BOSTON

History #

The propeller Boston was a passenger and freight vessel constructed in Cleveland, Ohio. It had a wooden hull with two decks and was powered by a single screw propulsion system. The vessel had one mast and a tonnage of 259 5/95. It was capable of carrying 12,000 bushels of cargo.

The Boston had a varied history of ownership and operations. It underwent several enrollments in Cleveland, Ohio, between 1847 and 1852. It served on routes such as Buffalo to Chicago and the Griffiths Western Line on the Erie Canal. At one point, it was owned by Chamberlain, Crawford, and others, and later it came under the ownership of the Ogdensburg Railroad Co.

However, tragedy struck on July 28, 1854, when the Boston collided with an unknown schooner off Oak Orchard in Lake Ontario. The collision caused the propeller to sink rapidly in deep water. The property loss was estimated at $35,000. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties in the incident.

Survivors of the Boston’s crew and passengers, totaling 25 individuals, spent nearly 24 hours in an open boat before reaching the mouth of the Genesee River. The vessel had been carrying a full cargo of flour, pork, wheat, and corn at the time of the collision.

Various reports and newspapers documented the sinking of the Boston. The cause of the collision and the specific details of the incident were not extensively covered in the available articles. However, they highlighted the quick sinking of the vessel and the subsequent rescue of the crew and passengers. Some reports mentioned the vessel’s insurance coverage and value.

The loss of the propeller Boston remains a significant event in the maritime history of Lake Ontario. Despite the material loss, it is fortunate that all aboard the vessel were saved. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by vessels navigating the Great Lakes during that era.

External Links #

• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• C. Patrick Labadie Great Lakes Ships Website
• Enrollments, U.S. National Archives
• C. E. Feltner Enrollments Database
• Erik Heyl, Early American Steamers
• Lytle List Jack Messmer Notes
• John E. Poole notes,
• H. G. Runge Collection, Milwaukee Public Library
• Steamboat Era in the Muskokas by Richard Tatley
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Bowling Green State University 
• Buffalo Democracy – Feb. 28, 1855 (casualty list)
• Toronto Globe – Aug. 15, 1854
• The Democracy, Buffalo – August 1, 1854
• Cleveland Morning Leader – Tuesday, August 1, 1854
• Buffalo Daily Courier – Thursday, August 3, 1854
• Cleveland Morning Leader – Thursday, August 3, 1854
• Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States – Lytle-Holdcamper List, 1790 to 1868
• Detroit Free Press – Friday, May 14, 1847
• Buffalo Daily Courier – Saturday, November 13, 184
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