The Wreck of the Kittie Haight (1899)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Kittie Haight (also seen as Kittie Hoight)
• Official Number: C72956
• Type at Loss: Propeller Steam Tug, Wood (partially iron-framed)
• Built: 1874, by E. Haight, Buffalo, NY
• Specifications: 65 ft (19.8 m) x 17 ft (5.2 m) x 8 ft (2.4 m), 60 gross tons, 28 net tons
• Date of Loss: September 1899
• Place of Loss: Mid-Lake Huron
• Lake: Huron
• Type of Loss: Fire
• Loss of Life: Unknown
• Cargo: None
• Condition: Destroyed by fire

Vessel Type

The Kittie Haight was a small wooden-hulled steam Tug built in the United States for Canadian buyers. It was a workboat, primarily used for towing and harbor duties in the busy ports along the Great Lakes. It was partially iron-framed, which was an uncommon feature for tugs of its era, likely added to strengthen its Hull.

Description

Built in 1874 by E. Haight of Buffalo, NY, the Kittie Haight was constructed with Canadian service in mind. Rather than being sold later into Canadian ownership, it was purpose-built in the U.S. specifically for use in Canadian waters. The Tug was based out of Sarnia, Ontario, and performed harbor work, vessel towing, and other general steam Tug operations in the Great Lakes.

It underwent a major Rebuild in 1883, indicating it had seen heavy use or had sustained some damage earlier in its career.

Final Disposition

In September 1899, the Kittie Haight was destroyed by fire while in mid-Lake Huron. The circumstances of the fire remain unclear, and sources do not specify whether there was a loss of life. It is unknown if the fire started due to an engine room accident, a cargo-related incident, or an external source.

Since it was wooden-hulled, the fire likely consumed most of the vessel, leaving little wreckage behind. Unlike larger shipwrecks, small wooden steam tugs that burned at sea rarely left enough remains to be discovered or documented.

Located By & Date Found

Nil return—There are no records indicating that the wreck of the Kittie Haight has been found or identified in modern times.

NOTMARs & Advisories

There are no current navigational warnings or obstructions noted regarding this wreck.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Library & Archives Canada

Conclusion

The Kittie Haight was a hardworking Great Lakes steam Tug that served the shipping industry for over 25 years before meeting its end in a mid-lake fire. It was a uniquely U.S.-built vessel for Canadian service, showing the close maritime ties between the two nations. While little is known about its final moments, the wreck has never been found, making it another lost chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.

Keywords & Categories

Keywords: Kittie Haight shipwreck, Lake Huron steam tugs, 19th-century Great Lakes vessels, Canadian tugboats, wooden steam Tug fire.
Categories: Shipwrecks of Lake Huron, Steam tugs, 19th-century Canadian vessels, Maritime disasters.