Quail (1868)

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Quail
• Type: wooden sidewheel steamer
• Year Built: 1868
• Builder: Chatham, Ontario
• Dimensions: Length: 77 ft (23.5 m); Beam: 14 ft (4.3 m); Depth of hold: 4 ft (1.2 m)
• Registered Tonnage: 34 tons
• Location: Northport, Ontario, Bay of Quinte
• Official Number: None (Canadian Registry)
• Original Owners: Captain Morden

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Quail was a wooden sidewheel steamer designed for passenger and package freight transport. These vessels were common on Lake Ontario during the mid-19th century, providing essential services in connecting small towns and ports along the lake’s shoreline. Sidewheel steamers like the Quail were particularly well-suited for navigating narrow bays and rivers, such as the Bay of Quinte, where shallow drafts were advantageous.

Description

Built in 1868 at Chatham, Ontario, the Quail was a modest-sized sidewheel steamer measuring 77 feet in length. She served as both a passenger steamer and a freight carrier, facilitating the transport of goods and people between ports along Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. The vessel had a shallow 4-foot draft, enabling it to navigate the relatively shallow waters of the bay.

The Quail was owned by Captain Morden of Northport, Ontario, and was reportedly rebuilt in 1871, suggesting that she had either undergone significant repairs or modifications to extend her operational life.

History

During her short service life, the Quail was a key part of the local transportation network in the Bay of Quinte region. This area, with its sheltered waters and numerous small communities, relied heavily on vessels like the Quail for the movement of passengers, mail, and small freight. The steamer operated out of Northport, Ontario, providing regular service until her destruction by fire in 1873.

Significant Incidents

• Cause of Loss: Fire (Arson)
• Date of Loss: March 18, 1873
• Location: Northport, Ontario, Bay of Quinte
• While lying at her winter berth in Northport, the Quail was deliberately set on fire, resulting in the vessel being burned to the waterline. The incident was determined to be arson, though the perpetrators were not identified in historical records. The total loss was estimated at $7,000—a significant sum at the time, especially for a small, regional steamer.

Final Disposition

Despite the complete destruction of the vessel, there were no casualties, as the Quail was laid up for the winter and unoccupied at the time of the fire.

The Quail was burned to the waterline and considered a total loss. There is no evidence to suggest that she was rebuilt following the fire, marking the end of her brief operational history on Lake Ontario.

Current Condition & Accessibility

Nil return.

Resources & Links

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The Quail represents the small sidewheel steamers that were vital to local transportation networks on Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte in the mid-19th century. Built in 1868 at Chatham, Ontario, the vessel provided both passenger and freight services until her untimely destruction by arson in 1873 while laid up for the winter at Northport, Ontario. Though her operational life was brief, the Quail reflects the broader story of regional maritime commerce on the Great Lakes during this period, where small steamers played a critical role in connecting remote communities.