John Bright (Fire, Belleville)
Identification & Site Information:
•Vessel Name: John Bright
•Vessel Type: Schooner
•Date of Wreck: Destroyed by fire, reported December 1875
•Location: Belleville, Ontario
•Cause: Fire
Vessel Type Description:
The John Bright was a schooner, a popular type of sailing vessel used extensively in the Great Lakes region during the 19th century. These vessels were typically used to transport goods like lumber, grain, or coal.
History:
On December 4, 1875, the Toronto Globe reported that the schooner John Bright was destroyed by fire while moored at Belleville, Ontario. The fire was severe enough that the vessel was left inoperable, with concerns raised that the schooner would not survive through the winter. There were no attempts to salvage or relocate the vessel after the fire, leading to its eventual destruction.
The John Bright was likely a well-used cargo vessel that operated between ports along Lake Ontario. Schooners like this one were crucial to the trade and transport systems of the Great Lakes during this period, but they were also vulnerable to fires, particularly when left unattended in port.
Final Disposition:
After the fire in Belleville, the John Bright was abandoned and left to deteriorate over the winter of 1875. It was expected that the vessel would be entirely destroyed by the elements before the spring of 1876.
Located By & Date:
There is no record of a formal wreckage location for the John Bright, as it was left in Belleville to deteriorate after the fire.
Notmars & Advisories:
•Obstructions: No known obstructions were left by the wreck of the John Bright, as it was destroyed at the dock.
•Advisories: Mariners were likely warned about the wreckage while the schooner was left in the harbor, but no formal notices have been documented.
Current Condition & Accessibility:
The John Bright was destroyed by fire and left to deteriorate in Belleville, making it likely that no significant remains of the vessel exist today.
Resources & Links:
•Toronto Globe, December 4, 1875
Keywords:
John Bright, Schooner, Fire, Belleville, Shipwreck, Lake Ontario, 1875
This wreck report details the tragic end of the John Bright, a schooner destroyed by fire and left to deteriorate in Belleville, Ontario.
