Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John N. Glidden
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel
- Year Built: 1879
- Builder: Radcliffe & Langell, Cleveland, OH
- Dimensions: ~222 ft length (exact beam/draft unspecified)
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Off Harsen’s Island at the mouth of St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Wooden Propeller Bulk-Freighter
Description
The John N. Glidden was a wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel built in 1879. It measured approximately 222 feet in length and was primarily used for transporting iron ore.
History
The vessel was constructed by Radcliffe & Langell in Cleveland, Ohio. It served in the Great Lakes region, navigating the busy waterways and contributing to the iron ore trade.
Significant Incidents
- The Glidden was rammed by the steel barge Magna in dense fog near Harsen’s Island.
- The impact severed her midsection; she sank in approximately 16 minutes.
- The vessel was considered a hazard—struck by at least six other boats following the incident—and ultimately dynamited and removed in 1904 under navigational safety efforts.
Final Disposition
Declared total loss; no hull salvage conducted. The crew escaped without injury thanks to calm evacuations in low visibility. The wreck was physically cleared via explosives due to its threat to channel traffic.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The wreck of the John N. Glidden no longer exists as it was removed in 1904. The incident highlights the dangers of navigation in foggy conditions and the evolving safety protocols in the St. Clair River.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”john-n-glidden-1879″ title=”References & Links”]
The loss of the John N. Glidden serves as a reminder of the risks faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Its removal marked a significant step in improving navigational safety in the region.
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.
Wooden Propeller Bulk-Freighter – Built 1879, Lost October 9, 1903
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: John N. Glidden
- Built: 1879 by Radcliffe & Langell, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Wooden propeller-driven bulk freight vessel
- Dimensions: ~222 ft length (exact beam/draft unspecified)
- Cargo: Iron ore
- Final Voyage: October 9, 1903
- Collision Location: Off Harsen’s Island at the mouth of St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair
- Casualties: None
(Marsh Historical Collection, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, CORE)
Circumstances of Loss
- The Glidden was rammed by the steel barge Magna in dense fog near Harsen’s Island.
- The impact severed her midsection; she sank in approximately 16 minutes.
- The vessel was considered a hazard—struck by at least six other boats following the incident—and ultimately dynamited and removed in 1904 under navigational safety efforts.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Final Disposition
- Declared total loss; no hull salvage conducted.
- Crew escaped without injury thanks to calm evacuations in low visibility.
- The wreck was physically cleared via explosives due to its threat to channel traffic.
(Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Historical Significance
- Shows the peril of dense fog navigation in the congested St. Clair River traffic corridor.
- Highlights hazards posed by submerged wood-hulled vessels to early steel bulk carriers.
- Underlines evolving channel safety protocols (e.g., post-wreck dynamite removal).
(NMSThunderBay)
Summary Table
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built | 1879, Radcliffe & Langell, Cleveland |
| Type | Wooden propeller bulk carrier |
| Length | ~222 ft |
| Cargo | Iron ore |
| Lost | Oct 9 1903, collision off Harsen’s Island in fog |
| Casualties | None |
| Wreck Status | Sank in 16 min; cleared via dynamite in 1904 |
Recommended Further Research
- Coast Guard or Canadian Ship Registers – to retrieve official casualty/collision reports.
- Maritime Logs from tug Magna and nearby commercial vessels—these may contain eyewitness details.
- Contemporary Newspapers (e.g., Detroit Free Press, Windsor Star) for official statements, channel closure notices, and post-accident records.
- Navigation Authority Records – documentation on the decision to demolish and remove the wreck as a channel hazard.