Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Niagara
- Type: Sidewheel Steamer
- Year Built: 1840
- Builder: Niagara Harbour & Dock Company
- Dimensions: Length: 158 ft (48.2 m); Beam: 24 ft (7.3 m); Depth of hold: 11 ft (3.4 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 315
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.4 m / 11 ft
- Location: Lake Ontario
- Original Owners: J. Hamilton, D. Bethune and others, Hooker & Henderson
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Sidewheel Steamer
Description
The Niagara was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1840 by the Niagara Harbour & Dock Company in Niagara, Ontario. Measuring 158 feet in length with a beam of 24 feet (expanding to 50 feet over the paddle boxes) and a depth of 11 feet, she had a gross tonnage of 315. The vessel was equipped with two engines built by her constructor, and one of these engines was later installed in the steamer Maple Leaf.
History
Owned initially by J. Hamilton of Kingston in 1840, the Niagara commenced her maiden voyage on October 30, 1840, serving as a Lake Ontario mail steamer. On October 25, 1841, during a gale near Cobourg, she stranded, resulting in a broken main steam pipe. To prevent being blown further into the lake, the vessel was scuttled, leading to the loss of both stacks. In 1843, ownership transferred to D. Bethune and others, who renamed her Sovereign. By 1848, Hooker & Henderson of Montreal acquired the vessel. Her final act before being scrapped was towing the Commerce to Kingston for repairs after a wreck.
Significant Incidents
- October 25, 1841: Stranded during a gale near Cobourg, resulting in a broken main steam pipe.
Final Disposition
The Sovereign was broken up sometime after 1848.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Nil
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”niagara-sovereign-1840″ title=”References & Links”]
The Niagara, later known as the Sovereign, played a significant role in early Canadian steam navigation on Lake Ontario. Her service as a mail steamer and her involvement in notable incidents, such as the 1841 gale near Cobourg, highlight the challenges faced by early steam vessels. Her eventual dismantling after aiding another vessel underscores the interconnected histories of ships during this era.
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
- Name: Niagara
- Former Name: Sovereign (after 1843)
- Year Built: 1840
- Built at: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
- Propulsion: Sidewheel
- Hull Dimensions:
- Length: 158 feet (48.2 metres)
- Beam: 24 feet (7.3 metres); 50 feet (15.2 metres) over paddle boxes
- Depth: 11 feet (3.4 metres)
- Gross Tonnage: 315
- Final Disposition: Broken up after 1848
Vessel Type
Sidewheel Steamer
Description
The Niagara was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1840 by the Niagara Harbour & Dock Company in Niagara, Ontario. Measuring 158 feet in length with a beam of 24 feet (expanding to 50 feet over the paddle boxes) and a depth of 11 feet, she had a gross tonnage of 315. The vessel was equipped with two engines built by her constructor, and one of these engines was later installed in the steamer Maple Leaf.
History
Owned initially by J. Hamilton of Kingston in 1840, the Niagara commenced her maiden voyage on October 30, 1840, serving as a Lake Ontario mail steamer. On October 25, 1841, during a gale near Cobourg, she stranded, resulting in a broken main steam pipe. To prevent being blown further into the lake, the vessel was scuttled, leading to the loss of both stacks. In 1843, ownership transferred to D. Bethune and others, who renamed her Sovereign. By 1848, Hooker & Henderson of Montreal acquired the vessel. Her final act before being scrapped was towing the Commerce to Kingston for repairs after a wreck.
Final Disposition
The Sovereign was broken up sometime after 1848.
Located By & Date Found
Nil
Notmars & Advisories
Nil
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The Niagara, later known as the Sovereign, played a significant role in early Canadian steam navigation on Lake Ontario. Her service as a mail steamer and her involvement in notable incidents, such as the 1841 gale near Cobourg, highlight the challenges faced by early steam vessels. Her eventual dismantling after aiding another vessel underscores the interconnected histories of ships during this era.
Keywords: Niagara, Sovereign, sidewheel steamer, Lake Ontario, J. Hamilton, D. Bethune, Hooker & Henderson, Cobourg, early Canadian steam navigation
Categories: Great Lakes Shipwrecks, Maritime History, 19th-Century Steam Vessels
Glossary Terms: Sidewheel Steamer, Scuttling, Gross Tonnage
niagara-sovereign-1840 1848-04-09 23:27:00