Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Victoria
- Type: Wood-hulled screw tug
- Year Built: 1891
- Builder: W. Oelshlager in Port Elgin, Ontario
- Dimensions: 31 ft (9.45 m) length × 7 ft beam × 3 ft depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 3 GRT, 2 NRT
- Location: Cabot’s Head, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C71235
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wood-hulled screw tug, designed for local towing duties and harbor services.
Description
The Victoria was a small tugboat measuring 31 feet in length, 7 feet in beam, and 3 feet in depth. Built in 1891, it was constructed of wood and powered by a single screw propulsion system. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 3 and a net tonnage of 2.
History
Home ported in Saugeen, Ontario, the Victoria served local towing duties throughout its operational history. There are no records of major repairs or modifications prior to its loss. The vessel was registered until 1916, likely when post-loss paperwork was finalized.
Significant Incidents
- Final Event: The Victoria foundered in a storm on August 16, 1896, near Cabot’s Head.
- Casualties: No casualties were reported during the incident.
Final Disposition
The wreck of the Victoria is presumed to be an aggregate wreck site, likely located in shallow waters near the shore. There have been no recorded salvage operations on the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current condition of the wreck is unknown, but it is presumed to lie in shallow coastal waters, making it a potential candidate for magnetometer or visual surveys.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”victoria-c-71235″ title=”References & Links”]
The Victoria serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by small vessels in the Great Lakes, particularly during sudden storms. Its loss without fatalities highlights the resilience of local crews and the unpredictable nature of late-summer weather.
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: Victoria
- Built: 1891 by W. Oelshlager in Port Elgin, Ontario
- Official Number: C71235
- Type: Wood-hulled screw tug
- Dimensions: 31 ft length × 7 ft beam × 3 ft depth; gross tonnage 3 GRT, net tonnage 2 NRT
- Final Event: Foundered in storm on August 16, 1896
- Loss Location: Cabot’s Head, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
- Casualties: None reported (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Wikipedia)
Vessel Specifications
- Hull Material: Wood, with a single screw propulsion
- Size: Very small river/harbor tug—31 × 7 × 3 ft; 3 gross tons
- Purpose: Likely used for ferrying freight, light towing, or harbor services around Saugeen, Ontario (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Operational History
- Home Port: Saugeen, Ontario
- Registry: Closed in 1916 (post-loss paperwork likely finalized then) (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Service Record:
- Built 1891; served local towing duties
- No record of major repairs or modifications before loss
Final Fate & Wreck Details
- Date: August 16, 1896
- Event: Caught in storm; capsized or swamped and foundered near Cabot’s Head—details unspecific (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, linkstothepast.com, wisconsinshipwrecks.org)
- Wreck: Presumed aggregate wreck site, likely in shallow water near shore; no recorded salvage operations
- Casualties: None mentioned in registry records
Research Gaps & Next Steps
- Crew & Ownership: No captain or crew names recorded—look into early Ontario vessel enrollments for completeness.
- Storm Details: Examine Port Elgin and Saugeen newspapers (August–September 1896) for crew rescue reports or storm description.
- Registry Archives: Find enrollment documentation for Victoria at Library and Archives Canada, Great Lakes Vessel Registers (Ontario).
- Wreck Site Survey: The small size suggests wreckage may lie in shallow coastal waters—possible magnetometer or visual survey candidate, especially for enthusiasts diving Georgian Bay.
Significance
Although modest in size, Victoria exemplifies late-19th-century local tug operations in Georgian Bay. The loss highlights the hazards even small vessels faced during sudden storms. Her disappearance, without fatality, underscores the resilience of local crews and the unpredictable nature of late-summer weather on the Great Lakes.
Recommended Next Steps
- Archive search: Review Port Elgin & Saugeen local newspapers from August 1896
- Registry inquiry: Request Victoria C71235 enrollment files from Canadian Marine Records
- Field reconnaissance: Identify probable wreck zone near Cabot’s Head via shallow-water sonar or dive team