Ontario's Historical Plaques

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Learn a little Ontario history as told through its plaques

The "Victoria" Boat Disaster 1881

Victoria Boat Disaster

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Middlesex
The City of London
On the south shore of the Thames River
beside a walkway accessible from Greenside Avenue


Coordinates: N 42 58.582 W 81 16.812

Map

Plaque Text

On May 24, 1881, one of Canada's worst marine disasters occurred on the Thames River near this site. The "Victoria", a small, double-decked stern-wheeler commanded by Captain Donald Rankin, was conducting holiday excursion trips between London and Springbank Park. On a return trip to London the boat was dangerously overcrowded with more than 600 passengers. Oblivious of the danger, the crowd repeatedly shifted from side to side, resulting in flooding and a precarious rocking motion of the boat. It finally heeled over and the boiler crashed through the bulwarks, bringing the upper-deck and large awning down upon the struggling crowd. The "Victoria" sank immediately and at least 182 people, the majority from London, lost their lives.

Related Ontario plaques
The Sinking of the Mary Ward
Loss of the Jane Miller
The Voyage of the Griffon 1679
The Loss of the Speedy
The Sinking of the Waubuno 1879

More
Information

More
Disasters





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