Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Spartan
- Type: Sidewheel steamer
- Year Built: 1864
- Builder: Gilbert & Company, Montreal, Que.
- Dimensions: 179.8 ft × 28 ft × 11 ft (≈ 54.8 m × 8.53 m × 3.35 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 493 (old measurement)
- Location: Kingston, Ontario (dismantling)
- Coordinates: Not known
- Official Number: 122070
- Original Owners: Canada Inland Navigation Co.; later Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co.; Canada Steamship Lines, etc.
- Number of Masts: Not documented
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The *Spartan* was a sidewheel steamer designed for inland trade, featuring a horizontal locomotive-style engine for propulsion.
Description
The *Spartan* was built circa 1864, possibly as a prefabricated iron steamer assembled in Montreal. The vessel measured 179.8 ft in length, 28 ft in beam, and 11 ft in depth, with a tonnage of 493 under older measurement systems.
History
The *Spartan* is believed to have been prefabricated abroad, likely in Scotland, before being assembled in Montreal. Early in her career, she operated alongside the *Corinthian*. On October 16, 1868, she struck in the Long Sault Rapids on the St. Lawrence River. In the winter of 1870-71, she underwent refitting at Cantin’s Drydock in Montreal, where her iron hull was sheathed in wood and the interior was renovated. In 1876, she was acquired by Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. of Montreal.
In the early 1880s, she was chartered by the Owen Sound Steamship Company for operations in Georgian Bay and Lake Superior ports. In May 1883, she went aground on Caribou Island in Lake Superior but was recovered by the tug *Winslow* and repaired at Detroit Dry Dock Co. On September 19, 1898, she ran aground again due to steering failure at Caughnawaga in the St. Lawrence River. In 1900, she was rebuilt and remeasured, and in 1905, she was lengthened in Montreal to 200.8 ft, yielding a tonnage of 1,233 gross and 607 net tons, and was renamed *Belleville*.
In November 1910, she went ashore at Grafton, Ontario, on Lake Ontario. By 1913, she was owned by Canada Steamship Lines. She was laid up around 1914 and partially stripped. After 1915, she replaced the *Alexandria* on package freight service between Montreal, Toronto, and Hamilton. In 1919-20, she was again rebuilt and reduced for freight trade, measuring 639 gross and 255 net tons. Ultimately, in 1924, she was dismantled in Kingston, Ontario.
Significant Incidents
- October 16, 1868: Struck in the Long Sault Rapids on the St. Lawrence River.
- May 1883: Went aground on Caribou Island, Lake Superior; recovered by tug *Winslow*.
- September 19, 1898: Ran aground at Caughnawaga due to steering failure.
- November 1910: Went ashore at Grafton, Ontario, Lake Ontario.
Final Disposition
The *Spartan* was not lost by sinking; instead, she was deliberately dismantled in Kingston in 1924 after decades of service. Her hull was broken up and removed from active registry.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No underwater wreck exists to locate, as the vessel was dismantled rather than lost by wrecking. Therefore, no dive conditions or access points are applicable.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”spartan-1864″ title=”References & Links”]
The *Spartan*, later known as *Belleville*, serves as a historical example of the evolution of Great Lakes shipping and the transition from active service to dismantling in the early 20th century.
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
Other Names: *Belleville*
Official Number: 122070 (Canadian)
Registry: Canada
Vessel Type: Sidewheel steamer
Builder: Gilbert & Company, Montreal, Que.
Year Built: 1864
Dimensions: 179.8 ft × 28 ft × 11 ft (≈ 54.8 m × 8.53 m × 3.35 m)
Tonnage: 493 (old measurement)
Cargo on Final Voyage: (Not documented)
Date of Loss: (Not lost by sinking; eventually dismantled 1924)
Location: Kingston, Ontario (dismantling)
Coordinates: (Not known)
Depth: (No underwater wreck)
Home Port: Montreal / Canada Inland Navigation Co.
Owners: Canada Inland Navigation Co.; later Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co.; Canada Steamship Lines, etc.
