Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Byron Trerice
- Type: Wooden propeller steamer (passenger & package freight)
- Year Built: 1882
- Builder: William Peck, Dresden, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 102 ft (31.1 m); Beam: 26 ft (7.9 m); Depth of hold: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 268 GT
- Location: Leamington, Ontario, Lake Erie
- Official Number: C83028
- Original Owners: W.D. McCrae
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Byron Trerice was a Canadian-built wooden steamer designed for passenger and package freight transport.
Description
The Byron Trerice was launched in 1882 at Dresden, Ontario, by builder William Peck. It was primarily a passenger vessel but also carried package freight, likely serving routes along Lake Erie’s Ontario shoreline.
History
Registered out of Wallaceburg, Ontario, the Byron Trerice was owned by W.D. McCrae and commanded by Captain D.F. McCrae. The vessel operated in the busy cross-border trade between Canadian and U.S. ports, possibly running routes between Leamington, Windsor, and Detroit.
Significant Incidents
- The Byron Trerice met a tragic end while docked at Leamington, Ontario, on September 2, 1893, when a fire broke out onboard from unknown causes.
- The flames spread rapidly, consuming the vessel before firefighting efforts could control it.
- Two crew members were trapped and perished in the fire, while a third crewman jumped overboard in an attempt to escape but drowned.
Final Disposition
The Byron Trerice was declared a total loss after the fire. Its remains were left in place at the Leamington dock. A salvage expedition assessed the wreck in November 1899, but wave action had severely damaged the remains, making recovery impossible. No known modern discovery of the wreck has occurred, and it likely remains buried or deteriorated near the Leamington waterfront.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Dockside fires were a major hazard for wooden steamers, especially when left unattended or fueled by flammable cargo. The rapid spread of fire suggests the presence of oil, coal, or other flammable materials onboard.
Resources & Links
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The Byron Trerice was a reliable Lake Erie passenger and freight steamer, lost in a tragic fire at Leamington, Ontario, in 1893. Three crew members perished, and the wreck was beyond salvage by 1899. While her remains have not been located, she remains one of the many Great Lakes vessels lost to fire, a common hazard for wooden steamships of the era.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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