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.
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
- Name(s): Victor
- Registry: Canadian
- Year built and launched: 1873
- Builder: Cantin (likely Louis Cantin)
- Place of construction: Québec City (Lévis), Québec
- Vessel measurements:
- Length: 31.82 m (104.4 ft)
- Gross tonnage: 200 tons
- Register tonnage: 186 tons
- Cargo capacity: 14,000 bushels (grain)
- Date lost: 1891 (fire), registry closed April 27, 1899
- Final location: Inner Harbour, Kingston, Ontario
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.
Final Disposition
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.
Located By & Date Found
No modern wreck location or identification is recorded. Likely broken up in port and never formally surveyed or located.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Resources & Links
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes
- [Canadian Heritage Ship Information Database (archived)]
- Kingston Shipwreck Database
- Canadian Lloyd’s Register, Board of Lake Underwriters
- Kingston Whig newspaper archives (1891 fire)
Conclusion
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.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
River barge, grain transport, wooden hull, Montreal Transportation Co., Kingston harbour, arson, St. Lawrence River trade, Canadian registry, fire loss, bulk cargo
victor-1873 1899-04-27 07:47:00