Calcutta (1874)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Calcutta
• Type: Wooden three-masted sailing ship
• Year Built: 1874
• Builder: Québec
• Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
• Registered Tonnage: Not specified, typical of merchant ships of her class (~1,000–2,000 tons)
• Location: Grindstone Island, Magdalen Islands, Québec
• Coordinates: Not available
• Official Number: Not applicable (league registry from Canadian-built vessel)
• Original Owners: J.G. Ross
• Number of Masts: Three

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

A full-rigged wooden sailing ship designed for transatlantic trade—common among Canadian-built vessels in the late 19th century.

Description

Traditional wooden hull with three masts, likely square-rigged on forward masts and fore-and-aft on the mizzenmast. Built robustly to withstand North Atlantic crossings; exact dimensions not readily available but typical of merchant ships of her class (~1,000–2,000 tons).

History

• 1874: Launched and registered at Québec under W. Fullerton and J.G. Ross.
• 4 Nov 1875: Departed Québec bound for Liverpool.
• 8 Nov 1875: Struck a rock on north side of Grindstone Island in the Magdalen Islands, Québec, due to poor visibility and strong current.
  • Crew and one female passenger abandoned ship; their lifeboat capsized and they drowned.
  • Captain and four crew remained aboard and were later rescued.
  • The ship and its cargo were declared a total loss: estimated hull value of US $50,000 and cargo of US $20,000.

Significant Incidents

• Grounding on 8 November 1875 leading to wreck.
• Loss of life during the abandonment of the ship.

Final Disposition

• Wrecked and abandoned on 8 November 1875.
• Declared a total loss with significant loss of life.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• No record exists of subsequent rediscovery or underwater survey.
• Presumed remains lie on the north shore of Grindstone Island but likely dismantled by tidal action over time.

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”calcutta-1874″ title=”References & Links”]

The sailing ship Calcutta (1874) was a Canadian-built, three-masted merchant vessel lost within a week of launching. Her wreck on Grindstone Island was notable for the tragedy of lost lives and substantial financial loss. Today, she remains of historical interest, with no known diveable remains but a poignant example of maritime hazard in the Saint Lawrence maritime corridor.