History #
The ALABAMA was a sidewheel steamer, primarily used for passenger and package freight transportation. It was built in 1848 by W. Gooding in Detroit, Michigan. The vessel had a length of 234.6 feet, a beam of 29 feet, a depth of 12 feet, and a tonnage of 799 tons.
On August 28, 1854, the ALABAMA experienced a hull failure just outside the harbor at Buffalo, New York, on Lake Erie. The steamer had departed from Buffalo without any cargo and was heading to Huron for repairs. Shortly after leaving port, it was discovered that the vessel was leaking badly. Efforts to change its course were unsuccessful, and it sank in the channel, approximately 1.5 miles from the lighthouse pier, in about 30 feet of water. The crew was rescued by the tug HAMILTON MORTON.
The hull of the ALABAMA was reported to be very rotten, and it was believed that one of the planks had come loose, causing the leak. The steamer remained submerged in its location, and there were concerns that it might go to pieces if a fresh breeze were to arise. The wreck was dismantled in September and October of 1855 by I. Coffin of Buffalo when there was 30 feet of clear water over it.
In terms of ownership, the ALABAMA was initially owned by Marshall Burton and others from Sandusky, Ohio. It was later owned by Borton, Hall & Russell, also based in Sandusky. The vessel’s master was Captain Thomas Jefferson Titus.
There were no reported casualties in the sinking of the ALABAMA. Salvage efforts were undertaken, and some items, including the steam pipes and parts of the engine, were recovered. The salvage team, led by Mr. Isaac Coffin, successfully raised the boilers of the steamer. However, the hull was deemed too rotten to salvage, and only the removal of its remains from the channel was attempted.
In summary, the ALABAMA, a sidewheel steamer built in 1848, sank due to a hull failure just outside the harbor at Buffalo, New York, on August 28, 1854. The vessel was carrying no cargo at the time, and there were no reported fatalities. The steamer’s hull was found to be severely decayed, leading to its sinking. Salvage operations focused on recovering the boilers and engine components, while the remaining wreckage was eventually dismantled to ensure safe navigation in the area.
