Ottawa – Lake Ontario Freighter Shipwreck (1910)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: OTTAWA (formerly A.B. TAYLOR)
• Type: Steam Screw Passenger & Package Freighter
• Year Built: 1884
• Builder: R.C. Brittain & Ruben T. Rogers
• Dimensions: Length 106 ft (32.31 m); Beam 20 ft; Depth of hold 7.8 ft
• Registered Tonnage: 104 tons
• Location: Cape Vincent, New York
• Official Number: US 106257
• Original Owners: Rodgers & Bird; Indiana Harbor Navigation Co.; Theodore P. Ladne; Thousand Islands Steamboat Co.
• Number of Masts: Single mast

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The OTTAWA, originally built as A.B. TAYLOR, was a wooden steam-powered screw freighter designed for passenger and package freight services. Equipped with a single mast and a firebox boiler, it was a typical vessel of its era, versatile enough to navigate the inland waters of the Great Lakes and later Lake Ontario.

Description

The OTTAWA was constructed in 1884 in Saugatuck, Michigan, primarily for the transportation of passengers and freight. The vessel underwent significant modifications, including a rebuild in 1886 that increased its beam and added a passenger cabin. It was powered by a high-pressure engine and had a single screw propulsion system.

History

• 1884: Built in Saugatuck, Michigan, for Rodgers & Bird, the vessel began its career as A.B. TAYLOR, serving as both a passenger and freight carrier.
• 1886: Rebuilt to increase its beam by 2 feet, enhancing stability and adding a passenger cabin to expand its service capabilities.
• 1901, November 7: A catastrophic fire at Grand Haven, Michigan, destroyed the vessel down to the waterline.
• 1902: Renamed OTTAWA after a substantial rebuild and resumed operations under new ownership.
• 1903 – 1906: Passed through several ownerships, including Indiana Harbor Navigation Co. and Theodore P. Ladne of Detroit, Michigan.
• 1906: Purchased by the Thousand Islands Steamboat Co., Cape Vincent, New York, marking the vessel’s transition to Lake Ontario service.

Significant Incidents

• Incident Date: December 14, 1910
• Location: Cape Vincent, New York, Lake Ontario
• Cause of Loss: Fire (cause unknown)
• Outcome: The vessel burned to the waterline and sank while docked. All 18 people aboard survived.

Final Disposition

The charred remains of the OTTAWA were left at its mooring site in Cape Vincent, New York. The vessel was not salvaged and was struck from the registry following its destruction.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the OTTAWA remains submerged in Lake Ontario, with its condition largely unknown due to the lack of recent exploration or documentation.

Resources & Links

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The OTTAWA had a career that spanned over 25 years, navigating the challenges of evolving maritime commerce. It served various roles, from passenger transport to package freight delivery, adapting through significant rebuilds and changes in ownership. Its tragic end underscores the perils of early steam-powered vessels but also highlights their importance in shaping the economic and social connectivity of the Great Lakes and Lake Ontario regions.