The J. D. Pierce

The J. D. Pierce was built in Augusta, Maine and brought to Saint John in May 1852. She was 110 feet long, 19 feet in beam, and had a gross tonnage of 19. She was the first stern wheeler to travel the St. John River.

The steamer was of very shallow draft. It is said that "when loaded with 100 barrels and an ordinary number of passengers, she drew only 28 inches of water".

In October of 1852, while trying to ascend the Meductic Rapids, she got out of control and in the very swift current was thrown violently on the rocks and sank in the shallow water. One passenger was lost. She was re-floated on the next rise of water and taken to Saint John where the damage was repaired.

In May 1856, while landing passengers at a beach location (Moorehouse Landing) some thirty miles above Fredericton, her boiler exploded. The pilot was killed and two raftsmen were missing. A woman was rescued from the water by the steamer Richmond (on her way downriver), but she later died of injuries and shock. It was quoted that the "boiler shot like a dart through the ladies' cabin, and went out aft, and the boat immediately sank in about five feet of water". A special inquiry found the explosion resulted from insufficient water in the boiler and blame was placed on the engineer, who was charged with manslaughter. The J. D. Pierce was subsequently demolished.