Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Manitoba
- Type: Small wooden commercial vessel
- Year Built: 1870
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Lake Ontario, Dover area, Ontario
- Official Number: Not recorded
- Original Owners: A. T. Crowe of Dover, Ontario
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Manitoba was likely a modest-sized, wood-hulled cargo or utility vessel typical of Ontario lake traffic in the late 19th century. Vessels of this description were commonly used for freight, passenger, or mixed service among small ports.
History
- 1870: Launched or completed; registered to A. T. Crowe, Dover, Ontario.
- 1883: On 1 November, while in service on Lake Ontario, Manitoba caught fire. The blaze consumed the vessel completely, resulting in a total loss. No further details on cargo or crew survival are recorded.
Final Disposition
- Outcome: Vessel burned and sank or was abandoned; deemed beyond salvage. No remains documented.
- Location: Fire occurred on open water; wreckage likely sank near Dover or washed ashore nearby.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No wreck site has been identified. The vessel’s remains were not tracked or located, and it is not listed in regional underwater records.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”manitoba-1870″ title=”References & Links”]
The Manitoba stands as an example of small-scale commercial lake vessels lost to fire in the 19th century. With minimal surviving documentation and no physical site, its significance lies in reminding us of the hidden maritime history of lesser-known workboats that served coastal Ontario. The precise details of the fire, crew outcomes, and cargo remain unknown.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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