Posted by Brendon Baillod on September 24, 19100 at 13:34:28:
In Reply to: Wreck in Georgian Bay posted by Scott Garrett on September 19, 19100 at 13:08:43:
: Looking for any info on a ship that apparently went down in the vicinity of Port McNicoll, Ontario on Georgian Bay in August of 1913. The ship in question is the John Lee Sr.
: I have no idea what the cause for the wreck was or do I know what company owned this vessel. If anyone can shed some light on this subject it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Scott
Scott,
The John Lee, Sr. was a Canadian tug built 1883 at Wallaceburg, Ontario as the tug A.T. Kelly by William John McDonnell, 56.0 x 14.4 x 6.6 ft, 38.71 tons, Canadian official number 85705, launched 4/7/1884. She had a vertical high pressure engine built in 1868 at Buffalo, NY by David Bell (see listing below). The Kelly burned 11/14/1885 at Harsen's Island and was rebuilt in 1887 as the tug Tom Keddle (aka T. Keddle) by John Lee & Sons, well known ship and engine builders at Wallaceburg. The Keddle burned the same year and was rebuilt and renamed John Lee Sr. in 1888. She was rebuilt at 61.0 x 20.6 x 6.8 ft., 52 tons with Canadian official number 100122. She was again rebuilt at Wallaceburg by Lee & Sons in 1895 to 86.0 x 21.0 x 7.2 ft., 88 gt. In August of 1913 she burned to a total loss at Port McNicoll, Ontario. She was probably scrapped, as her engine was still valuable and there are no scuttled hulls shown on modern charts of Port McNicoll. Her engine was almost certainly reused in another vessel.
Information above was taken from the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston's online Registry database, the Mill's List, the Herman Runge Collection at the Milwaukee Public Library and the David Swayze Wrecklist. Copies of listings are below:
JOHN LEE, Sr.
Other names : built as the tug T. KEDDLE*, a most appropriate name for a small steam tug
Official no. : C100122
Type at loss : propeller steam tug, wood
Build info : 1888, Wallaceburg, Ont.
Specs : 86x21, 88t**
Date of loss : 1913, Aug
Place of loss : at Port McNicoll, Ont., Georgian Bay
Lake : Huron
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : ?
Carrying : none
Detail : Burned to total loss.
*Built on hull of tug A.T. KELLEY [C#85705], 56x14x7, 39 t., which had burned in 1885 (qv).
**Built at 61x21, 52t., rebuilt and enlarged in 1895
Sources: slh,csv,mmgl
A.T. KELLY
Other names : none
Official no. : C85705
Type at loss : propeller steam tug, wood "river tug"
Build info : 1884, W. McDonnell, Wallaceburg (builder also given as John Lee)
Specs : 56x14x7, 39gc 26nc
Date of loss : 1885, Nov 14
Place of loss : at dock at Harsen's Isl.
Lake : St Clair R
Type of loss : fire
Loss of life : none
Carrying : none
Detail : Burned to a total loss. Drifted 3/4 mile downstream and burned out on the Canadian shore. The hull was later recovered and totally rebuilt to T. KEDDLE* [see JOHN LEE, Sr.]
*One of the most-apt names I can think of for a small steam tug.
Registered out of Wallaceburg
Sources: mmgl,h,nsp,win,hgl,st
First Registration
Name: [ A.T. KELLY ] Location: [WALLACEBURG, ONTARIO, CANADA ] Registriation: [ 4/1884 ] Date Registered: [ 1884/05/14 ] Official Number: [ 85705 ]
Original Building Information
Built By: [ WILLIAM JOHN MCDONNELL WALLACEBURG ONTARIO ] Built At: [ WALLACEBURG, ONTARIO, CANADA ] Date Built: [ 1884 ] Date Launched: [ 1884/04/07 ] Length: [ 56.00 ] Beam: [ 14.40 ] Depth: [ 6.60 ] Gross: [ 38.71 ] Net: [ 26.32 ]
Vessel Description
Deck: [ ONE ] Type: [ CARVEL ] Stern: [ROUND ] Gallery: [NONE ] Stem: [ PLAIN ] Frame: [ WOOD ] Propulsion: [ STEAM SCREW ] Number of Masts: [ NONE ] Type of Rig: [ NONE ]
First Engine
Type of Engine: [ VERTICLE HIGH PRESSURE ] Number of Engines: [ONE ] Date Built: [ 1868 ] Built by: [DAVID BELL BUFFALO, NEW YORK ]
Closing Information
Date of Reason Closed: [1885/11/14 ] Reason Closed: [BURNED ]
Source of Data
N.A.C., MG-40 D3 B.T., B-3718, 1884, VOL. 3 - WALLACEBURG
Original Vessel Data
Name: [ A.T. Kelly ] Mills Number: [ 000160 ] Propulsion: [ s ] Official Number: [85705 ] Dimensions: [ 56x 14 - 39 tons ] Built in: [ Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada, 1883 ]
Other Vessel Names
[ T. Keddle , 1887 ] [ John Lee Sr. , 1888 ]
First Rebuild Information
Official Number: [ 100122 ] Propulsion: [ s ] Dimensions: [ 61x 21 - 52 tons ] Rebuilt in: [ Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada ] Rebuilt: [ 1888 ]
Second Rebuild Information
Official Number: [ 100122 ] Propulsion: [ s ] Dimensions: [ 86 x21 - 88 tons ] Rebuilt in: [ Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada ] Rebuilt: [ 1895 ]
Closing Information
Date Closed: [1913/08 ] Reason Closed: [ Burnt ] Where Closed: [ Pt. McNicoll, Ontario, Canada ]