Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Dolphin
• Type: steamer
• Dimensions:
• Location: St. Lawrence River
• Official Number: Not available
• Original Owners: Government of Upper Canada

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Dolphin was a steamer utilised by the government of Upper Canada. As an early steam-powered vessel in the region, she played a role in state operations during a turbulent period.

Description

Dolphin was operated in 1838 by the government of Upper Canada and was specifically employed to transport rebel prisoners from Prescott to Cornwall. Though technical specifications such as length, beam, and tonnage are not currently documented, her operational history highlights her utilitarian design as a government steamer. Like many early steamers, she would have embodied the technological transition from sail to steam, featuring a steam engine that was later supplemented by additional means of power during challenging navigation.

History

In 1838, during a period marked by political unrest in Upper Canada, Dolphin was tasked with transporting rebel prisoners along the St. Lawrence River corridor. A particularly notable episode in her service occurred when, after fulfilling her prisoner transport duties, it became necessary to return her to her regular route. This task proved to be an extraordinary logistical challenge. The Dolphin was hauled up the Long Sault Rapids—a series of hazardous rapids on the river—using a combination of oxen, horses, capstans, and her own steam engine. This combined effort was a remarkable feat of early nineteenth-century engineering and teamwork, and it took a total of four weeks to complete. The successful navigation of the rapids in such a manner underscores the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those who managed the vessel during this era.

Significant Incidents

• No significant incidents documented beyond her operational history in 1838.

Final Disposition

There is no documented record of a subsequent disposition, salvage, or long-term preservation for the Dolphin after her noted service. The available historical accounts focus solely on her 1838 operations and the extraordinary effort required to restore her to her regular route.

Current Condition & Accessibility

No contemporary or historical records provide a modern GPS location or documented date of rediscovery for the Dolphin. As such, no coordinates or mapping links can be provided.

Resources & Links

References are being reviewed for this wreck.

The Dolphin stands as an example of early Canadian steamship operations during a period of civil unrest. Her unique mission of transporting prisoners and the extraordinary effort to haul her up the Long Sault Rapids using a combination of animal power, mechanical capstans, and her own engine exemplify the challenges of nineteenth-century maritime logistics. While detailed technical specifications are not available, her operational story contributes valuable insight into the early steam era in Upper Canada.