OLIVER L. SWIFT – Shipwreck Information

• Other Names: None (also seen as O.L. SWIFT)
• Official No.: 18889
• Type at Loss: Propeller steam Tug, wood
• Build Info: 1859, W. Crosthwaite, Buffalo
• Specifications: Length: 57 feet (17.37 m) Beam: 14 feet (4.27 m) Depth: 7 feet (2.13 m)
• Tonnage: 45 tons gross (45g), 25 tons net (25n)
• Date of Loss: Fall 1868 (also given as March 28, but she was still operating in May)
• Place of Loss: At Buffalo, New York
• Type of Loss: Storm
• Owner at Time of Loss: Unspecified, but operated in Buffalo.
• Vessel Type Propeller steam Tug, wood

Description

The Oliver L. Swift was a wooden steam Tug built in 1859 by W. Crosthwaite at Buffalo, New York. Designed to tow vessels and assist with the movement of large ships through harbors or across the waterways, steam tugs played a critical role in the 19th-century shipping industry.

In 1868, the Oliver L. Swift was caught in a storm near Buffalo. It was likely sank in the Niagara River, though specific details of the incident remain unclear. Despite the uncertainty of her exact location, the Tug’s final moments occurred when it was overwhelmed by the severe weather.

Her wreck was discovered and winched up from the bottom in August of 1869 by the Tug Protection, a common recovery tactic for the time. Once raised, the Oliver L. Swift was towed back to Buffalo, where its machinery was removed, but the Hull itself was Abandoned after it had been deemed unfit for service.

There is some discrepancy about the build year, with most sources citing 1859, though certain records, including local newspapers and registry documents, list 1845 as the construction year. However, 1859 is widely accepted as the correct date of construction.

Final Dispositions

After being recovered from the bottom of the river, the Oliver L. Swift’s machinery was salvaged and likely reused. The Tug’s Hull was Abandoned in Buffalo, and no further mention of it was made after this.

Located By & Date Found

The wreck of the Oliver L. Swift was located and raised in August 1869. It was found near Buffalo, possibly in the Niagara River. The wreck was not fully recovered in a typical sense—only the machinery was salvaged, and the Hull was Abandoned after that.

Notable Marks & Advisories

The Oliver L. Swift‘s sinking is a reminder of the vulnerability of even powerful steam tugs to extreme weather on the Great Lakes. This wreck, like many others, highlights the importance of towing vessels’ maintenance, as well as the challenges posed by unpredictable storms.

Resources & Links

• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Great Lakes Shipwrecks
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes

Conclusion

The Oliver L. Swift, a wooden steam Tug, met its fate in 1868, likely sinking in the Niagara River near Buffalo, New York. Caught in a storm, the Tug was winched from the river bottom in 1869, with its machinery salvaged but the Hull Abandoned. While there are some discrepancies regarding the exact build year, 1859 remains the widely accepted date of construction. The wreck serves as a poignant reminder of the perils faced by early steam-powered vessels on the often treacherous waters of the Great Lakes.