SHIPYARDS, SHIPS, BRIGS, SCHOONERS, AND STEAMBOATS On The Ohio and Muskingum Rivers Built in Marietta and Harmar, Washington County, Ohio --- Includes some information about several steamboat disasters.--- I'm sure there is more that what is stated here. Excerts taken from various sections of the book: History of Washington County, Ohio 1788-1881 By: H. Z Williams & Bros. Extracted by Debbie Noland Nitsche Diamonddeb@comcast.net December 2005 SHIPYARDS: Charles Greene & Company established their shipyard at the foot of Monroe Street. Benjamin Ives Gilman's shipyard was located at Harmar where the lock works are now located. [1881] Edward W. Tupper shipyard was at the foot of Putnam street on the Marietta side of the Muskingum. Colonel Abner Lord's shipyard was near where the Phoenix mills now stands. [1881]. Colonel Joseph Barker's shipyard was about 6 miles up the Muskingum at Wiseman's Bottom. Marietta Ship Company was organized in the summer of 1844, consisting of John Mills, William and S. Slocomb, Bosworth & Wells, William R. Wells, John O. Cram, and A. T. Nye, and subsequently Nye & Hayward. The last ship built in Washington county was one constructed at Little Hocking by a Captain Roberts, of California. She went out in 1866. The following is a list of the ships built at Marietta at an early period, together with names of owners and commanders, furnished Colonel Ichabod Nye by James Whitney, Charles Greene & Company's master builder: NAME: Brig ST. CLAIR YEAR: 1800 WEIGHT: 110 Tons BUILT BY: Stephen Devol OWNER: Charles Greene & Co. at the foot of Monroe Street COMMANDER: Commodore Abraham Whipple - A Revolutionary War mariner, whose had had been the one that fired the first gun at the British upon the ocean. NOTES: The first vessel built on the Ohio River, and named in honor of Authur St. Clair, governor of the Northwest Territory. Took a cargo of flour & pork, and in May 1800, cleared for Havana Cuba. Commodore Whipple was the only man upon the St. Clair on this trip who understood navigation and had he met with accident, incapacitation him for service, the ship would have been at the mercy of the waves. The crew was made up mostly of landsmen. The first and second mates were good common sailors, but not competent to take an observation or ascertain latitude. The St. Clair sailed in safety to the Cubin captial where her cargo was disposed of at advantageous terms. The money received for the flour and pork being invested in a cargo of sugar, the brig sailed in August for Philadelphia. Commodore Whipple in the meantime having met his son John, an accomplished navigator, whom he engaged as mate. Nearly all the crew were taken sick with yellow fever before reaching Philadelphia and some of them before leaving the Cuban coast. Several died. The voyage was a remunerative one for the owners and encouraged the enterprising men of Marietta so that they continued building ships and sending them down the river to the sea. The St. Clair, which was the first rigged vessel built upon the Ohio, was sold in Philadelphia and her commander returned to Marietta by land. NAME: Ship MUSKINGUM YEAR: 1801 WEIGHT: 200 Tons BUILT BY: Jonathan Devol OWNER: B. I. Gilman COMMANDER: Captain Crandon NOTES: In another section of Williams history, it states that in 1801, Captain [J.] Devol built a sloop of 400 Tons for B. J. Gilman, a merchant of Marietta. The vessel was wholly constructed of black walnut, and was named after the river by whose side it was built. (I believe this to be the SAME boat.) NAME: Brig ELIZA GREENE YEAR: 1801 WEIGHT: 130 Tons BUILT BY: Jonathan Devol OWNER: Charles Greene COMMANDER: Captain Hodgkiss NAME: Brig MARIETTA YEAR: 1802 WEIGHT: 150 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: Abner Lord COMMANDER: Captain O. Williams NAME: Brig DOMINIC YEAR: 1802 WEIGHT: 140 Tons BUILT BY: S. Crispin (Another section of Williams history states built by Col. Joseph Barker) OWNER: Dudley Woodbridge, Jr. and Harman Blennerhasset COMMANDER: Captain Lattimore NOTES: Named after Harman Blennerhasset's oldest son. NAME: Schooner INDIANA YEAR: 1802 or 1803 (Williams History gives both years, in seperate parts of the book) WEIGHT: 80 Tons BUILT BY: Colonel Joseph Barker, at Wiseman's Bottom OWNER: Edward W. Tupper COMMANDER: Captain Merrill NOTES: Shipyard was on Colonel Barker's farm, on the east bank of the Muskingum River. This vessel, together with the "Louisa", built in 1803. NAME: Brig MARY AVERY YEAR: 1802 WEIGHT: 150 Tons BUILT BY: D. Skilinger OWNER: G. Avery COMMANDER: Captain Prentiss NAME: Ship TEMPERENCE YEAR: 1804 WEIGHT: 230 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: A. Lord COMMANDER: Captain Williams NAME: Brig ORLANDO YEAR: 1803 WEIGHT: 160 Tons BUILT BY: Joseph. Barker, at Wiseman's Bottom. OWNER: E. W. Tupper COMMANDER: Captain Miner NAME: Schooner WHITNEY YEAR: (not stated) WEIGHT: (not