John B. King (Launched 1917)
Identification & Site Information
- Name(s): John B. King (also known as No. 36 or J.B. King)
- Year Built: 1917
- Builder: Mariners Harbour, New York
- Owner: John B. King & Co.
- Registration Number(s): Not officially registered as a ship; classified as a scow for public works
- Vessel Location: Brockville Narrows, St. Lawrence River, near Cockburn Island
- Coordinates: 44.56283°N, 75.71179°W
- Date Lost: 26 June 1930
- Memorial: Erected by Canada Department of Public Works on Cockburn Island, 1930
Vessel Type
Drill Scow – a floating Barge used for underwater drilling and blasting operations, primarily in dredging and marine construction.
Description
The John B. King was a 700-ton drill scow equipped with twelve pneumatic drills mounted vertically to penetrate bedrock on the riverbed. The scow was non-propelled, towed to site, and anchored while conducting drilling operations. Dynamite was loaded below Deck and deployed via drilled holes for controlled blasting. The Hull was steel-reinforced with a flat-bottom design to maintain stability during operations.
History
Commissioned during a major St. Lawrence River navigation project, the John B. King was integral to deepening and widening the Brockville Narrows section. The Public Works contract aimed to improve commercial shipping traffic, and this vessel played a vital role due to its specialized underwater drilling capabilities. It was operated by John B. King & Co., an American firm with Canadian government contracts.
On 26 June 1930, while preparing to blast drilled holes, a thunderstorm developed over the river. A lightning strike hit the scow, detonating the stored dynamite. The explosion was massive, reportedly felt miles away, and launched steel and debris over 60 metres (200 feet) into the air. The scow was obliterated, killing 30 of the 41–43 crew members. Only 11 survived; 13 bodies were recovered, and 17 remain missing. The tragedy shocked both Canadian and American maritime communities.
Final Dispositions
The wreck was never fully salvaged. Debris remains scattered along the riverbed near Cockburn Island. Portions were recovered in 1930 for investigation, but the site is largely undisturbed and considered a marine grave. The area is monitored for navigational hazards.
Located By & Date Found
The site was immediately known due to the explosion’s Visibility and emergency response. Official wreck coordinates were documented in 1930. The wreck has not been relocated or rediscovered via modern sonar, largely due to depth and explosive dispersal.
A granite rock monument was erected on Cockburn Island honouring the men who lost their life that day:
- Reuben Arnold,
- Brynjur Birkeland,
- Alexander Bonn,
- Charles Charland,
- Andro Chanderlich,
- John Donald,
- John Gruber,
- William Hartlin,
- Ivan Hoy,
- Louis Johnson,
- B.A. Killarney,
- Archie Kerr,
- George Kovach,
- Frank Kruzick,
- John Kruzick,
- Joseph Kruzick,
- Bronko Kucan,
- Gregory Kucan,
- Paul Lake,
- George McRae,
- John D. McDonald,
- John Marochnic,
- Christian Petersen,
- Sanko Polich,
- Marion Polich,
- Vinko Tomasevic,
- John Vidas,
- Oswald Watt and,
- John Wylie.
NOTMARs & Advisories
Navigational advisories for Brockville Narrows caution vessels and divers of submerged wreckage and debris. Area is not charted as a dive site and remains a sensitive location.
Notmar reference: Canadian Coast Guard Notices to Mariners, Chart 1416 (consult current edition for updates)
Resources & Links
Conclusion
The John B. King explosion is a somber chapter in Canadian marine construction history. It exemplifies the dangers faced by workers involved in hazardous public works projects and the vulnerabilities of early 20th-century engineering to natural forces. The incident remains one of the deadliest non-combat maritime disasters in Canadian history.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms
- Keywords: John B. King, Brockville Narrows, drill scow, St. Lawrence River, marine explosion, 1930 disaster
- Categories: Maritime construction, non-propelled vessels, public works accidents, Ontario shipwrecks
- Glossary Terms: Scow, pneumatic drill, dynamite Barge, marine construction, navigational hazard
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