CC
Historical Photos
External Links

Rothesay-2022 by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab

Sidewheeler
30ffw
1000ft Length approx
Prescott ON St. Lawrence River
N44 41.581 W75 31.401

Table of Contents

History #

The sidewheel steamer ROTHESAY was launched and registered on February 2, 1867, in Fredrickton, New Brunswick. It was specifically built to operate on the Saint John River, providing transportation between Saint John and Fredrickton. In 1877, the vessel was registered in Prescott, Ontario, to serve the Saint Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands area. The following year, it was transferred to Toronto, where it operated between Toronto and the Niagara River.

In September 1880, a fire broke out on the boiler deck of the ROTHESAY but was quickly extinguished with little damage. Ownership of the vessel changed hands over the years, with Ambroise E. Lalande of Montreal owning it in 1881, followed by Allan R. Oughtred in 1883 and James G. Ross of Quebec City in 1884. In 1886, the ROTHESAY underwent significant repairs in Ogdensburg, New York.

Tragedy struck on September 12, 1889, when the ROTHESAY collided with the tug MYRA, a quarter-mile above Prescott. The vessel was beached but ultimately abandoned, resulting in a total loss. The collision claimed the lives of Samuel Jardine and William Sullivan, who were on board the MYRA. The ROTHESAY remained in the same position after being beached, and no immediate plans were made for its salvage.

In 1902, the ROTHESAY was dynamited to remove it as a hazard to navigation. The wreck was considered an obstruction, and officers from the Royal Military College were responsible for its removal. The cost of the operation amounted to $368.96. Over the years, the wreck sank deeper into the water, and it was discovered in 1962 by the Syracuse Skin Divers Club. A set of matched anchors, weighing approximately 650 pounds each, was recovered from the wreck and later displayed at The Castaways Restaurant in Brewerton.

Dr. J. L. Carroll, first vice-chairman of the Ontario St. Lawrence Development Commission, identified the wreckage as that of the ROTHESAY. The vessel was originally a cruise ship used on the River Clyde in Scotland before being transferred to the St. Lawrence River service in 1887. The collision with the MYRA occurred during a moonlight excursion trip from the Thousand Islands. The captain and chief of the tugboat lost their lives, and attempts to beach the ROTHESAY on the Prescott shore were unsuccessful.

The ROTHESAY, considered one of the most luxurious passenger ships on the St. Lawrence River at the time, sank in approximately 35 feet of water. Although much of the navigational equipment had been salvaged, heavier gear remained on board. The wreck had gradually sunk deeper over time, but the lower portion of the ship was still intact. The surrounding waters were inhabited by eels and a family of bass, and artifacts such as pottery marked “Parisienne Granite” were discovered during the salvage operation.