stated) BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: A. Lord COMMANDER: (not stated) NAME: Schooner McGRATH YEAR: 1803 WEIGHT: 70 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: A. Lord COMMANDER: Captains Williams and Wilson NAME: Brig OHIO YEAR: 1804 WEIGHT: 170 Tons BUILT BY: Captain Jonathan Devol, at Wiseman's Bottom. OWNER: McFarland & Co. COMMANDER: Captain Rose NAME: Schooner NONPAREIL YEAR: 1804 BUILT BY: Captain Jonathan Devol, at Wiseman's Bottom. NOTES: History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, 1894 (Pg. 28) Very early in the century the construction of sailing vessels, for river and ocean navigation, began on the upper Ohio. Among the sailing vessels built at Marietta between the years of 1801 and 1805, was a beautiful little 70-ton schooner called the "Nonpareil," constructed by Capt. Jonathan Devoll, one of the earliest shipwrights on the Ohio, for himself and sons, and Richard Greene. In the spring of 1805 she was finished and loaded for a voyage down the Ohio and Mississsippi, and Gen. Mansfield took passage on her with his family. The little craft left Marietta April 21st. The distance to Cincinnati, 160 miles, she made after a voyage of seventeen days,, being kept back by adverse winds and a low stage of water. Cincinnati then had a popualtion of 950. Capt. Devoll also made the boats which brought the first settlers to Marietta for the Ohio Company. NAME: Brig PERSEVERANCE YEAR: 1803 WEIGHT: 170 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: V. Il Gilman COMMANDER: Captain Wilson NAME: Ship RUFUS KING YEAR: 1806 WEIGHT: 300 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: Clark and B. I. Gilman COMMANDER: Captain Clark NAME: Two Gun Boats YEAR: 1806 WEIGHT: (not stated) BUILT BY: T. Vail OWNER: E. W. Tupper NAME: Ship TUSCARAWAS YEAR: 1806 WEIGHT: 320 Tons BUILT BY: W. McGrath & Marshall S. Jones OWNER: A. Lord COMMANDER: (not stated) NAME: Ship I. ATKINSON YEAR: 1806 WEIGHT: 320 Tons BUILT BY: W. McGrath OWNER: Abner Lord COMMANDER: (not stated) NAME: Sixteen large Bateaux's YEAR: 1806 BUILT BY: Captain Jonathan Devol OWNER: Jonathan Devol was employed by Harman Blennerhasset to construct these boats for the use of the expedition of Aaron Burr to Mexico. NAME: Brig HOPE YEAR: 1806 WEIGHT: 120 Tons BUILT BY: A. Miller OWNER: Charles Greene COMMANDER: (not stated) NAME: Ship FRANCIS YEAR: 1807 WEIGHT: 350 Tons, Copper fastened BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: B. Il Gilman COMMANDER: Captain Wilson NAME: Ship ROBERT HALE YEAR: 1807 WEIGHT: 300 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: B. I. Gilman COMMANDER: Captain Holden NAME: Brig GOLET YEAR: 1807 WEIGHT: 120 Tons BUILT BY: W. McGrath OWNER: A. Lord COMMANDER: Captain Bennet NAME: Brig RUFUS PUTNAM YEAR: 1807 WEIGHT: 120 Tons BUILT BY: W. McGrath, Colonel Abner Lord OWNER: (not stated) COMMANDER: Captain ____ NAME: Schooner BELLE YEAR: 1808 WEIGHT: 103 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: Gilman & Woodbridge COMMANDER: Captain Boyle NAME: Schooner MARIA YEAR: 1814 WEIGHT: 70 Tons BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: B. I. Gilman COMMANDER: (not stated) It should be noticed that all but one of the above mentioned boats were built prior to the passage of the embargo act in 1808. This was a severe blow to Marietta. Shipbuilding had become an important industry and employed a large number of men. NAME: Ship MUSKINGUM YEAR: 1844 WEIGHT: 350 Tons BUILT BY: The Marietta Ship Company Captain Era Ellis of Portland, Maine and Capt. R. Wells OWNER: (not stated) COMMANDER: Captain William R. Wells NOTES: This ship was launched in January 1845. She was rigged at Marietta, with the exception of her sails which were made in Boston and sent to New Orleans. On March 1, 1845 left Marietta being towed to Cincinnati, where she took a load of pork, lard, and oil-cake. From Cincinnati she was towed to New Orleans, and securing her sails, departed for Liverpool. At the latter place she took a return cargo and sailing for Boston, reached that port in safety and was sold. History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio, 1894 (Pg. 284) In 1844 a bark was built at Marietta of 350 tons burden, and named the "Muskingum," which loaded at Cincinnati for Liverpool. She reached her destination safely in January, 1845, and the Liverpool Times noted her arrival in flattering terms, and said that by her it received a file of Cincinnati papers. She was the first vessel that ever cleared here for Europe. The voyage was regarded as a very remarkable one. NAME: Brig WALDHONING YEAR: 1847 WEIGHT: abt. 240 Tons BUILT BY: The Marietta Ship Company OWNER: (Not stated) COMMANDER: Captain Jacob Cram (supercargo)& Captain Conway, of Portland Maine (navigator) NOTES: 1847 left Marietta with a load of pork to Madison, Indiana, she went down the Mississippi and to New York. Returning to New Orleans for an