The Sinking of the Paddle Steamer Montreal
By Louise B. Gunn

The Montreal, built in 1855, was owned by John Wilson of Quebec City. On June 26th 1857, there were about 400 people onboard the Montreal, most of them Scottish immigrants on their way to Upper Canada; they had left Glasgow 40 days earlier and arrived at Quebec onboard the John McKenzie the day before. Little did they know that many would now face such a tragic end to their voyage. Soon after their departure from the wharf at Quebec, fire broke out onboard. At first, the captain ignored pleas from the crew to beach the vessel, and continued on his route. When he realized the extent of the fire it was too late. There was an enormous explosion and many of the estimated 253 victims were either burned to death or drowned trying to reach the shore. Most of the remains were buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery in Quebec City.

As in any tragedy, acts of heroism were remarkable. Margaret Bloomfield was on her way to Toronto to join her husband, a mechanic employed by the Grand Trunk RR. She jumped into the river with her young family and managed to save two of her children, 9-year old Jessie and 12-month old William by holding his clothing between her teeth while swimming. Unfortunately, she could not help Catherine and Margaret, 12 and 4 years old respectively, who drowned. Some other families were entirely lost, like that of Thomas and Elizabeth Gowerlock and their children. Fourteen year-old William Douglas from Lanarkshire was the only survivor of a family of 10 while 12-year old Catherine McKenzie lost her mother, 5 brothers and 2 sisters; they were en route to join their father William who had established a farm west of London, ON.

Archibald MacAlister was traveling with his parents, two brothers, one sister and two cousins; they were going to his uncle near Darlington. Only his mother, his brother Alexander and himself survived. Robert Wilson saved his 6-year old son but lost his wife Mary and another younger son. Colin Sinclair, 88 years’ old, and his wife Mary, 60 years’ old, had come from Scotland to visit their children who had settled at March Hill. Their son Colin was traveling with them. After making sure that his parents were safely aboard a barge that had come to the rescue, he disappeared in the water, never to come up again. Thomas Meikle of Lachute, Quebec had traveled to Quebec to meet his 70-year old father. They had not seen each other for more than 25 years. Their happiness lasted only one day as they both perished, one by fire, the other drowned.

Among the more fortunate to be saved were John Wilson, his wife Agnes and their four children. And what happened to James and Agnes Wylie and to their children? No records were found, so it is possible that they were among the 69 immigrants who had left Quebec City by train that day.

Non-immigrant travelers had also chosen to be on that vessel that day and several of them as well as members of the crew lost their lives. Among them were Sarah Bonner, wife of the late John McCrae and Simon Fitzimmons, both of Quebec City, and M. McLaren, Quebec’s Prison Director. Among the rescued were George and James Muir, Agnes Johnson, and Sergeant William Brown and his wife.

The Captain and his officers had been negligent. They were arrested and imprisoned and an inquiry was conducted. The newspapers of the day reported that they were “culpable of recklessmen and disregard of human life”.

The loss of the Montreal is the second biggest marine tragedy in Canadian waters, surpassed only by the Empress of Ireland that sank near Rimouski, QC in 1914.

'Courtesy of Walter Lewis.  Original in the Hamilton Public Library - Special Collections'