Identification & Site Information
•Vessel Name: Chieftain (Also known as Chieftain III)
•Year of Build: 1873
•Official Number: 71178
•Built At: Garden Island, Ontario
•Vessel Type: Tug (Towboat)
•Hull Material: Wood
•Number of Decks: 2
•Builder: H. Rooney
•Original Owner: Calvin & Co. (Breck), Kingston, Ontario
Power
•Propulsion: Sidewheel
•Engine: Beam engine from the steamer Gildersleeve (1839)
•Number of Cylinders: 1
•Number of Boilers: 1
•Propulsion Notes: The beam engine was replaced in August 1874.
Hull Dimensions
•Length: 136.8 feet
•Beam: 24.1 feet
•Depth: 9.4 feet
•Gross Tonnage: 435 tons
•Net Tonnage: 197 tons
History & Final Disposition
The Chieftain was built in 1873 at Garden Island, Ontario, and was owned by Calvin & Co., a major shipping firm based in Kingston. The vessel was a sidewheel tugboat equipped with a beam engine that originally came from the steamer Gildersleeve, built in 1839. The Chieftain underwent a major rebuild in 1889, and in 1906, it was likely reconstructed at Garden Island and renamed Chieftain III.
The Chieftain continued to serve in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River until 1911. On its final voyage in August 1911, the Chieftain sank following a collision with the vessel Hero near St. Antoine’s Light in the St. Lawrence River.
Final Disposition
•Final Location: St. Antoine’s Light, St. Lawrence River
•Date: August 1911
•How: Sunk in a collision with the Hero
Notes
The information about the Chieftain comes from the collection of C. Patrick Labadie, a historian known for his extensive work on Great Lakes shipwrecks. Sources include the Board of Lake Underwriters Marine Directory, Canadian List of Shipping, Great Lakes Register, and newspaper clippings among other historical references. The Chieftain was a significant vessel in the maritime history of the Great Lakes, reflecting both the evolution of steam-powered tugs and the risks of navigation in this busy waterway.
