The Lion, originally built as a barge in 1863 by George Tait in Montreal, had an eventful history before meeting its explosive end. It measured 107.8 feet in length and had a capacity of 13,000 bushels, weighing 203.28 unit tons. Throughout its ownership changes, the Lion underwent repairs and modifications.
After George Tait, the Lion’s builder, owned the barge, it passed through various hands. J.H. Henderson owned it in 1869-70, and from 1874 to 1883, it was owned by the St. Lawrence & Chicago Forwarding Co. The barge underwent repairs in 1870-71 and again in 1875. In 1880, it was involved in an incident where the steamer Bohemian caused damage to Lock Two of the Lachine Canal while seven barges belonging to the St. Lawrence and Chicago Forwarding Co. were present.
The Montreal Transportation Co. eventually acquired the Lion when they took over the St. Lawrence and Chicago Forwarding Co. However, by 1884-1886, the barge was no longer active on the upper river. It gained attention in June 1884 when it was sold to the Kingston Ontario Dominion Day Celebration committee for $125. Originally, the committee planned to blow up another barge named Convoy, but the plan shifted to the Lion.
The Lion was extensively prepared for the spectacle. It was rigged with three masts and yards, adorned with Chinese lanterns, and had a fake black and red funnel. The hull was painted black with white ports, and decorative bunting was displayed. Twelve dummies were suspended in the rigging. On Dominion Day (July 1, 1884), Sergeant Major Bartlet from the Royal Military College was assigned the task of detonating the barge.
The explosion was set to take place at 8:00 pm, with the Lion anchored off Murney Tower. The British man-of-war pennant floated from the summit of its mainmast, adding to the visual spectacle. Two kegs of powder, each containing 250 lbs, were placed beneath the barge, and a wire connected it to an electric battery at the Military College, which would trigger the explosion. It was initially estimated that 400 lbs of powder would suffice, but the military authorities determined that a more substantial amount—500 lbs—was necessary due to the barge’s sturdy construction.
The British Whig newspaper issued warnings for small boats to keep their distance when the Lion was blown up. The explosion itself attracted considerable attention, drawing crowds to witness the barge’s destruction. Reports indicate that the Lion was successfully detonated, shattering into splinters and leaving wreckage in Kingston harbor.
Following its demise, the Lion was no longer mentioned in the ship registry after April 27, 1899, as it was believed to have been broken up. Its final chapter marked an explosive end to a barge with a rich history on the waters.