other cargo she got back to New York so late that she was quarantined and compelled to remain outside so long that her cargo was considerably damaged. She was sold at New York. NAME: Schooner AMERICA YEAR: (not stated, probably abt. 1844) WEIGHT: Abt. 130 Tons BUILT BY: The Marietta Ship Company OWNER: Mr. Kimball, of Salem Massachusetts NAME: Schooner GRACE DARLING YEAR: (not stated, probably abt. 1844) WEIGHT: Abt. 130 Tons BUILT BY: The Marietta Ship Company OWNER: Mr. Kimball, of Salem Massachusetts NAME: Schooner AMERICA YEAR: (not stated, probably abt. 1844) WEIGHT: Abt. 130 Tons BUILT BY: The Marietta Ship Company OWNER: Mr. Cochrane of New Orleans NAME: Barque JOHN FARNUM YEAR: 1846 WEIGHT: 249 Tons BUILT BY: Captain William Knox, of Harmar (master shipbuilder); A. B. and I. R. Waters OWNER: (Not stated) COMMANDER: Captain A. B. Waters (charge of vessel & cargo) & Captain George Hatch (navigator, a later mayor of Cincinnati.) NOTES: Launched in February, 1847 and towed to Portsmouth. She there took on a cargo of corn, went down the river and in May, 1847, during the great famine in Ireland, arrived at Cork. From there she returned to Philadelphia and was sold to the firm of Potter, McKeever & co., of that city. OHIO RIVER NAVIGATION In 1811 the Orleans, the first steamboat to descend the Ohio, passed Marietta. She was succeeded by the Comet, the Vesuvius, the Enterprise, the Aetna, the Dispatch, the Buffalo, the James Monroe, and in 1816 by the Washington. The Washington was the first boat whose success demonstrated the navigation of the western rivers to be practicable. This boat exploded her boilers near Harmar June 7, 1816. All the men on board except two or three were scalded, and six of them died. One man was blown overboard and drowned. Although several ladied were on board, they escaped without injury. The Washington was afterwards repaired and used in clearing out the Red river raft, and also was run on the river below Louisville. She was worn out in 1822. She was 212 Tons burthen. The whole system of river navigation has undergone a vast and radical change since 1827. At that date towing was unknown. Everything was carried on the boat. Once in a while a boat would tow a disabled boat inot port, but such things as barges were unheard of. The towing business began in the decade 1830-40. A few coal barges were first towed. Now the largest boats that pass Marietta take 300 bushels of coal in one tow. The average boat takes from 140,000 to 160,000 bushels. This coal is towed from the Monongahela to Louisville for less than two cents a bushel. An ordinary boat, from 1827-1831, was about 100 feet long, 18 feet beam, and about 6 feet hold, very strongly built. When light such a boat would draw from 3 ˝ - 4 feet, when loaded about 6 feet. She would carry from 40-80 tons. Such a boat would have two boilers about 20 feet long and 3 feet in diameter. An ordinary boat of the present date [abt. 1881] is from 200-235 feet long, about 36 feet beam, 6 feet hold, draws only 20 inches light and about 6 feet loaded, carries from 600-800 tons, and only has about twice the amount of boiler. The speed is very much greater than in the old days, with less steam in proportion to the size and load. The larger boats navigating the Ohio carry from 1400-1800 tons, and have less draft when light than the old boats had. This wonderful increase in carrying capacity is owning to the vast improvements in boat-building, the boats being now made lighter and flat-bottomed. The increase in speed is owning to the great improvements in the machinery, better construction of furnaces, larger wheels, and a better proportioned power, and also to the burning of coal instead of wood. The improvement in the management of boats is also very great. The old habits of reckless intemperance among officers have, in a large measure, died out. Officers are carefully selected. The explosion of the Washington in 1816 has already been spoken of. There were quite a number of similar accidents during the early years of river navigation\far more than present. The steamboat Kanawa exploded at Guyandotte June 24, 1829. This was one of the most serious casualties on the river. 