Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Indian Queen
- Type: Wooden side-wheel steamer
- Year Built: 1844
- Builder: Taylor & Jewett, Buffalo, New York
- Dimensions: 109 ft (33.2 m) x 16 ft (4.9 m) x 7 ft (2.1 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 112 tons
- Location: Battery Point, near Dunkirk, New York
- Coordinates: Unknown
- Official Number: Not assigned (pre-registry era)
- Original Owners: Unknown
- Number of Masts: Not recorded
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Indian Queen was a wooden side-wheel steamer constructed in 1844, representing the emerging design of steam vessels on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Indian Queen measured 109 feet in length, with a beam of 16 feet and a depth of 7 feet, registering at 112 tons. It was designed for both passenger and cargo service, though it was lightly built compared to later iron and steel vessels.
History
Launched during the rapid expansion of steam navigation on the Great Lakes, the Indian Queen was employed in regional trade and passenger service on Lake Erie. On 19 November 1846, while operating near Dunkirk, New York, the vessel was caught in a severe storm, driven ashore at Battery Point, and broke in two, resulting in a total loss. While early reports did not list fatalities, later accounts suggest that up to 20 lives may have been lost, though this remains unverified.
Significant Incidents
- 19 November 1846: Caught in a storm and driven ashore at Battery Point, breaking in two and becoming a total loss.
Final Disposition
The Indian Queen was declared a total loss after breaking apart near Dunkirk, New York. The wreckage likely deteriorated quickly along the shoreline and was never repaired or returned to service.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern documentation or archaeological survey has confirmed the existence of the wreck. It is presumed destroyed or buried in shoreline sediments near Battery Point, Dunkirk, New York.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”indian-queen-1844″ title=”References & Links”]
The Indian Queen serves as a reminder of the early days of steam navigation on the Great Lakes, with its loss highlighting the dangers faced by vessels during severe weather conditions.
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.
Lead Image
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
Description
The Indian Queen was a wooden side-wheel steamer constructed in 1844 by Taylor & Jewett of Buffalo, New York. Measuring 109 feet in length with a beam of 16 feet and a depth of 7 feet, she registered at 112 tons. Like many early steamers on the Great Lakes, she combined passenger and cargo service but was lightly built compared to later iron and steel vessels.History
Launched during the rapid expansion of steam navigation on the Great Lakes, the Indian Queen represented the emerging side-wheel steamer design. She was employed in regional trade and passenger service on Lake Erie, a heavily traveled corridor in the 1840s. Her service life was brief. On 19 November 1846, while operating on Lake Erie near Dunkirk, New York, the vessel was caught in a severe storm. Driven ashore at Battery Point, she broke in two and became a total loss. While early newspapers do not list fatalities, later sources claim that up to 20 lives may have been lost, though this remains unverified.Final Dispositions
The Indian Queen was driven ashore and broke apart near Dunkirk, New York. Declared a total loss, she was never repaired or returned to service. The wreckage likely deteriorated quickly along the shoreline.Located By & Date Found
The wreck has not been documented or positively identified in modern times. No archaeological survey has confirmed surviving remains.Notmars & Advisories
No modern navigational hazards are associated with the Indian Queen.Dive Information
Access: Wreck not located Entry Point: N/A Conditions: N/A Depth Range: N/A Emergency Contacts: U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Buffalo Permits: Not applicable Dive Support: None (wreck not extant)Crew & Casualty Memorials
Casualty reports are conflicting: contemporary newspapers reported no loss of life, while later accounts cite up to 20 fatalities. Individual crew/passenger names have not been identified. Additional memorial research is suggested through Find A Grave and regional cemetery records.Documented Statements & Extracts
“The steamer Indian Queen, driven ashore near Dunkirk during the gale of November 19, has been broken in two and is a total wreck.” — Contemporary press reports, 1846.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
The vessel predates federal official numbering systems. Enrollment records from Buffalo (1844–46) may exist in U.S. Customs archives. No insurance or ownership documentation has been located in digitized sources.Site Documentation & Imaging
No modern site documentation exists. The wreck is presumed destroyed or buried in shoreline sediments near Battery Point, Dunkirk, New York.Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- David Swayze Shipwreck File
- Newspapers.com (for 1846 press reports)
References
- Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, November 1846 – reports of loss.
- David Swayze, Great Lakes Shipwreck File (archival listing of wrecks).
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes – vessel listings.