IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
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VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The John Bright was a wooden propeller steam tug, a small yet vital vessel type used for towing and assisting larger ships in harbors and along navigable waterways. Built in 1869 by George N. Notter in Buffalo, New York, the tug had modest dimensions but played a significant role in maritime operations in the Great Lakes region. The John Bright was known for its workhorse capabilities, typical of steam tugs of that era.
HISTORY #
The John Bright was constructed in 1869 and initially sold to Canadian interests, with Wm. Jones of Belleville, Ontario, being its first recorded owner. Over the years, the tug changed hands several times, reflecting its utility and demand in the Great Lakes maritime industry. Notable owners included W. Gibson of Morrisburg, W. Jones of Brockville, and eventually, W. Long of Belleville.
On October 9, 1879, while lying in ordinary (out of active service) at Belleville, Ontario, the John Bright was destroyed by a fire. The fire, believed to be an act of arson, resulted in a total loss estimated at $6,000. Despite its destruction, the story of the John Bright did not end there.
In late August 1880, the wreck of the John Bright was raised and taken to Mill Point (now Deseronto) for rebuilding. It is believed that the tug may have been reconstructed and relaunched under the new name Nellie Cuthbert, though details about this transformation are not fully documented.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
The John Bright was destroyed by fire on October 9, 1879, in Belleville, Ontario. The remains of the vessel were raised and possibly rebuilt as the Nellie Cuthbert in 1880, continuing its service on the Great Lakes under a new identity.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The original John Bright no longer exists in its initial form, having been possibly rebuilt into the Nellie Cuthbert after the fire in 1879. The site of its destruction in Belleville is of historical interest, but no substantial remains of the vessel are known to exist today.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
PUBLIC DOMAIN PICTURES #
- No public domain pictures available.
John Bright, steam tug, Belleville Ontario, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Buffalo New York, 1879 fire, arson, maritime history, Nellie Cuthbert.
