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
[shotline_reference_links slug=”cornwall-c-71609-kingston-bavarian-algerian” title=”References & 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.
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.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Other Names: Bavarian (1872), Algerian (1874), Cornwall (1904–1930)
Official Number: (Unknown — pre-standard registry)
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Steam-powered sidewheel paddle steamer (passenger/freight)
Builder: Montreal, Quebec
Year Built: 1855
Dimensions: 175 ft (53.3 m) × 27 ft (8.2 m) × 10 ft (3 m)
Tonnage: (Unknown; est. 500–550 gross tons)
Cargo on Final Voyage: None (deliberately scuttled)
Date of Loss: 1930 (scuttled)
Location: Amherst Island, Lake Ontario
Coordinates: N 44° 08.267′ / W 76° 37.144′
Depth: 70 ft (21 m)
Home Port: Montreal → Kingston → Toronto (varied)
Owners: Multiple (private line operators, later Cavenaugh Wrecking Co.)
Crew: Not applicable at time of sinking
Casualties: None
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.
Final Dispositions
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.
Located By & Date Found
Rediscovered in 1989 by Rick Neilson during survey dives in the Amherst Island ship graveyard area. Documentation was later compiled by Neilson and Walter Lewis, published through the Maritime History of the Great Lakes project and Inland Seas Journal.
Notmars & Advisories
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).
Dive Information
Access: Boat dive
Entry Point: Stella Bay or Amherst Island ferry dock
Conditions: Cold freshwater; occasional thermoclines; mild current
Depth Range: 65–75 ft (20–23 m)
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard (VHF 16), Kingston General Hospital (hyperbaric unit)
Permits: None required for non-intrusive diving
Dive Support: Local charter services based in Kingston, Ontario (e.g. Neptune & Wreck Explorers)
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No fatalities occurred during the vessel’s scuttling. Crew lists from her earlier incarnations (Kingston, Bavarian, Algerian) are preserved in the Library and Archives Canada – Marine Registers.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The remains of the old sidewheeler, once the pride of Montreal’s docks, now lie in quiet dignity off Amherst Island — a relic of the great age of steam on the inland seas.” — Rick Neilson, River Palace Project (1989)
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
The vessel predates formal Canadian registry numbering (post-1867 system). Records of rebuilds and name changes appear in the Department of Marine and Fisheries Annual Reports (1872–1874). Later insurance coverage listed under industrial ownership (Cornwall Salvage Co., c. 1905–1930).
Site Documentation & Imaging
Underwater photo and video documentation by Rick Neilson (1989–2005). The Maritime History of the Great Lakes archive hosts detailed historical analyses and diagrams. A photogrammetric 3D model is under development by Ontario Marine Heritage Program (2023–2025).
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- GreatLakesShips.org
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS)
- Find A Grave
References
- Neilson, R. & Lewis, W. (1989). “River Palace: The Story of the Kingston.” Inland Seas Journal, Vol. 45, No. 2.
- Department of Marine and Fisheries, Canada (1872–1873). Annual Reports, ship rebuild records.
- David Swayze, Great Lakes Shipwreck File, 2003 ed.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: “Cornwall (ex-Algerian, ex-Bavarian, ex-Kingston).”
- NOAA / Ontario Heritage Marine Program, Amherst Island survey data (2010–2023).
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: Bavarian (1872), Algerian (1874), Cornwall (1904–1930)
Coordinates: N 44° 08.267′ / W 76° 37.144′
Depth: 70 ft (21 m)
Location Description: Amherst Island ship graveyard, Lake Ontario
Vessel Type: Wooden sidewheel paddle steamer
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 175 ft × 27 ft × 10 ft
Condition: Intact, structurally sound; paddlewheel frames preserved
Cause of Loss: Deliberate scuttling (retirement disposal)
Discovery Date: 1989
Discovered By: Rick Neilson
Method: Dive / underwater photographic survey
Legal Notes: Protected under Ontario Heritage Act
Hazards: Fragile wood, low visibility
Permits Required: None for non-disturbance observation dives
3D Model
Cornwall by 3DShipwrecks on Sketchfab
You must be logged in to post a comment.