Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: SS China
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven freight steamer
- Year Built: 1872
- Builder: William Power & Co., Kingston, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length: 129 ft (39.3 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.7 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 355 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 27 m / 90 ft
- Location: Timber Island, Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: N43° 58.331′ / W76° 46.342′
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: John Proctor, Hamilton, ON
- Number of Masts: Unknown
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The SS China was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven freight steamer built for the Western Express Line, designed for heavy cargo transport across Lake Ontario.
Description
At 355 tons, the China represented mid-19th century Canadian lake freighter design, primarily involved in bulk shipments of pig iron and industrial goods.
History
Launched in 1872, the China operated under the ownership of John Proctor, serving routes between Kingston and Hamilton.
Significant Incidents
- On 13 October 1872, the China caught fire near Kingston, leading to the total loss of the vessel and her cargo.
- All passengers and crew were successfully evacuated by nearby vessels, including the America and City of London.
Final Disposition
The wreck settled off Timber Island in 90 ft (27 m) of water. The vessel and cargo were valued at approximately $34,000 at the time of loss.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck is fully submerged and poses no navigational hazard. Modern dive surveys have documented machinery remains and visible cargo on the lakebed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”china-1872″ title=”References & Links”]
The SS China remains an important historical site for divers and researchers, showcasing the maritime heritage of the Great Lakes.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Historic wreck site of the SS China, Timber Island, Lake Ontario — image via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Identification Card (Site Style)
Other Names: None
Official Number: Unknown
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven freight steamer
Builder: William Power & Co., Kingston, Ontario
Year Built: 1872
Dimensions: Length: 129 ft (39.3 m); Beam: 25 ft (7.6 m); Depth of hold: 12 ft (3.7 m)
Tonnage: 355 gross tons
Cargo on Final Voyage: 300 tons of pig iron and general merchandise
Date of Loss: 13 October 1872
Location: Timber Island, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: N43° 58.331′ / W76° 46.342′
Depth: 90 ft (27 m)
Home Port: Hamilton, Ontario
Owners: John Proctor, Hamilton, ON
Crew: Unknown
Casualties: None — all passengers and crew rescued
Description
The China was a wooden-hulled, propeller-driven freight steamer built in Kingston, Ontario, for the Western Express Line. Designed for heavy cargo, her trade primarily involved bulk shipments of pig iron and industrial goods across Lake Ontario. At 355 tons, she represented mid-19th century Canadian lake freighter design.
History
Launched in 1872, China operated under the ownership of John Proctor of Hamilton, Ontario. She served on Lake Ontario routes, transporting heavy industrial cargo between Kingston and Hamilton under the Western Express Line banner.
Final Dispositions
On 13 October 1872, while near Kingston, Ontario, the China caught fire. The blaze quickly spread, consuming her wooden structure. Rescue vessels, including the steamer America, evacuated her passengers and crew, who were later transferred to the City of London. Despite the successful evacuation, the vessel and her cargo were a total loss, valued at approximately $34,000. The wreck settled off Timber Island in 90 ft (27 m) of water.
Located By & Date Found
The wreck has been known since the 19th century, charted by divers and fishermen. Modern survey and dive reports document the presence of machinery including the propeller, steering system, and steeple engine.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted. Wreck is fully submerged and poses no navigational hazard.
Dive Information
Access: Boat only
Entry Point: Timber Island anchorage
Conditions: Visibility varies 10–40 ft; seasonal thermocline; minimal current
Depth Range: 90 ft (27 m)
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Kingston base
Permits: Not required for recreational diving
Dive Support: Kingston and eastern Lake Ontario dive charters
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No loss of life; no known memorials. Passenger rescue credited to the America and City of London steamers.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Passengers and crew were evacuated by the nearby steamer America and transferred to the City of London, preventing any loss of life.” — Contemporary press report, October 1872
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registered at Hamilton, Ontario. Valued at $34,000 at time of loss. Insured — details require further archival research.
Site Documentation & Imaging
Modern dive surveys have located machinery remains including the propeller, steering gear, and steeple engine. Pig iron cargo is still visible on the lakebed.
Media Gallery
Resources & Links
References
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes — archival collections
- David Swayze, Shipwreck File
- Contemporary newspaper reports, October 1872
NOAA/WHS Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Unknown
Coordinates: N43° 58.331′ / W76° 46.342′
Depth: 90 ft (27 m)
Location Description: Timber Island, Lake Ontario
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller freight steamer
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 129 ft × 25 ft × 12 ft; 355 GRT
Condition: Machinery and cargo visible; hull consumed by fire
Cause of Loss: Fire
Discovery Date: 1872 (contemporary charts); modern dive documentation ongoing
Discovered By: Local divers and researchers
Method: Diving and historical charting
Legal Notes: Registry struck 1872; insured loss
Hazards: None (deep, submerged site)
Permits Required: None