4 persons were instantly killed; 4 more died very shortly after, from injuries sustained, and quite a number of others were seriously hurt. Captain Hiram Burch of Marietta one of the pilots, but not at the time on duty, was thrown a considerable distance into the water and badly bruised. Captain Burch in his long experience upon the river met with several other accidents, but by a strange providence escaped death. The steamboat Tri-color, Captain N. Drown, of Harmar, exploded at Wheeling, April 19, 1831. Captain Drown was killed and also Henry Cherry, Joseph Wortsell, and O. B. Nowland, of Marietta. Eight persons were killed and the same number severly injured. Washington county was, as we have seen indentified at an early date in navigation and has always been largely interested in it. The boat yards of Harmar and Marietta have furnished a very large number of the boats engaged in the river navagation, as well as some ocean ships. Many agree country boy has stated from Marietta for his first sea voyage. In the decade from 1820-1830 boat building began and has always been carried on quite extensively. Harmar has been the chief point for boat building in the county. Many boats have been built at Marietta, and a few small ones at other points. As completed a list as can be gotten of the boats built in Marietta and Harmar is here given. STEAMBOATS NAME: Mechanic YEAR: 1823 BUILT BY: Mr. Mitchell, near Marietta OWNER: Captain Hall and others NAME: Rufus Putnam YEAR: 1823 WEIGHT: 60 Tons BUILT: near Marietta OWNER: Captains John Green and Dodge NOTES: This steamer was built for the Ohio river trade, and the first that ascended the Muskingum River. She was what we would now term a small side-wheel boat. At that time it was seldom that the Muskingum river was in such a condition as to admit of the ascent of a steamboat. In January, 1824, in passing up the Ohio, Captain Green found the Muskingum high enough by reason of a freshet to admit of his going up with his boat. He gave notice to the citizens of Marietta of his intention to make the trip, and in a short time his boat was crowed with passengers quite beyond her accommodation. She left Marietta on a Friday of the month of January 1824. The current of the river was very strong and the progress of the boat very slow. She arrived at Waterford in the evening, between eight and nine o'clock, where several joined the Marietta party. At Luke's Chute the current was so strong that she was obliged to lay by for a considerable portion of the night, but she finally got through. As no fuel had been provided, the captain had to depend on purchasing fuel on the route. The boat passed McConnelsville about the middle of the day on Saturday, and reached Zanesville about ten o'clock Saturday night. The banks of the river were lined with people,who having seen the lights of a steamboat at a distance, and not aware of any cause for the singular appearance, had assembled in uncertainty as to what to expect. The company on the boat were hospitably received, and many weer entertained at private houses in Zanesville and Putnam. On Monday the boat made two excursion trips to Duncan's Falls and back, to gratify the desire of the people of Zanesville and Putnam to see her. Monday evening an entertainment was given the passengers and others by Judge Buckingham of Putnam. Tuesday the boat started on her return trip. The current of the river was so strong that she descended to Marietta in about eight hours. (The account of this trip of the Rufus Putnam up the Muskingum is taken from a statement given by A. T. Nye, esq., of Marietta, who was one of the passengers.) The Rufus Putnam was sold by Captain Green into the lower Ohio trade, and was snagged near Port Chiert in 1826. NAME: Red River YEAR: 1823 BUILT BY: James Whitney OWNER: Captain Runbell NAME: Marietta YEAR: 1823 BUILT BY: James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Whitney & Stone NAME: Muskingum YEAR: 1825 BUILT BY: ____ Hatch, at Marietta OWNER: J. Rice and others NAME: Cherokee YEAR: 1826 BUILT BY: James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Contractors at Muscle Shoals, Tennessee NAME: Oregon YEAR: 1826 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney OWNER: Captain James Whitney and others NAME: Herald YEAR: 1826-27 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Reating and Clark NAME: Isabella YEAR: 1826-27 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney OWNER: Captains Fearing, Green and others NAME: Atlantic YEAR: 1831 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Louisville contractors NAME: Chesapeake YEAR: 1831 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Reating and Clark NAME: Java YEAR: 1832 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Fearing and others NAME: Dispatch YEAR: 1833 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Knox and McKee NAME: Philadelphia YEAR: 1833 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Knox and McKee NAME: Josephine YEAR: 1833 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Dobbin NAME: Tuscumbia YEAR: 1834 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Dobbin NAME: Hudson YEAR: 1835 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Dobbin Prior to 1836 steamers could only go up the river in high water, and had to run the risk of getting fast in the mud somewhere by a sudden fall in the river. Thus steam navigation was very uncertain. But in 1836,the State, at an emmense expense, built dams and introduced the slack water system of navigation. Since that time the navigation of the river has been certain and regular. NAME: Baltimore YEAR: 1836 BUILT BY: Captain William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Wrightman NAME: John Mills YEAR: 1836 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Bosworth NAME: Stephen Girard YEAR: 1834 BUILT BY: Hook and Knox OWNER: James Phillips NAME: Baltic YEAR: 1836-37 (no other information) NAME: John Hancock YEAR: 1837 BUILT BY: Captain James Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: For parties not now remembered NAME: Eclipse YEAR: 1837 BUILT BY: James W. Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Knowles NAME: Orion YEAR: 1837 BUILT BY: J. W. Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: (not stated) NAME: Isabella YEAR: 1837 BUILT BY: J. W. Whitney, at Harmar OWNER: (not stated) NAME: Ann Calhoun YEAR: 1838 BUILT BY: Hook & Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Columbus George NAME: Victoria YEAR: 1838 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: G. Hook, of Mobile Alabama NAME: Southerner YEAR: 1839 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Charles Barney, of Mobile, Alabama NAME: Zanesville YEAR: 1839 BUILT BY: Whitney & Sharp, at Harmar OWNER: Mr. Hutchinson and others of Zanesville NAME: Ganesville YEAR: 1839 BUILT BY: Whitney & Sharp, at Harmar OWNER: George Parker and others of Ganesville NAME: Elizabeth YEAR: 1842 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Miller NAME: Winfield Scott YEAR: 1847 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Marietta OWNER: Captain A. DeVinney NAME: Vallabusha YEAR: 1847 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Marietta OWNER: ??? NAME: Empress YEAR: 1848 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Cox NAME: J. E. Thompson YEAR: 1849 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Engineers on the Muskingum NAME: Little Thunder YEAR: 1849 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Engineers on the Muskingum NAME: Tiber YEAR: 1850 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Washington Kerr NAME: Buckeye Belle YEAR: 1850 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain H. Stull NOTES: READ MORE ABOUT THE BUCKEYE BELLE AT THE END OF THIS DATABASE NAME: William Knox YEAR: 1850 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Mr. Chapin and others NAME: Ferry Steamer for McConnelsville YEAR: 1850 BUILT BY: William Knox OWNER: NAME: Red River YEAR: 1851 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain O. Franks NAME: Carrier YEAR: 1851 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: H. N. Booth NAME: Edward Manning YEAR: 1851 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain E. A. Davis NAME: Ohio No. 2 YEAR: 1855 BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Blagg NAME: Creole YEAR: (not stated) BUILT BY: William Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Hill NAME: Skipper (rebuilt) YEAR: 1857 BUILT BY: Knox OWNER: Captain J. Cram and others NAME: Columbia (Tow Boat) YEAR: 1857 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: (not stated) NAME: Joseph Holden YEAR: 1858 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain O. Franks NAME: Ohio No. 3 YEAR: 1859 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Blagg and others NAME: Fanny McBurney YEAR: 1860 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Drown and others NAME: Ohio Valley YEAR: 1862 (no other information) NAME: Wharf-boat (no name stated) YEAR: 1865 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Hall and Best NAME: Rose Franks (and barge) YEAR: 1866 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Brinker NAME: Satawanee YEAR: 1877 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Brinker NAME: Ohio No. 4 YEAR: 1868 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Blagg and others NAME: Red Cloud YEAR: 1868 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Brinker NAME: W. P. Thompson YEAR: 1868 BUILT BY: Knox, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Chancellor and others NAME: Boone YEAR: 1877 BUILT BY: William Knox & Sons, at Harmar OWNER: Captain McClurg and others NAME: Ocella YEAR: 1877 BUILT BY: William Knox & Sons, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Berry NAME: Corner YEAR: 1877 BUILT BY: William Knox & Sons, at Harmar OWNER: Wheeling & Parkersburgh company NAME: W. F. Curtis (rebuilt) YEAR: 1877 BUILT BY: William Knox & Sons, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Brown NAME: Emma Graham YEAR: 1877 BUILT BY: William Knox & Sons, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Williamson NOTES: On July 4, 1882 this boat was loading at Midland, PA. When hearing about the Scioto Steamer had collided with the John Lomas towboat, it hurried down the river to aide the stricken steamers. (see the steamer "Scotio") NAME: Kitty Nye YEAR: 1877-80 BUILT BY: William Knox & Sons, at Harmar OWNER: Captain Berry NAME: Lizzie Cassell YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated) OWNER: