Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Perseverance
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steamer (Grain Carrier)
- Year Built: c. 1860s
- Builder: Unknown — likely built for Welland Railway Co., Canada West
- Dimensions: 177 ft (54 m) × 29 ft (8.8 m) × 11 ft (3.3 m)
- Registered Tonnage: Approx. 800 GRT
- Depth at Wreck Site: 107 m / 350 ft
- Location: Lake Ontario — mid-lake between Port Dalhousie and Oswego
- Coordinates: Approx. 43°25′ N / 78°20′ W
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Welland Railway Co.
- Number of Masts: Not specified
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Perseverance was a wooden propeller steamer designed primarily for transporting bulk grain cargoes. It was part of the Welland Railway fleet, facilitating trade between Lake Ontario ports.
Description
The Perseverance measured 177 feet in length and was equipped with twin boilers and a single-screw propulsion system. This design marked a transition from wooden lake steamers to the iron-hulled freighters that emerged later in the 19th century.
History
As a member of the Welland Railway fleet, the Perseverance played a crucial role in linking grain terminals across the Niagara Peninsula and Lake Ontario. Its holds were capable of carrying over 20,000 bushels of corn, making it an essential vessel for agricultural transport.
Significant Incidents
- On October 8, 1868, while carrying 20,417 bushels of corn, a fire broke out near the smokestack and boiler room.
- The fire spread rapidly due to strong winds, leading to the vessel being consumed within 15 minutes.
- Survivors were rescued by the Enterprise, the sister ship of the Perseverance.
- Fourteen crew members perished due to fire, exposure, or drowning.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Perseverance lies upright and mostly intact at a depth of approximately 350 feet in Lake Ontario. ROV documentation has revealed well-preserved remains of the engine bed, boiler, and parts of the hull structure, making it a significant archaeological site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The cold, oxygen-poor conditions of Lake Ontario have significantly slowed the decay of the wreck, preserving it as an important site for studying 19th-century steam engineering.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”perseverance” title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the Perseverance remains a notable maritime disaster in Lake Ontario’s history. The wreck continues to provide insights into early steamship design and engineering, thanks to ongoing exploration and documentation efforts.
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
Description
The Perseverance was a 177-foot, first-class wooden propeller steamer built for the Welland Railway Line. She was designed primarily to transport bulk grain cargoes between Lake Ontario ports. Fitted with twin boilers and a single-screw propulsion system, the vessel represented the transition between wooden lake steamers and the emerging iron-hulled freighters of the late 19th century.History
The Perseverance served as part of the Welland Railway fleet, linking grain terminals between the Niagara Peninsula and Lake Ontario shipping routes. Her sturdy hull and powerful boiler configuration enabled efficient cross-lake transport of agricultural cargoes such as corn and wheat. According to *The Goderich Signal* (October 15 1868), her holds could carry more than 20,000 bushels of corn.Final Voyage and Loss
Early on October 8 1868, while en route from Port Dalhousie to Oswego with 20,417 bushels of corn consigned to merchant Thomas S. Mott of Oswego, a fire broke out near the smokestack and boiler room. Driven by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly, consuming the wooden superstructure. Within 15 minutes, the vessel was burned to the waterline. The crew abandoned ship; survivors were rescued by the Enterprise, the Perseverance’s sister ship, which had been about 15 miles astern. Fourteen people died from fire, exposure, or drowning. Both ship and cargo were insured. (Ref: *Goderich Signal*, Oct 15 1868; Palmer 1991)Final Disposition
The wreck of the Perseverance lies upright and mostly intact in deep fresh water in Lake Ontario. ROV documentation by Aaron Newman (2025) revealed a preserved engine bed, boiler remains, and part of the hull structure. The cold, oxygen-poor conditions of the lake have significantly slowed decay, making it an important archaeological site for 19th-century Great Lakes steam engineering.Video Gallery — Steamer Perseverance (2025 Deepwater Survey)
All footage courtesy of Exploring Our Deep World, directed by Aaron Newman. Exploring Our Deep World is an organization dedicated to education, conservation, scientific research, and exploration of the deep waters of our world.Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- NOAA Great Lakes Shipwreck Database
- Historic Newspapers Archives
- Exploring Our Deep World — YouTube Channel