CITY OF NEW YORK C116393/U4377

History #

The CITY OF NEW YORK, a wooden-hulled propeller, had a long and eventful history marked by tragedy. Built in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1863 by Stephens & Presley, it initially belonged to the Northern Transport Co. of Cleveland. Measuring 134.15 feet in length, 25.7 feet in beam, and 11.96 feet in depth, with a tonnage of 395, the vessel had two decks and was powered by a single high-pressure engine generating 425 horsepower.

Throughout its existence, the CITY OF NEW YORK changed ownership multiple times and underwent various reconstructions. It faced numerous incidents, including foundering off Sand Beach, Michigan, in November 1876, colliding with the schooner America on Lake Superior, and sinking after striking a dock in Chicago and being hit by the propeller Cumberland.

The vessel saw ownership changes and reconstructions, adapting to new demands and regulations. Owners included Philo Chamberlain, the Northern Transportation Co., A.E. Shepard, E.L. Thompson, Frank Boden, the Chicago Lumber Co., Thom. Currie, George Wilkinson, George Plunkett, Murray Brown, and the Lake Shore Sand & Gravel Co.

However, on November 25, 1921, the CITY OF NEW YORK met its tragic fate. Foundering in a gale off Main Duck Island in Lake Ontario, the vessel, carrying 500 tons of coal, sank, potentially due to a collision with the schooner OLIVER MOWATT. The entire crew of eight lost their lives in the incident.

Over a century later, in 2019, the remains of the CITY OF NEW YORK were rediscovered and relocated by Sonar Guys. The vessel’s history serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by maritime transportation and the human lives affected by these tragedies.

Historical Photos

External Links #

• David Swayze Shipwreck File