Captain Davis NAME: Mink YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated) OWNER: Captain Davis NAME: General H. F. Devol YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated) OWNER: Captain Martin NAME: Dirunal YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated) OWNER: Captain McClure NAME: J. H. McConnell YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated): OWNER: Captain S. Davis NAME: Scotio YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated) OWNER: Captain Stockdale NOTES: This is probably the same steamer that collided with the tow boat "John Lomas" as they were passing each other on the upper Ohio River on July 4, 1882 at Mingo Junction below Steubenville. 57 Lives were lost. The Scioto was making the round trip from East Liverpool to Moundsville, with stops at Wellsville and Stuebenville, carried abt. 500 passengers, but was only licensed for a quota of 60. Most of the passengers were in the holiday mood augmented by alcohol, were getting out of hand. After the collision, the Scioto sank in a shallow location of the river. Warrants weer issued for the arrest of the pilots of both boats. Captain Thaddeus Thomas, of Clarington lost a son and this with the shock of the accident has made him insane. (These facts were taken from the Sunday, July 9, 1967 edition of the Parkersburg News) For more information about this Steamboat collision, and if interested in obtaining the entire newspaper article, please email me. NAME: La Belle YEAR: Between 1875-1881 (Yr. not stated. Williams History states "within the last 4 yrs.") BUILT BY: (Not stated) OWNER: Captain Morris The “BUCKEYE BELLE” Disaster November 12, 1852. One of the worst steamboat disasters that ever occurred on the Muskingum River was that of the Buckeye Belle Steamboat explosion on November 12, 1852. Shortly after 5:00 p. m. on that day, the Buckeye Belle steamboat, was making a regular run from Marietta to Zanesville, and while it entered the Beverly, Ohio canal in the slack water navigation works, a tragic explosion took place that killed 24 people instantly and 6 others died later from injuries caused by the explosion. As the boat entered the canal and was steaming along with everything going well, all of a sudden, her boilers let go with a terrific boom, and the entire superstructure from stem to stearn was blown to pieces and thrown high in the air. The hull of the boat sank to the bottom of the canal all at once. There were 45 people on board. Only 10 people escaped injury. 20 people died instantly and the unrecognizable bodies of 13 people were buried in the nearby Beverly Cemetery. One large box buried there, contained fragments of human bodies picked up on the canal banks in the vicinity. The Buckeye Belle Steamboat was a sidewheel steamer, the largest boat to travel up and down the Muskingum River, and was owned by Captains Harry STULL of Zanesville and James T. HAHN, of McConnesville. On that day, the officers on the boat were: 1. Capt. James T. HAHN - Commander 2. Cal STULL - Pilot 3. ??? - First Engineer 4. Joseph DANIELS - Second Engineer 5. Milt WHISSEN - Chief Clerk (First Clerk) 6. William STULL, 2nd clerk 7. William BARRELL - Fireman 8. Charles CUTLER- Steward This steamer boat also made annual trips from Zanesville to Keokuck, Iowa, for the transportation of immigrants from the Muskingum Valley who was settling in the Demonies Valley in Iowa. These immigrants also took with them their belongings and domestic animals. While doing my research on this disaster, I was only able to compile only 4 accounts of people, out the of 10 who escaped injury is that of A. LAYMAN; Joseph DANIELS, 2nd Engineer, Miss Charlotte STONE, and Plus PADJITT. Four others who survived the tragedy was the Hon. Mr. BARTLETT, a member of the House, from Washington County, Ohio; the Hon. Mr. OAKLEY, member of the House from Monroe County, Ohio; the wife of A. LAYMAN and Calvin R. STULL, the son of Captain Harry STULL. A. LAYMAN, was at the time of the explosion, the Editor of the Marietta Republican Newspaper. He and his wife were setting in the ladies cabin, talking to other passengers when the explosion happened. He said, “The whole history of steam explosions presents no parallel to this. Joseph DANIELS, of Harmar was the 2nd Engineer of the boat. He was severely scalded from the blast. A Corner’s jury found that he was to blame for the explosion. The jury reported, “From the evidence before us, there can be no doubt but the explosion was brought about by the improper conduct of the 2d Engineer, who was employed from the 1st Engineer, and who held down the main valve to keep the boiler from blowing off.” Miss Charlotte STONE was from McCONNELSVILLE. At the time of the explosion, she was setting in the ladies cabin, with Layman and wife, Charlotte STONE, Senator COVEY, and Plus PADGITT. Charlotte kept the ladies from