Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Highlander
• Type: Wooden sidewheeler steamship
• Built for: Calvin & Breck Company
• Year Built: Mid-19th century (exact launch year not stated; active by 1867)
• Length: 54.6 m (179 ft)
• Location: Garden Island, Lake Ontario
• GPS Coordinates: N 44°11.893′ W 76°27.651′
• Depth: 3 m (10 ft)
• Final Incident: Destroyed by fire and scuttled, December 19, 1871

Vessel Type

A wooden-hulled sidewheeler designed for commercial freight and occasional government service. Equipped with steam propulsion via twin paddle wheels, she served the regional lake trade and briefly operated as a gunboat during the Fenian threat of 1866–67.

Description

The Highlander was a typical mid-19th-century sidewheel steamship with a relatively long hull for inland waters. Sidewheel steamers of this class were used for cargo and mixed-service transport. While not designed for high-seas conditions, they provided reliable power across Ontario’s interior lake routes.

History

Highlander was constructed for Calvin & Breck and played multiple roles — from freight transport to armed service as a government-chartered gunboat during the Fenian invasion alert in 1867. The vessel’s operations centred on Kingston and Garden Island, which was a bustling shipbuilding and forwarding port.

On the night of December 19, 1871, while moored at Garden Island alongside the Hercules, a fire broke out. Charles Kelley, newly aboard and believed to be asleep near the ship’s stove, was killed. The fire spread quickly, aided by strong winds, and despite efforts by local residents and firefighters, both the Highlander and Hercules were destroyed. The ships were uninsured, and the loss was estimated between $13,000–$25,000 CAD (1871 valuation).

After the fire, the remains of the Highlander were scuttled in the shallows behind Garden Island in what became known as a ship graveyard.

Final Disposition

Completely destroyed by fire while wintering at dock. The remains were scuttled near Garden Island and lie partially intact in shallow water.

Located By & Date Found

Known to local divers and historians for decades. Not rediscovered but continuously accessible due to shallow depth and proximity to shore.

Notmars & Advisories

None officially noted. Caution advised for divers due to entanglement risk, unstable timbers, and low visibility during silt disruption.

Wreck Site Description & Accessibility

• Depth: ~3 m (10 ft)
• Access: Suitable for snorkeling and shallow water diving
• Condition: Remains visible, including structural hull fragments and sidewheel components
• Ideal for: Recreational divers, underwater archaeology students, and maritime history enthusiasts
• 3D Model: View on Sketchfab

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Watercraft Abandonment Project
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Research (search required for Highlander specifics)
• 3DShipwrecks.org – Highlander Model

Conclusion

The Highlander exemplifies the dangers of 19th-century steam navigation, especially in winter quarters where fire was a constant threat. Her historical significance is compounded by her role in Canadian defence during the Fenian period. Today, she rests as a shallow and accessible dive site offering a rare opportunity to observe an early sidewheel steamer in situ.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Sidewheel steamship, Lake Ontario, Garden Island, Fenian Raids, ship fire, wreck dive, 19th century, maritime history, Kingston shipwreck, shallow water dive site

highlander-1871 1871-12-19 07:47:00