Crew: (Not found)
Casualties: (None documented)
Description
The *Spartan* was built circa 1864 (possibly as a prefabricated iron steamer assembled in Montreal) for inland trade, with sidewheel propulsion driven by a horizontal “locomotive” style engine. The vessel’s original measurement lists 179.8 ft in length, 28 ft beam and 11 ft depth, with a “493” tonnage under older measurement systems.
History
The vessel is reportedly prefabricated abroad (likely Scotland) then assembled in Montreal; early in her career she ran in tandem with the *Corinthian* (circa 1865). On 16 October 1868 she struck in the Long Sault Rapids on the St. Lawrence River. In the winter of 1870–71 she underwent refitting (together with *Corinthian*) at Cantin’s Drydock in Montreal, where her iron hull was sheathed in wood and the interior renovated. Later, in 1876, she passed to Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. of Montreal.
In the early 1880s she was chartered by the Owen Sound Steamship Company for usage in Georgian Bay / Lake Superior ports. In May 1883 she went ashore on Caribou Island (Lake Superior). She was recovered by tug *Winslow* and repaired at Detroit Dry Dock Co. Subsequently, on 19 September 1898, she ran aground due to steering failure at Caughnawaga, in the St. Lawrence River. In 1900 she was rebuilt (measured as 946 gross, 544 net). In 1905 she was rebuilt / lengthened in Montreal to 200.8 × 28 × 11 ft, yielding 1,233 gross tons, 607 net tons, and renamed *Belleville* (Official Number 122070). In November 1910 she went ashore at Grafton, Ontario, Lake Ontario. By 1913 she was owned by Canada Steamship Lines. She was laid up around 1914 and partially stripped; after 1915 she replaced *Alexandria* on package freight service between Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, etc. In 1919–20 she was again rebuilt and reduced for freight trade, measured at 639 gross, 255 net tons. Finally, in 1924, she was dismantled at Kingston, Ontario.
Final Dispositions
The vessel was not lost by sinking; rather, after decades of service, she was deliberately dismantled in Kingston in 1924. Her hull was broken up and removed from active registry.
Located By & Date Found
No underwater wreck exists to locate, as the vessel was dismantled rather than lost by wrecking.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted (no hazard remains).
Dive Information
Access: N/A (no submerged wreck)
Entry Point: N/A
Conditions: N/A
Depth Range: N/A
Emergency Contacts: N/A
Permits: N/A
Dive Support: N/A
Crew & Casualty Memorials
No documented casualties are known. Crew names have not yet been located in the sources reviewed.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“Steamer *Spartan* abandoned at Caribou Island, Lake Superior.”
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
By 1905 she was assigned Canadian Official Number 122070 and renamed *Belleville*. The Great Lakes Vessel History entry confirms the lengthening and remeasurement to 200.8 × 28 × 11 ft and tonnage of 1,233 gross, 607 net.
Site Documentation & Imaging
No underwater site exists; thus, no photogrammetric or VR documentation is available.
Image Gallery
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Vessels Database (BGSU/HCGL)
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Newspapers.com
- Find A Grave
References
- “Spartan 1” — Great Lakes Vessel History entry (lengthening, renaming)
- “Over 175 Years of Shipping History — CSL” (company background)
- Paddlesteamers.info — Canada Historical database (sidewheel steamer background)
- “Steamer Spartan abandoned at Caribou Island, Lake Superior” — Wisconsin / Great Lakes maritime history pages
NOAA Shipwreck Record Card
Other Names: *Belleville*
Official Number: 122070
Coordinates: (None)
Depth: (None)
Location Description: Dismantled, Kingston, Ontario
Vessel Type: Sidewheel steamer
Material: Iron hull with wooden sheathing (later)
Dimensions: Initially 179.8 × 28 × 11 ft; later 200.8 × 28 × 11 ft
Condition: Dismantled / removed
Cause of Loss: Decommissioning / dismantling
Discovery Date: N/A
Discovered By: N/A
Method: N/A
You must be logged in to post a comment.