Identification & Site Information

• Name: Hamilton Morton
• Former Names: Renamed W.K. (or R.) Muir after 1863
• Official Number: 26249
• Date Built and Launched: 1854
• Builder: George Collyer, Buffalo, New York
• Master Carpenter: Samuel L. Collyer
• Vessel Type: Tug (Towboat)
• Hull Material: Wood
• Hull Type: Square Stern
• Number of Decks: 1
• Measurements:
• Length: 91 ft 9 in (27.96 m)
• Beam: 19 ft (5.79 m)
• Depth: 9 ft (2.74 m)
• Tonnage: 144 55/95 tons (old measurement)
• Propulsion: Screw Propeller
• Engine: Built by Franklin Works, Albany, NY (1854)
• Boiler: Built by Starks & Pruyn, Albany, NY (1854)
• Number of Propellers: 1
• Original Owner: William J. Farrell, Buffalo, NY
• Date Lost/Final Disposition: Abandoned in 1869
• Registry Closed: March 14, 1871
• Efforts to Raise Hull: September 27, 1875

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Vessel Type:
Wooden-hulled screw Tug (Towboat), designed for towing larger vessels and assisting in harbour operations across the Great Lakes.

Description:
The Hamilton Morton was a relatively small, wooden screw Tug with a square Stern, built in Buffalo, New York in 1854. She measured 91 ft 9 in (27.96 m) in length, with a beam of 19 ft (5.79 m) and a depth of 9 ft (2.74 m). Powered by a single screw propeller, her engine and boiler were both constructed in Albany, New York. This Tugboat played a key role in aiding vessels in harbours and along major shipping routes, including her notable role in the rescue of the crew from the Alabama in 1854.

History:
The Hamilton Morton had a dynamic operational life. Initially owned by William J. Farrell of Buffalo, the Tug saw numerous ownership changes across Detroit, Cleveland, and Hamilton, Ontario. After her construction in 1854, she quickly entered service towing vessels on the St. Clair Flats. Within a few months, she changed hands several times, reflecting the high demand for Tug services during the bustling mid-19th century period on the Great Lakes.

In 1854, she famously assisted in the rescue of the Alabama‘s crew when the Sidewheel Steamer sank outside Buffalo Harbor. However, her own operational life was fraught with challenges. By 1858, she had burned and sunk in the Detroit River but was later raised in 1860 for repairs and overhauls. After a major Rebuild and lengthening in 1863, she was renamed W.K. (or R.) Muir and continued service under various owners.

A tragic incident occurred on September 18, 1867, when her boiler exploded near Port Huron on the St. Clair River, resulting in the deaths of eight people. Despite being raised and Rebuilt again, her service life dwindled, and by 1869, she was Abandoned. Efforts to salvage the Hull persisted into the 1870s but ultimately led to her registry being closed in 1871.

Final Disposition:
Abandoned in 1869 after several ownership changes, fires, sinkings, and even a deadly boiler explosion. Although the Hull was raised multiple times for repairs, the vessel was eventually deemed beyond economical repair.

Located By & Date Found:
No modern discovery or confirmed wreck site documented.

NOTMARs & Advisories:
No current navigation warnings related to this vessel.

Resources & Links:

• Great Lakes Vessels Database – BGSU
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• David Swayze’s Shipwreck File

Conclusion

The Hamilton Morton had a rich, albeit turbulent, history across the Great Lakes, marked by its involvement in notable rescues and unfortunate disasters, such as the deadly boiler explosion in 1867. Despite multiple efforts to salvage and Rebuild the vessel, it was ultimately Abandoned and faded into history, remembered for its critical role in the maritime fabric of the region.

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Keywords: Tugboat, Great Lakes, Boiler Explosion, St. Clair River, Buffalo Harbor, Shipwreck, Salvage
Categories: Great Lakes Maritime History, Tugboat Shipwrecks, 19th Century Vessels
Glossary Terms: Screw Propeller, Boiler Explosion, Towboat, Registry Closure