Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Cornwall
- Type: Steam-powered sidewheel paddle steamer
- Year Built: 1855
- Builder: Montreal, Quebec
- Dimensions: 175 ft (53.3 m) × 27 ft (8.2 m) × 10 ft (3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Unknown; est. 500–550 gross tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 21 m / 70 ft
- Location: Amherst Island, Lake Ontario
- Coordinates: N 44° 08.267′ / W 76° 37.144′
- Official Number: Unknown — pre-standard registry
- Original Owners: Multiple (private line operators, later Cavenaugh Wrecking Co.)
- Number of Masts: Not applicable
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steam-powered sidewheel paddle steamer (passenger/freight)
Description
The Kingston was a two-deck, sidewheel paddle steamer constructed of wood for service on the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Measuring 175 feet in length, she featured dual paddle housings mounted amidships, twin smokestacks, and a broad superstructure for combined freight and passenger operations. Her shallow draft made her well-suited for river navigation while capable of open-lake runs between Kingston, Toronto, and Montreal.
History
Built in 1855 at Montreal, Quebec, the Kingston entered service as part of a growing fleet of steamers connecting eastern Ontario and Quebec with upper Great Lakes ports. She transported passengers, mail, and cargo during the height of paddlewheeler operations in the region.
Between 1872 and 1874, she was rebuilt and renamed Bavarian following two onboard fires, both of which required extensive reconstruction in Montreal. In 1874, after another rebuild at Kingston, Ontario, she was renamed Algerian. As the Algerian, she remained in regular service through the 1880s, surviving several mishaps, including a documented collision near Morrisburg, Ontario, on August 2, 1889.
In 1904, the vessel underwent yet another conversion — this time for use as a salvage and work vessel under the name Cornwall. She remained in limited industrial use until her deliberate scuttling in 1930 off Amherst Island, a common disposal area for retired wooden ships.
Significant Incidents
- Documented collision near Morrisburg, Ontario, on August 2, 1889.
Final Disposition
After 75 years of service under multiple identities, the Cornwall was scuttled in a known vessel disposal zone near Amherst Island in 1930. The wreck was rediscovered in 1989 by noted diver and historian Rick Neilson. Today, it rests upright in approximately 70 feet (21 m) of water. The hull, paddlewheel arms, and much of the superstructure remain recognizable, offering a unique glimpse into 19th-century paddlewheel engineering.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No active Notices to Mariners are issued for this site. Divers should note possible entanglement hazards and fragile hull timbers due to advanced age and biological decay. Visibility in the Amherst Island area typically varies between 10–30 ft (3–9 m).
Resources & Links
Access to the wreck is via boat dive, with entry points at Stella Bay or the Amherst Island ferry dock. Cold freshwater conditions prevail, with occasional thermoclines and mild currents. Emergency contacts include the Canadian Coast Guard (VHF 16) and Kingston General Hospital (hyperbaric unit). No permits are required for non-intrusive diving.