The Kitty Freil was a propeller barge that had an eventful history marked by two separate burnings. Originally measuring 91 feet in length, the barge first caught fire in 1873 while on the St. Lawrence River. After the fire, it underwent a reconstruction, extending its length to 99 feet. However, tragedy struck again in August 1879 when the Kitty Freil burned for the second time, this time in the Rideau Canal.
The burning of the Kitty Freil in 1879 has been memorialized in a folk song by Tamarack, highlighting the significance of the event. Unfortunately, no further details are available regarding the specific circumstances of the burnings or the subsequent rebuilds.
In a newspaper article from August 23, 1869, it is mentioned that the new steam barge Kitty Freil had gone to the Kingston Foundry to have its engines installed. This suggests that the barge was undergoing initial construction or refurbishment at that time.
Sources:
- Daily News (Kingston, ON), August 23, 1869
