The John B. King explosion was a Canadian maritime disaster on June 26, 1930, when a drill boat containing dynamite was struck by lightning near Brockville, Ontario. Thirty people were killed.[1]
The scow was off the point of Cockburn Island working on blasting a St Lawrence Seaway channel through Brockville narrows, and had drilled several holes of dynamite. At 4:30 pm, while it was drilling another, a bolt of lightning struck the boat, travelling down the drill, and igniting the dynamite on the river floor.[2]
The explosion was witnessed by United States Coast Guard Cutter 211, which then rescued 12 members of the crew of 42.
A memorial plaque was erected on the north-west corner of Cockburn Island by the Department of Public Works Canada in 1930.
The wreck is now located west of Cockburn Island at a depth of 80 feet.[3] It is a popular dive site, and some divers have lost their lives while diving the wreck.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "John B. King, exploded, 26 May 1930".
- ^ "Brockville, ON Ship J. B. King Explodes, June 1930". Archived from the original on January 29, 2011.
- ^ "Scuba+H2O, Brockville". Archived from the original on 2014-08-12. Retrieved 2014-08-11.
- ^ "Film Pays Tribute to the Wreck of the J.B. King".
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