jumping overboard and drowning, and put out the fire, caused by the stove in the ladies cabin. She recalled seeing 16 bodies buried in one grave. Plus PADGITT was a 16 year old passanger, and resident of Beverly. He wrote this account of the tradgey, shortly after it happened: “I recall that when the gang-plan, was pulled up, I went inside the boat and sat near the center of the large main hall, close to the big iron stove and was engaged in conversation with about 25-30 other passengers when the explosion happened. I heard no sound, felt no shock, experienced no pain. When conciseness returned, I found myself away forward on the bow of the boat so near the edge I could reach the water.” He thought he had died. He later discovered he had been blown a distance of about 75 feet and was scalded from head to foot. “The entire boat, in a manner, was totally demolished excepting perhaps about 15 feet of the rear part of the ladies’ cabin. The studding under this being swept away, it fell upon the lower deck in such a way that it was in imminent danger of capsizing.” PADGITT also stated that a score of more people were either blinded, crippled or maimed for life, and that a great many ladies were in the cabin of the boat. Not one was hurt, but went wild with fear, except for the one person, Miss STONE of McConnelsville. She kept her head, when the hysterical women would plunge into the icy cold waters of the canal, she personally blocked the door, keeping them in the cabin until help arrived. In the panic and frenzy someone knocked over the stove, setting the cabin on fire, but Miss STONE smothered the fire with blankets. The Coroner’s jury also reported this about the explosion: “In regard to the extent of the explosion, we think history can scarcely produce an equal. It would be difficult to conceive of a more perfect wreck. All her upper works above the main deck, forward of her wheel house, were literally torn to splinters. The balance of her upper deck was either carried back into her engine room or thrown overboard. All of her beams were broken from stem to stern. The hull of the boat had the appearance of having been burst or spread open, and the plank having sprung off, she sank immediately. Water in the canal was immediately shut off by means of head gate, and let out at the lower lock. Fragments of the boat were thrown to a great distance. Portions of the burning embers were hurled as far as 300 yards at an elevation of probably 300 feet, and contained sufficient heat to set fire to leaves in the woods. Fragments of human bodies were thrown in almost every direction. Some five or six persons who are known to have been on the boat at the time of the explosion have not yet been found. Notwithstanding the many erroneous reports that have been put into circulation touching this great calamity, we feel safe in saying that great praise is due to the citizens of Beverly and vicinity for the deep interest taken in providing for the wants and necessities of the suffers.” In November of 1871, a local newspaper wrote a short paragraph about the “SAFE” from the blown-up “Buckeye Belle” was opened after laying 19 years in the Muskingum River. It disclosed nothing of value. There was talk that there was gold and silver in it. There is a monument to honor the dead to the tragedy. It is located near the back fence of the Beverly Cemetery. The stone was donated by Edward M. Ayers, grandson of Captain Harry STALL who was the owner of the Buckeye Belle. The bronze plaque on the stone reads this: “Here lie buried thirteen unknown persons killed by the bursting of the boilers of the Steamer Buckeye Belle on November 1, 1852 near the guard gates of the Beverly Canal. twenty persons wee killed and forty injured in this, the only major tragedy in the history of navigation on the Muskingum River. This monument is erected to the memory of these unknown dead and also to Capt. Harry STULL, the owner of the Steamer, by his grandson, Edward Matthew AYERS.” Names of the dead in the Buckeye Belle Explosion - November 12, 1852 1. George C. MILLER, from Cincinnati. 2. Levi WHEELER, from Portsmouth 3. James KENNEDY. His residence in unknown 4. William C. ENTLER, from Hampshire Co., Virginia 5. John V. SEELERS, from Hampshire Co., Virginia 6. Franklin HANERIC, from Duncan Falls, Muskingum Co., Ohio 7. Henry MITCHELL, from McConnellville, Morgan Co., Ohio 8. Benjamin JOHNSON, from Morgan Co., Ohio 9. John BARBER, from Pittsburgh, Pa. 10. Charles CUTLER, A colored man. Steward. From Marietta. 11. William STULL, 2nd clerk. From Zanesville 12. E. F. ATHERTON, barber, from Beverly. (His body was not found) 13. Ezra BUZZARD, from Frederick County, Maryland. 14. William DENNIS, from Indiana. 15. Alexander SHURMAR, from Noble Co. Ohio. 16. John N. WEST, from Coal Run, Washington Co., Ohio 17. The bodies of 5 men. Their names are unknown. The men who died within a few days of the accident were: 22. J. A. EVANS, from Hampshire Co. Virginia. 