DRAGON

The Dragon was a tugboat, also known as a towboat, built in 1866 in Buffalo, New York. It was constructed by Vans & Notter and initially owned by Christian of Erie, Pennsylvania. The vessel was made of wood and had a single deck.

The tugboat had the following hull dimensions: a length of 62.6 feet, a beam of 14.7 feet, and a depth of 6 feet. Its gross tonnage was recorded as 32.9.

The Dragon encountered various events and changes in ownership throughout its history. In November 1867, it burned at Buffalo. In 1869, it ran aground on Bird Island reef but was successfully released. In the same year, it sustained damage in a collision with the bark OGARITA near Buffalo, resulting in the loss of two lives. On September 28, 1869, the Dragon ran ashore at Windmill Point, Lake Erie, while towing two barges and subsequently sank. At that time, it was owned by Brown & Son.

In 1871, the Dragon came under the ownership of Christian in Erie, Pennsylvania. In December 1872, it received a hole in the bow from ice in Erie. In 1875, the ownership transferred to W. Downs and others in Ashtabula, Ohio. During this time, a new boiler was installed on the vessel.

In 1881, the Dragon sank at a dock in Cleveland, Ohio, but was later raised. By August 10, 1891, the tugboat was owned by D.D. Johnson of Port Huron, Michigan.

In 1913, the Dragon was sold to a Canadian owner, concluding its known history.