Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Victor
- Type: Wooden-hulled grain barge
- Year Built: 1873
- Builder: Cantin (likely Louis Cantin)
- Dimensions: Length 104.4 ft (31.82 m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 186 tons
- Location: Inner Harbour, Kingston, Ontario
- Original Owners: Montreal Elevating Co., St. Lawrence & Chicago Forwarding Co., Montreal Transportation Co.
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden-hulled grain barge, designed for river and lake freight. Built for unpowered service under tow, with square stern and low freeboard, typical of Canadian grain and bulk freight barges of the late 19th century.
Description
Victor was a robust barge intended for long-haul cargo transport, especially grain. The hull construction emphasized maximum hold volume and shallow draft for riverine operation. Likely built with internal framing typical of Eastern Canadian barge practice, and minimal accommodation space.
History
Constructed in 1873 for the grain trade on the Richelieu and St. Lawrence rivers. Early records suggest service with the Montreal Elevating Co., and by 1874, transferred to the St. Lawrence & Chicago Forwarding Co. In 1883, she was acquired by the Montreal Transportation Co., which managed a large fleet of barges and tugs.
Her condition deteriorated over time, as reflected in changing marine underwriter ratings:
- 1874: Rated “1” and valued at $6,800
- 1878: Retained rating; valuation dropped to $5,200
- 1882: A2 condition
- 1884: Downgraded to 00 (uninsurable)
- 1885: Further downgraded to B2, fit only for coarse freight
This progression mirrored her ageing woodwork and decreasing commercial value in an era increasingly favouring steel and steam.
Significant Incidents
Victor suffered catastrophic fire damage in 1891 while moored near the Cotton Mill in Kingston’s Inner Harbour. The Kingston Whig described her as “rotten”, suggesting poor maintenance and possible abandonment. The fire was suspected to be arson. Following the incident, Victor was dismantled and removed from service. Her registration was formally closed on April 27, 1899.
Final Disposition
No modern wreck location or identification is recorded. Likely broken up in port and never formally surveyed or located.
Current Condition & Accessibility
None noted.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”victor-1873″ title=”References & Links”]
Victor serves as a telling example of the working river barges that dominated bulk transport in 19th-century Québec and Ontario. Her operational decline and destruction by fire illustrate the lifespan of unpowered wooden craft as commercial demands and construction methods evolved. Her legacy now survives in written records rather than preserved remains.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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