Site Description #
- Tug Boat
- 66ft 22m Lengths
- 45ffw 15m Depths
- Point Abino, Lake Erie
- N 42-50.251
W 79-00.477
The O.W. CHENEY was a propeller steam tugboat that sank on June 23, 1903, in Lake Erie. The accident occurred when the tug was run down by the freighter CHEMUNG during heavy seas. Three crew members, including Captain John F. Whelan, drowned in the incident, while two others escaped on a life raft and were rescued by another tug, the FRANK S. BUTLER. The O.W. CHENEY was owned by the Great Lakes Towing Company.
The exact cause of the accident was not definitively known, but it was speculated that the O.W. CHENEY may have misjudged the distance and cut in front of the freighter while intending to go to one side. The collision occurred between Buffalo and Point Abino, and the O.W. CHENEY quickly sank. The crew members on the CHEMUNG attempted to help but were unable to save the sinking tug.
The crew of the O.W. CHENEY consisted of Captain Whelan, Engineer James T. Byers, fireman Dugan, steward Andrew Fritzenschaf, and John McManus. McManus and Engineer Byers were able to escape on a life raft, but the other three crew members were not able to get out in time.
Captain Whelan was a highly experienced tugman and well-regarded in the Buffalo area. The accident was a significant loss for the Great Lakes Towing Company, and it was the first serious accident they had experienced in the Buffalo field. The accident highlighted the dangers of racing between tugboats from different towing companies, and it was speculated that the incident might lead to the abandonment of this practice.
Efforts were made to locate the wreck and recover the bodies of the drowned crew members. Divers were planned to be sent once the sea conditions allowed. The families of the deceased crew members were anxiously waiting for the recovery of the bodies, and the tragedy had a profound impact on them.
The exact details of the accident and the subsequent investigation may be found in historical archives or records related to maritime accidents in the Buffalo or Lake Erie area.
