Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Bright
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: George N. Notter
- Dimensions: Length: 54 ft (16.5 m); Beam: 13 ft (4 m); Depth of hold: 6 ft (1.8 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 30 gross tons, 14 net tons
- Depth at Wreck Site: 1.8 m / 6 ft
- Location: Belleville, Ontario
- Official Number: Unknown
- Original Owners: Wm. Jones of Belleville, Ontario, and others
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The John Bright was a wooden propeller steam tug built in 1869 for harbour towing and utility service on the Great Lakes. With compact dimensions and robust build, it exemplified the typical steam tug design of its time — crucial for towing larger vessels, especially in smaller harbours and narrow channels.
Description
The John Bright was constructed in Buffalo and promptly entered Canadian service, with Wm. Jones of Belleville, Ontario, listed as its first owner. The tug passed through the hands of several owners over its working life, including operators in Morrisburg and Brockville.
On October 9, 1879, the vessel was destroyed by fire while laid up in Belleville. The blaze was believed to be arson-related, and the damage totalled an estimated $6,000 — a significant loss at the time.
Despite the fire, the John Bright may not have ended her service. In August 1880, the charred hull was raised and transported to Mill Point (now Deseronto), where it may have been rebuilt and re-registered as the Nellie Cuthbert. While the transformation is not definitively proven, maritime historians consider it a strong likelihood.
History
Destroyed by fire in Belleville on October 9, 1879. Raised and possibly rebuilt in 1880 as Nellie Cuthbert.
Significant Incidents
- October 9, 1879: Destroyed by fire in Belleville, Ontario, believed to be arson-related.
Final Disposition
The original John Bright no longer exists in its original form. No wreck remains have been identified, and any remnants would have been disturbed or lost during the rebuilding process in Deseronto.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The original John Bright no longer exists in its original form. No wreck remains have been identified, and any remnants would have been disturbed or lost during the rebuilding process in Deseronto.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-bright-c-61130″ title=”References & Links”]
The John Bright represents the class of small but critical support vessels that operated on the Great Lakes in the 19th century. Though her career ended in fire, she may have continued life under a new name, a common practice in an era of maritime salvage and reuse. Her story bridges the line between destruction and renewal, offering insight into the resilience of working lake vessels.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
John Bright (Official No. Unknown – Built 1869, Burned 1879)
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John Bright
- Other Names: Possibly reconstructed and renamed Nellie Cuthbert
- Type: Wooden Propeller Steam Tug
- Built: 1869, Buffalo, New York
- Builder: George N. Notter
- Dimensions:
- Length: 16.5 m (54 ft)
- Beam: 4 m (13 ft)
- Depth: 1.8 m (6 ft)
- Tonnage: 30 gross tons, 14 net tons
- Home Port: Belleville, Ontario
- Date of Wreck: October 9, 1879 (fire); possibly rebuilt in 1880
Vessel Type Description
The John Bright was a wooden propeller steam tug built in 1869 for harbour towing and utility service on the Great Lakes. With compact dimensions and robust build, it exemplified the typical steam tug design of its time — crucial for towing larger vessels, especially in smaller harbours and narrow channels.
History
The John Bright was constructed in Buffalo and promptly entered Canadian service, with Wm. Jones of Belleville, Ontario, listed as its first owner. The tug passed through the hands of several owners over its working life, including operators in Morrisburg and Brockville.
On October 9, 1879, the vessel was destroyed by fire while laid up in Belleville. The blaze was believed to be arson-related, and the damage totalled an estimated $6,000 — a significant loss at the time.
Despite the fire, the John Bright may not have ended her service. In August 1880, the charred hull was raised and transported to Mill Point (now Deseronto), where it may have been rebuilt and re-registered as the Nellie Cuthbert. While the transformation is not definitively proven, maritime historians consider it a strong likelihood.
Final Disposition
Destroyed by fire in Belleville on October 9, 1879. Raised and possibly rebuilt in 1880 as Nellie Cuthbert.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The original John Bright no longer exists in its original form. No wreck remains have been identified, and any remnants would have been disturbed or lost during the rebuilding process in Deseronto.
Resources & Links
Public Domain Pictures
No public domain images known.
Conclusion
The John Bright represents the class of small but critical support vessels that operated on the Great Lakes in the 19th century. Though her career ended in fire, she may have continued life under a new name, a common practice in an era of maritime salvage and reuse. Her story bridges the line between destruction and renewal, offering insight into the resilience of working lake vessels.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
John Bright, steam tug, Belleville Ontario, Great Lakes shipwrecks, Buffalo New York, 1879 fire, arson, George N. Notter, Nellie Cuthbert, Deseronto rebuild, small harbour tugs.
The John Bright was a wooden propeller steam tug built in 1869 by George N. Notter in Buffalo, New York. It had the dimensions of 54 feet in length, 13 feet in beam, and 6 feet in depth. The tug had a gross tonnage of 30 tons and a net tonnage of 14 tons. john-bright-c61130 1879-10-09 07:48:00