The Tragic Tale of a Lost Schooner-Barge #
The maritime history of the Great Lakes is replete with tales of lost ships and the brave sailors who faced the treacherous waters. Among these stories is the tragic fate of the schooner-barge John Breden, which met its demise in a violent storm on July 21, 1899. The vessel, originally built as a bark in 1862, had a tumultuous history marked by multiple owners and transformations. From its construction in Port Dalhousie, Ontario, to its final resting place in Lake Huron, the John Breden’s journey is a testament to the perils faced by sailors on the Great Lakes.
The John Breden, also known as John Bredin according to some sources, had an official number of 13933 and was classified as a schooner-barge. It was constructed in 1862 by the shipbuilders Andrews & Donaldson in Port Dalhousie, Ontario. Initially built as a bark, the vessel had dimensions of 130 feet in length, 25 feet in beam, and 11 feet in depth. It weighed 319 gross tons and 303 net tons. The ship’s construction and ownership were attributed to John Breden and others from Kingston, Ontario.
Over the years, the John Breden underwent several changes in ownership and modifications to its structure. By 1865, its tonnage increased to 356 gross tons, and by 1869, it reached 444 tons. In 1871, the vessel came under the ownership of Folger Bros. from Cape Vincent, New York. The ship experienced a mishap in October 1871 when it lost canvas and a yardarm near AuSable, Michigan, but it was subsequently repaired. In 1873, Stanley & Reed of Chicago, Illinois, assumed ownership, and the vessel underwent repairs again in 1874.
The John Breden changed hands multiple times throughout the late 19th century. It was owned by Smith of Buffalo, New York, in 1875 and was involved in a collision with the tug Zoave, resulting in running aground at Elk Island in the St. Clair River. The incident caused the ship to lose its headgear. In 1884, C.F. Nagel of Buffalo acquired ownership and carried out significant repairs. The vessel’s tonnage was recorded as 319.13 gross tons and 303.18 net tons in 1885. Further repairs took place in 1886.
In 1888, the John Breden came under the ownership of Maythen et al. from Buffalo. In March 1889, A.W. Comstock of Alpena, Michigan, became the new owner and converted the vessel into a three-masted schooner. However, this conversion was short-lived, and the ship was reverted to a barge after undergoing large repairs. In subsequent years, the vessel changed hands several times, with owners including Westbrook of Detroit in 1894, John Schumhl of Detroit in 1896, and J.M. Jones of Detroit in 1897.
The final chapter in the history of the John Breden began with a seizure by U.S. Marshals in November 1898 due to claims made by the Ruelle Tug Company of Detroit. The vessel was subsequently sold at auction in December 1898 to Ronald Kelley of Toledo, Ohio. On July 21, 1899, tragedy struck as the John Breden foundered in a storm on Lake Huron, approximately four miles off the coast of Lexington, Michigan. The vessel was en route from Toledo, Ohio, to Bay City, Michigan, in tow.
