Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Young Lion
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
- Year Built: 1862
- Builder: Donaldson & Andrews, Port Dalhousie, Ontario
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: 98 GT; 62 NT
- Location: Off Port Credit, Ontario
- Coordinates: Not available
- Official Number: None (Canadian registry)
- Original Owners: Captain Frank Jackman of Toronto
- Number of Masts: Not applicable
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Young Lion was a wooden-hulled propeller steam tug, built in 1862 by Donaldson & Andrews of Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Tugboats like the Young Lion played an essential role in towing vessels, assisting with docking, and performing salvage operations.
Description
She was owned by Captain Frank Jackman of Toronto, who operated her in harbors and along shipping routes on Lake Ontario.
In 1874, she was taken to Port Dalhousie for recaulk repairs, a standard maintenance process to reseal wooden hulls and prevent leaks.
History
On November 23 or 28, 1874, the Young Lion was en route from Port Dalhousie to Toronto for winter layup when she caught fire near her boiler while off Port Credit, Ontario.
The fire spread rapidly, making it impossible for the crew to extinguish the flames. With no chance to save the vessel, the crew abandoned ship in a small boat that was luckily aboard. Battling rough conditions in a half-gale, they rowed to safety in Toronto.
Significant Incidents
The Young Lion burned to a total loss, leaving no recoverable wreckage.
Final Disposition
- Declared a total loss due to fire.
- No salvage attempts recorded.
- Some reports list January 21, 1875, as the official document surrender date.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No known discovery of wreckage. Given that she was destroyed by fire, any remains are likely scattered debris or fully deteriorated.
Resources & Links
The Young Lion was a reliable steam tug that had served Lake Ontario for over a decade before her destruction by fire in 1874. Her loss highlights the dangers of early steam-powered vessels, where boiler fires were a constant threat. Though her crew survived, she was completely lost, leaving behind only her brief but important role in Great Lakes navigation history.