SWALLOW U115184

• Steam Barge
• 190ffw 60m
• 135ft Length
• Long Point, Lake Erie
• 42 34.892 79 56.455

Chronological History

The steamer SWALLOW was launched in Trenton, Michigan, in 1873. It measured 133 feet in length, 25 feet in width, and 10 feet in depth. The vessel had a gross tonnage of 256.00 tons and a net tonnage of 203.00 tons. It was built by A.A. Turner.

In August 1873, the SWALLOW was enrolled in Detroit and operated between Saginaw, Michigan, and Ogdensburg, New York. However, in May 1875, the steamer was involved in a collision with the steamer FRED KELLEY in Toledo, Ohio, which caused the SWALLOW to be holed. It was subsequently raised and repaired.

In November 1877, the SWALLOW was pulled off the beach near Port Stanley. The ownership of the vessel changed several times over the years. In April 1879, it was owned by Simon J. Murphy, Joseph Heald, and Ernest Crippen of Montague, Michigan. Extensive repairs were carried out on the steamer in 1880.

By July 25, 1882, the SWALLOW was owned by E.E. Crepin and Simon Murphy, with a tonnage of 265.67 gross and 203.42 net tons. In 1884, the steamer underwent repairs, and in 1885, it was owned by E.E. Crepin of Chicago and Andrew Flagsted of Montague, Michigan.

In June 1886, the SWALLOW was damaged in a Lake Michigan squall and sank in Chicago, Illinois. It was subsequently owned by A.D. Campbell and H.W. Cook of Michigan City, Indiana, in April 1887. In May of the same year, the vessel ran on Dunlap’s reef but was released with the assistance of the tug GEORGE NELSON.

The ownership changed again in April 1889 when the SWALLOW was owned by Theo Lutz of St. Joseph, Michigan, and Alex D. Campbell and Henry Cook of Michigan City, Indiana. In May 1890, James Innes, Thomas Cowan, and Penoyer Brothers of AuSable, Michigan, became the owners. In September 1890, the ownership expanded to include E.K. Porter of Lorain, Ohio, and the steamer was involved in the lumber business between Oscoda and Lake Erie.

On February 10, 1891, the SWALLOW was owned by Carlos Liebert, William Quinlan, and James Lennac of Detroit, Michigan. However, on July 18, 1896, the steamer stranded on rocks off Point Lafayette while towing the vessels SURPRISE and CASCADE near Bois Blanc Island in the Detroit River.

The final incident involving the SWALLOW occurred on October 5, 1900 when it sank in a collision with the steamer SIR WILLIAM SIEMENS in the St. Clair River. The steamer was laden with cedar posts and shingles at the time. It was later raised on October 18, 1900.

On May 9, 1901, the SWALLOW came under the ownership of William E. Lennae of Detroit. Unfortunately, on October 19, 1901, the vessel foundered in Lake Erie, approximately ten miles off Long Point, during a gale. The crew of eleven managed to escape to the barge MANITOU, which the SWALLOW had been towing. The crew was then picked up by the steamer WALTER SCRANTON, and the MANITOU was towed into Erie, Pennsylvania.

The steamer SWALLOW, built in 1873, had a turbulent history, including accidents, repairs, changes in

ownership, and multiple sinkings.