Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Reliance
- Type: Sidewheel steamer (later towboat)
- Year Built: 1887
- Builder: A. Cantin Shipyard, Sorel, Quebec
- Dimensions: 103 ft (31.4 m) length × 16 ft (4.9 m) beam × 5 ft (1.5 m) depth
- Registered Tonnage: 84 tons
- Location: Ottawa River, near L’Orignal sector
- Coordinates: Not charted
- Official Number: Not located
- Original Owners: I. Marchand (1889); F.S. Johnston (1895)
- Number of Masts: None
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Reliance was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1887 at Sorel, Quebec, a noted hub of shipbuilding along the St. Lawrence. Initially 84 ft long and 78 tons gross, she was designed for utility service on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, carrying cargo and possibly passengers. Her propulsion system, an 18×72 steam engine manufactured in 1866 by G. Brush of Montreal, was a reused plant — a common practice of the period.
Description
In 1894, she underwent a significant rebuild by J. Paul of Sorel, extending her length to 103 ft and tonnage to 84. This conversion transitioned her from a general sidewheeler to a towboat, enabling her to haul barges and assist navigation through the Ottawa River’s demanding channels.
History
Early Service (1887–1894): Owned by I. Marchand of Maskinongé, Quebec, the Reliance was employed in local trade and river service.
Rebuild & Towboat Conversion (1894): The vessel was rebuilt and reconfigured as a tow steamer at Sorel, marking a shift toward more specialized service.
Later Service (1895–1896): Acquired by F.S. Johnston of L’Orignal, Ontario, the Reliance played a role in regional commerce, towing vessels and ensuring safe passage along the Ottawa River.
Significant Incidents
Final Disposition: On 19 August 1896, while operating along the Ottawa River, the Reliance was destroyed by fire. The cause of the blaze was never determined. Despite rapid destruction of the wooden hull, no casualties were reported. The loss of the Reliance illustrates the constant danger of fire aboard wooden steam-powered vessels, particularly towboats whose work involved high engine loads and flammable stores.
Final Disposition
The vessel was consumed by fire; no wreck site has been located or documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern Notices to Mariners exist. The vessel’s remains are presumed destroyed or scattered and present no hazard.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”reliance-1887″ title=”References & Links” show_ref_button=”yes”]
Access to the Reliance is not possible as the vessel was destroyed by fire, leaving no remains to explore. Divers are reminded to respect the historical significance of such sites and to engage in no-touch documentation methods, leaving only bubbles and taking only memories.
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.
Identification Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: Not located
Registry: Canada (Quebec, later Ontario)
Vessel Type: Sidewheel steamer (later towboat)
Builder: A. Cantin Shipyard, Sorel, Quebec
Year Built: 1887
Dimensions (post-rebuild): 103 ft (31.4 m) length × 16 ft (4.9 m) beam × 5 ft (1.5 m) depth
Tonnage (gross): 84 tons
Propulsion: 18×72 engine, built 1866 by G. Brush, Montreal
Cargo on Final Voyage: None recorded (operating as towboat)
Date of Loss: 19 August 1896
Location: Ottawa River
Coordinates: Not charted
Depth: Vessel destroyed by fire (no remains)
Home Port: Maskinongé, Quebec → L’Orignal, Ontario
Owners: I. Marchand (1889); F.S. Johnston (1895)
Crew: Not recorded
Casualties: None reported
Description
The Reliance was a wooden sidewheel steamer constructed in 1887 at Sorel, Quebec, a noted hub of shipbuilding along the St. Lawrence. Initially 84 ft long and 78 tons gross, she was designed for utility service on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers, carrying cargo and possibly passengers. Her propulsion system, an 18×72 steam engine manufactured in 1866 by G. Brush of Montreal, was a reused plant — a common practice of the period.
In 1894, she underwent a significant rebuild by J. Paul of Sorel, extending her length to 103 ft and tonnage to 84. This conversion transitioned her from a general sidewheeler to a towboat, enabling her to haul barges and assist navigation through the Ottawa River’s demanding channels.
History
Early Service (1887–1894): Owned by I. Marchand of Maskinongé, Quebec, the Reliance was employed in local trade and river service.
Rebuild & Towboat Conversion (1894): The vessel was rebuilt and reconfigured as a tow steamer at Sorel, marking a shift toward more specialized service.
Later Service (1895–1896): Acquired by F.S. Johnston of L’Orignal, Ontario, the Reliance played a role in regional commerce, towing vessels and ensuring safe passage along the Ottawa River.
Final Disposition
On 19 August 1896, while operating along the Ottawa River, the Reliance was destroyed by fire. The cause of the blaze was never determined. Despite rapid destruction of the wooden hull, no casualties were reported. The loss of the Reliance illustrates the constant danger of fire aboard wooden steam-powered vessels, particularly towboats whose work involved high engine loads and flammable stores.
Located By & Date Found
The vessel was consumed by fire; no wreck site has been located or documented.
Notmars & Advisories
No modern Notices to Mariners exist. The vessel’s remains are presumed destroyed or scattered and present no hazard.
Dive Information
Access: None (destroyed)
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: N/A
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: Canadian Coast Guard, Ottawa River
Permits: Not applicable
Dive Support: N/A
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No casualties were reported. Crew names have not been preserved in the surviving record.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“The tow steamer Reliance, recently rebuilt and in service along the Ottawa, was entirely consumed by fire yesterday. The cause of the outbreak remains unknown. Fortunately, no lives were lost.” — Ottawa Journal, 20 August 1896.
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
Registered in Quebec (1887), later Ontario (1895). No surviving official number located. Rebuilt tonnage 84 gross. Registry closed after August 1896 loss.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No underwater remains; destruction by fire left no wreckage. Contemporary engravings of Ottawa River towboats provide context.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Ottawa Journal, 20 August 1896
- Quebec Shipbuilding Records — Sorel archives
- Ottawa River Heritage Association
References
- Ottawa Journal, 20 August 1896 — report of destruction by fire
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes — registry and vessel notes
- Quebec and Ontario registry records — ownership trails
Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: None
Official Number: None located
Coordinates: Ottawa River (exact site unknown)
Depth: Destroyed by fire
Location Description: Ottawa River, near L’Orignal sector
Vessel Type: Sidewheel steamer (converted towboat)
Material: Wood
Dimensions: 103 × 16 × 5 ft (31.4 × 4.9 × 1.5 m); 84 GRT
Condition: Destroyed
Cause of Loss: Fire, 19 August 1896
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
Legal Notes: Registry struck 1896
Hazards: None
Permits Required: None