Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Doughboy US 106640 (Arthur D)

Explore the wreck of the Doughboy, a wooden tug destroyed by fire in 1921, now resting in Tonawanda Creek.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

  • Name: Doughboy (originally Arthur D)
  • Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
  • Year Built: 1889
  • Builder: Buffalo, New York
  • Dimensions: 49 ft length × 14 ft beam × 7 ft depth; approx. 21 GRT, 10 NRT
  • Registered Tonnage: 21 GRT, 10 NRT
  • Location: Tonawanda Creek, tributary of the Niagara River
  • Official Number: 106640
  • Original Owners: Cowles Shipyard Co.

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

The Doughboy was a wooden propeller steam tug, originally built as the Arthur D in 1889. It served primarily in the Lake Erie basin.

Description

The Doughboy measured 49 feet in length, 14 feet in beam, and had a depth of 7 feet. It was registered at approximately 21 gross registered tons (GRT) and 10 net registered tons (NRT). The vessel was owned by Cowles Shipyard Co. and was primarily used for towing and other maritime services.

History

Constructed in 1889 in Buffalo, New York, the Doughboy was initially named Arthur D before being renamed in 1920. The tug was a part of the Cowles Shipyard fleet and was known for its wooden construction and steam-powered propulsion.

Significant Incidents

  • Final Incident: On August 30, 1921, while docked in Tonawanda Creek, the tug caught fire, likely due to a lightning strike. Firefighters faced challenges accessing the dock, leading to the vessel being consumed by flames and sinking.
  • Casualties: There were no reported injuries or fatalities during the incident.

Final Disposition

The Doughboy burned to the waterline and sank in place. It was not re-entered into the registry post-fire and was withdrawn from official records. Due to extensive fire damage, no successful recovery of the hull or equipment was made.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck of the Doughboy remains submerged in Tonawanda Creek. Its condition is likely affected by the fire damage and the surrounding environment. Further exploration may reveal remnants of the vessel.

Resources & Links

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The Doughboy, a 32-year-old wooden tug, was destroyed by fire on August 30, 1921, while awaiting repairs. The incident resulted in a total loss of the vessel, with no casualties reported. Investigating fire and shipyard records could provide more insights into the circumstances surrounding this maritime disaster.

Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

(wooden propeller tug, built 1889)

Identification & Vessel Details

  • Name: Doughboy (originally built as Arthur D, renamed in 1920)
  • Official Number: 106640
  • Built: 1889, Buffalo, New York
  • Type: Wooden propeller steam tug
  • Dimensions: 49 ft length × 14 ft beam × 7 ft depth; approx. 21 GRT, 10 NRT
  • Ownership: Cowles Shipyard Co., Buffalo

Final Incident – August 30, 1921

  • Location: Docked in Tonawanda Creek (tributary of the Niagara River, Lake Erie basin)
  • Situation: The tug had been out of service (“lying in ordinary”) for a year and was undergoing final repairs before a return to service.
  • Cause of Loss: A suspected lightning strike ignited fire aboard; firemen were unable to respond quickly due to dock access limitations. The blaze consumed the tug and also spread to the adjacent tug C. C. Trowbridge, resulting in both sinking at the dock
  • Casualties: None reported; no injuries or fatalities recorded
  • Outcome: Both tugs were declared total constructive losses

Aftermath & Salvage

  • Disposition: The vessel burned to the waterline and sank in place.
  • Registry Status: Not re-entered post-fire; withdrawn from official records
  • Salvage: No successful recovery of the hull or equipment due to extensive fire damage

Sources

Archival Gaps & Research Opportunities

  • Cause Confirmation: Weather station logs from August 30, 1921, could validate lightning as the ignition source.
  • Repair Logs: Cowles Shipyard records may describe pre-fire repair condition and intended service plans.
  • Fire Incident Report: Tonawanda Fire Department or maritime authority reports may include crew and firefighter observations.
  • Wreck Fate: Underwater or historical records may detail hull removal or lingering remnants in Tonawanda Creek.

Conclusion

The Doughboy, a 32-year-old Buffalo-built wooden tug, was destroyed by fire—likely lightning—on August 30, 1921, while laid up and awaiting repairs in Tonawanda Creek. Fully engulfed and unable to be saved, she sank alongside the dock. Owned by Cowles Shipyard Co., the vessel was declared a total loss with no loss of life. The adjacent tug C. C. Trowbridge was similarly destroyed. Further investigation of fire and shipyard records could illuminate the incident’s exact circumstances and aftermath.

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