Jim Fischer, wearing a sailor's hat from the period, presents programs on "Ghost Ships of Lake Ontario." At a recent standing room only crowd at the Seymour Library on January 18, Fischer told the story of two ships sunk during the War of 1812, the Hamilton and the Scourge, that lie perfectly preserved at the bottom of Lake Ontario off Canadian shores. Jim talks about the plans for exploration and possible recovery of the ships; the slides show details of cannons, cutlasses and ship features. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

The day his ship comes in, Jim Fischer will be a happy man. Actually, he's hoping that they both come in.

The 22-year Hamlin resident, and retired Eastman Kodak employee, has spent the last 17 years attempting to resurrect some history that is buried at the bottom of Lake Ontario. A chance meeting with a ship owned by Jaques Cousteau, while sailing with his wife in 1981, led Fischer to believe that there was something quite unique out in Lake Ontario.

"I heard the Canadian Coast Guard call the Calypso," Fischer said. "I got on my radio and asked, 'Is this the boat owned by Jaques Cousteau?' "

"Yes," was the reply.

"What are you looking for out here?" Fischer questioned. His conversation was suddenly over, and that could have been the end of his fishing story had he not noticed the cover of a National Geographic two years later that talked about the discovered treasures from the War of 1812.

Fischer said he knew immediately why he was not alone out on the lake two years ago. He began to research the find. What he found was that Lake Ontario had played an integral part in the War of 1812. In fact, what divers were looking for was two ships, the Hamilton and the Scourge, battleships used by the United States Navy during the war. They were buried at the bottom of the lake in Hamilton, Ontario, along with their crewmembers.

"It's a priceless archaeological treasure, said Fischer, explaining that these are some of the oldest ships still intact. Prompted by an account of how the ships went down, printed in the magazine, Fischer decided he would take an active role in bringing life to this piece of history.

He memorized the story retold by James Fenimore Cooper of a member on one of the ships, and created a replica uniform. With that, Fischer took his show on the road and began going to local schools and libraries to tell his story. He has packed rooms at the Seymour Library, the Morgan Manning House and several local schools.

"There's so much history of the War of 1812 that's here and kids don't know about it," said Fischer. "I love to tell this story."

For Fischer, however, the story is far from over. The ships have yet to be resurrected, although funds are currently being collected to do just that. Also the skeletons of the crew are still underwater. While the bodies in the ships will be property of the Canadian government, Fischer is hoping that the United States will be allowed to reclaim two bodies that rest outside the ships.

He said it would be fitting to place one of the bodies in the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier."

"They're really heroes to me. Some of those guys are still at their guns," said Fischer. "My goal is to get those bodies to be protected."

To accomplish his goals, Fischer has been in constant contact with the Hamilton City Museum and he has spoken with local officials. While the museum has been helpful, even donating a collection of 80 underwater slides, local politicians have been unsympathetic to Fischer's cause.

Undaunted, Fischer continues to go from one venue to the next retelling the story in the hopes that someday there will be someone in the audience with the power to do something about it.

For more information - www.hamilton-scourge.city.hamilton.on.ca/nedmyers.htm