Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Majestic
- Type: Wooden-hulled propeller steamer
- Year Built: 1895
- Builder: Collingwood Dry Dock Co.
- Dimensions: 209 ft (63.7 m); Beam 35 ft (10.7 m); Depth of hold 13 ft (4.0 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 1,578 tons
- Location: Point Edward, Ontario, St. Clair River
- Official Number: C100950
- Original Owners: Northern Navigation Co. (later part of Canada Steamship Lines)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled propeller steamer used for passenger and package freight services.
Description
The Majestic was a wooden-hulled propeller steamer constructed in 1895 by the Collingwood Dry Dock Company in Ontario. Measuring 209 feet (63.7 metres) in length with a beam of 35 feet (10.7 metres) and a depth of 13 feet (4.0 metres), she had a gross tonnage of 1,578 and a net tonnage of 1,073. Designed for passenger and package freight services, the Majestic was a typical example of late 19th-century Great Lakes steamers, featuring accommodations for passengers and cargo holds for various goods.
History
Commissioned by the Northern Navigation Company, the Majestic served routes along the Great Lakes, providing essential transportation for both passengers and freight. Operating during a period when maritime travel was a primary mode of long-distance transportation in the region, she contributed to the economic and social connectivity of communities along her routes. Details about her specific service routes and operational history are limited, but vessels of her type commonly navigated between major ports, facilitating commerce and travel in the Great Lakes area.
Significant Incidents
• On December 15, 1915, while moored at her dock in Point Edward, Ontario, the Majestic caught fire. The blaze quickly intensified, burning through her mooring lines and causing the vessel to drift downstream.
• The burning steamer posed a significant threat to nearby docks, buildings, and other vessels. Efforts to control the situation were unsuccessful, and the Majestic eventually sank below Sarnia. Remarkably, there were no casualties reported in the incident.
Final Disposition
On December 15, 1915, while moored at her dock in Point Edward, Ontario, the Majestic caught fire. The blaze quickly intensified, burning through her mooring lines and causing the vessel to drift downstream. As she floated uncontrolled, the burning steamer posed a significant threat to nearby docks, buildings, and other vessels. Efforts to control the situation were unsuccessful, and the Majestic eventually sank below Sarnia. Remarkably, there were no casualties reported in the incident. The vessel was owned by the Northern Navigation Company at the time, which later became part of Canada Steamship Lines.
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of current records, the wreck of the Majestic has not been located.
Resources & Links
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The Majestic‘s loss highlights the vulnerabilities of wooden-hulled steamers to onboard fires, especially when docked near populated areas. The incident underscores the importance of fire safety measures and emergency preparedness in maritime operations. Although the vessel’s wreck has not been located, her story remains a part of Great Lakes maritime history, reflecting the challenges faced by early 20th-century steamship operations.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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