Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Victoria
- Type: Double-deck excursion stern-wheel paddle steamer
- Year Built: 1880
- Builder: Rebuilt from hull of Enterprise (burned 1879)
- Dimensions: Length approx. 80 ft (24.4 m); Beam approx. 23 ft (7.0 m); Depth of hold approx. 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Depth at Wreck Site: 3.7 m / 12 ft
- Location: Thames River, London, Ontario
- Coordinates: N 42° 58.582′, W 81° 16.812′
- Original Owners: London & Waterworks Line / Thames Navigation Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Victoria was a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed stern-wheel paddle steamer rebuilt from the hull of the earlier vessel Enterprise. She was intended for river excursions between London and Springbank Park in Ontario, equipped with a 60 hp boiler and upper/lower passenger decks.
Description
The Victoria was a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed stern-wheel paddle steamer rebuilt from the hull of the earlier vessel Enterprise. She was intended for river excursions between London and Springbank Park in Ontario, equipped with a 60 hp boiler and upper/lower passenger decks.
History
Operating as a holiday excursion vessel on the Thames River, the Victoria was over-capacity on 24 May 1881. On return from Springbank Park, shifting passengers destabilized the overloaded vessel. The boiler broke free, collapsing the upper deck, leading to capsize and mass fatalities.
Significant Incidents
- On May 24, 1881, the steamboat Victoria capsized and sank in the Thames River near what is today Greenway Off-Leash Dog Park in Kensal Park, London, Ontario. The death toll is commonly cited as between 182 and 198, although no record of the actual count of passengers was ever taken.
Final Disposition
The vessel was lost due to overloading, poor structural integrity, and passenger movement. Salvage recovered bodies but much of the wreck was destroyed or buried. Little remains above sediment today.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No modern wreck survey exists. Site is marked near Greenway Park, London, Ontario, by a heritage plaque. Exact wreck coordinates are approximate.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”victoria-1880″ title=”References & Links”]
Most victims were London-area residents. Memorial plaque is at the site. Victim lists are compiled on genealogy databases. Many buried in local cemeteries.
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: –
Official Number: –
Registry: Canada (Port Stanley, Ontario)
Vessel Type: Double-deck excursion stern-wheel paddle steamer
Builder: Rebuilt from hull of Enterprise (burned 1879)
Year Built: 1880
Dimensions: Length approx. 80 ft (24.4 m); beam approx. 23 ft (7.0 m); hull depth approx. 3 ft 10 in (1.17 m)
Tonnage: –
Cargo on Final Voyage: Excursion passengers (~600+)
Date of Loss: 24 May 1881
Location: Thames River, London, Ontario
Coordinates: N 42° 58.582′, W 81° 16.812′
Depth: Approx. 12 ft (3.7 m)
Home Port: Port Stanley, Ontario
Owners: London & Waterworks Line / Thames Navigation Company
Crew: –
Casualties: At least 182 fatalities
Description
The Victoria was a shallow-draft, flat-bottomed stern-wheel paddle steamer rebuilt from the hull of the earlier vessel Enterprise. She was intended for river excursions between London and Springbank Park in Ontario, equipped with a 60 hp boiler and upper/lower passenger decks.
History
Operating as a holiday excursion vessel on the Thames River, the Victoria was over-capacity on 24 May 1881. On return from Springbank Park, shifting passengers destabilized the overloaded vessel. The boiler broke free, collapsing the upper deck, leading to capsize and mass fatalities.
Final Dispositions
The vessel was lost due to overloading, poor structural integrity, and passenger movement. Salvage recovered bodies but much of the wreck was destroyed or buried. Little remains above sediment today.
Located By & Date Found
No modern wreck survey exists. Site is marked near Greenway Park, London, Ontario, by a heritage plaque. Exact wreck coordinates are approximate.
Notmars & Advisories
None noted.
Crew & Casualty Memorials
Most victims were London-area residents. Memorial plaque is at the site. Victim lists are compiled on genealogy databases. Many buried in local cemeteries.
Documented Statements & Extracts
“On May 24 1881 the steamboat Victoria capsized and sank in the Thames River near what is today Greenway Off-Leash Dog Park in Kensal Park, London, Ontario … The death toll is commonly cited as between 182 and 198, although no record of the actual count of passengers was ever taken.”
Registry, Enrollment & Insurance Trails
No official number recorded. Vessel operated under London & Waterworks Line. Registry and insurance data requires archival search in Ontario records.
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
- Wikipedia — Victoria Steamboat Disaster
- Canada History Ehx — The Victoria Steamship Disaster
- Ontario Heritage Trust — Victoria Boat Disaster 1881