Kate Barron
In the early 1900s, the Skeena River was more than a vital waterway—it also served as the stage for a notable sternwheeler rivalry. The competition between the Hazelton and the Mount Royal reflects the practical challenges and spirited determination of an era shaped by river commerce.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, steamboats like sternwheelers were the main method for transporting people and supplies in the Skeena until the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was completed in 1912.
At the dawn of the 20th century, the Skeena River had its waters churned by the sternwheelers plying their trade and moving people from place to place. Among these was the Hazelton, a nimble and sturdy vessel launched in 1901 by Robert Cunningham, a shrewd businessman who had his eye on burgeoning freight opportunities. Named after the historic town of Hazelton, this sternwheeler quickly became a dominating presence on the river, outpacing rival boats and setting speed records that made her a legend in her time.
Cunningham’s primary adversary was the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), which had long dominated the region’s river trade with their sternwheelers, Caledonia and Strathcona. To solidify its monopoly, HBC introduced the Mount Royal in 1902, a vessel designed specifically to outperform the Hazelton. Despite a rocky start, with delays and difficulties during her launch, the Mount Royal soon became a worthy competitor. The captains of both ships, John Bonser of the Hazelton and S.B. Johnson of the Mount Royal, were given explicit orders: beat the other boat at all costs.
The rivalry reached its peak in the spring of 1904. Both vessels were eager to claim the first run of the season to Hazelton. Captain Bonser of the Hazelton was already steaming upriver, loading wood for the journey ahead, when he spotted the Mount Royal approaching fast. Without a moment’s hesitation, he ordered his crew to cast off, leaving behind half his wood load. The two boats raced side by side, churning the waters of the Skeena in a fierce battle for supremacy. As the Mount Royal edged closer, Captain Bonser, determined to win, gave the order to ram his competitor’s boat. The impact threw the Mount Royal off course, sending her drifting back downstream with her captain in a fit.
Captain Johnson, seething with rage, abandoned his helm to fetch a rifle and fired shots at the Hazelton as she disappeared upstream.
This dramatic encounter caught the attention of the Federal Department of Marine and Fisheries, leading to an investigation. Both captains were reprimanded for their reckless behaviour, which endangered passengers and cargo alike. The skirmish marked the unravelling of the heated rivalry, as both Cunningham and the HBC realized that their feud was becoming unprofitable and potentially ruinous.
In a surprising turn of events, HBC paid Cunningham $2,500 to dock the Hazelton, agreeing to haul his future freight for free. Eventually, HBC purchased the Hazelton, consolidating their control over the Skeena River. By 1912, the completion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway rendered sternwheelers obsolete, as trains began transporting goods and passengers more efficiently. The Hazelton, a once-proud symbol of riverine competition and adventure, was dismantled and her hull sold to the Prince Rupert Yacht Club, marking the end of an era for the intrepid steamboats of the Skeena River.