23. Milton E. WHISSEN, 1st Clerk, from McConnellseville 24. Senator Cassius C. COVEY, from Marietta. - He was enroute to Columbus to take his seat in the U. S. Senate of the 14th District. He was setting in the ladies cabin with A. LAYMAN and wife, Charlotte STONE and Plus PADGITT. He suffered a fractured leg and other injuries when the stove collapsed and pinned him on the floor. (Read more about Mr. COVEY in the newspaper article below). Capt. Harry STULL was the husband of Susanna COBURN, daughter of Nicholas COBURN and Rosamond OLNEY. They were married on April 27, 1827 in Muskingum, County, Ohio. They were the parents of two children, Lousianna Coburn STULL and Calvin Roe STULL. Calvin was the pilot of the steamboat, and in 1860, he was living in Beverly, Washington Co., Ohio continuing to be a steamboat pilot. Miss Charlotte STONE was born in McConnellsville, Morgan Co., Ohio on August 10, 1823. She was the granddaughter of Col. Jonathan STONE and grand niece of Rufus PUTNAM. About the year of 1893 she left Morgan County, Ohio and removed to Iowa City, Iowa. In 1923, she celebrated her 100th birthday, where an Iowa City newspaper did an article about her 100th birthday, and her memories as a child. One of those memories were of the Buckeye Belle Disaster. Ohio Repository - Canton, Ohio November 1852 THE MUSKINGUM DISASTER The Hon. C. C. COVEY, member of the Senate from Marietta, who had his leg broken and was otherwise injured by the explosion of the Buckeye Belle, is dead. His loss will be severely felt in Southern Ohio. His talents were of a high order, and he was universally esteemed. He died on the 17th. We learn by the Zanesville Courier of the 18th, that the Hon. Mr. BARTLETT, member of the House, from Washington county, was dangerously injured by the explosion, much more so than first reported, and his recovery is considered doubtful. The Hon. Mr. OAKLEY, member of the House from Monroe county, was likewise dangerously injured, and will not probably be able to take his seat during the present session. Twenty-two persons were killed, or have since died, from injuries received from the explosion, and several are known to be missing. Several bodies were seen to fall into the river which have not been recovered. The engineer on duty, although dangerously wounded, is not dead as reported. He insists that there was a full supply of water on. Experienced engineers, who have examined the fragments of the boilers and flues, find in dications of nearly or quite absence of water, and the most extraordinary and unusual pressure. An investigation of the causes of the terrible caisstrophe by the proper authorities, is progressing. The above Buckeye Belle Disaster story was written by Debbie Noland Nitsche Diamonddeb@comcast.net August 2004 References and key facts about the Buckeye Belle Diaster taken from: Beverly Dispatch, Marietta Register, The Weekly Herald, (McConnellesville, Ohio), The Parkersbug News, Iowa City, Iowa Newspaper, Marietta Times, The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio), Ohio Repository (Canton, Ohio) NOTE: THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER STEAMBOATS THAT MET DISTASTERS ON THE OHIO AND MUSKINGUM RIVERS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO INCLUDE THEM IN THIS DATABASE, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT BUILT HERE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING STEAMBOAT WRECKS, PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH YOUR REQUESTS: 1. More information about the 1882 Steamer Scioto and towboat John Lomas Collision. 57 Lives lost. (see some of the information above) 2. Beverly Dam accident that claimed the life of Beverly resident, John Stevens and 6 Turks, when a Scow Sank in 1914. 3. The William Duffy, June 25, 1889, in Marietta. 3 Lives lost. John Gerken, age 48; L. A. Bevan, age 37; and Malcolm Nye, age 23. 4. The H. K. Bedford, Feb. 27, 1912. Owned by Gordon Green. 5. The Moselle, April 25, 1838, at Cincinnati. 150 Lives Lost. 6. Winchester, Feb. 1866, near Wellsville, Ohio. 15-20 lives lost including Mr. and Mrs. James Algeo and Mrs. Anthony M. Sheets of Matamoras and Ebenezer Martin of Sistersville. 7. Steam towboat, Advance, January 28, 1862. Greatest boat disaster in Matamoras history. Of 14 crew members, two were never found. The mate, pilot, fireman and one deckhand were mortally scalded. Three others were very badly scalded, and four slightly burned. 8. The Strecker, March 9, 1886, Beverly. Capt. Stowe, his family and employees escaped. 9. Sonoma, May 1913, sank on the Kentucky river. 4 lives lost including Mrs. Olive Kidwell, sister of Capt. W. W. Webster, the boat commander from Beverly. Read more about this by copying and pasting the link below into your browser: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/n/i/t/Debra-Nitsche/FILE/0172text.txt