Steamboat "Charlotte Vanderbilt"

Editor's Note: The following text is a verbatim transcription of an article written by George W. Murdock, for the Kingston (NY) Daily Freeman newspaper in the 1930s. Murdock, a veteran marine engineer, wrote a regular column. Articles transcribed by HRMM volunteer Adam Kaplan. ​

Steamboat "Charlotte Vanderbilt". Donald C. Ringwald Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.

                                                                No. 14- Charlotte Vanderbilt
The “Charlotte Vanderbilt” was a wooden-hull boat built by B.C. Terry at Keyport, N.J., in 1857. She was 207 feet long and was constructed as an experiment, but proved a failure.

Because the “Charlotte Vanderbilt” could make no better than 12 miles per hour with her experimental engine, she was laid aside, and it was not until 1862 that she came into regular service, and then only after the installation of a new engine.

In 1861 the “Robert L. Stevens,” and old Hudson river night line boat plying between Saugerties and New York, was condemned and her engine was removed and placed in the unused “Vanderbilt.” Thus in 1862, the “Charlotte Vanderbilt” replaced the “Stevens” on the night line between the two river ports, but her name was changed to the “William F. Russel.” Later she was chartered by the War Department and her name changed to the “John Tucker.” After the Civil War she sailed in southern waters in and around Washington and Baltimore under the original name “Charlotte Vanderbilt.”

In 1877 she was purchased by the Catskill line for service between Catskill and New York, and it was in this service that she met her end.

​On Friday evening, July 14, 1882, the “Charlotte Vanderbilt” headed down the Hudson for New York and at the time about two miles below the Rondout light house collided with Belden’s steam yacht “Yosemite,” which was sailing up the river. The “Vanderbilt” was struck at the forward gangway and was cut in two, sinking immediately. Fortunately there were no passengers or freight aboard at the time, and the crew was rescued. The vessel was never raised.

Author

George W. Murdock, (b. 1853-d. 1940) was a veteran marine engineer who served on the steamboats "Utica", "Sunnyside", "City of Troy", and "Mary Powell". He also helped dismantle engines in scrapped steamboats in the winter months and later in his career worked as an engineer at the brickyards in Port Ewen. In 1883 he moved to Brooklyn, NY and operated several private yachts. He ended his career working in power houses in the outer boroughs of New York City. His mother Catherine Murdock was the keeper of the Rondout Lighthouse for 50 years. ​

---

If you enjoyed this post and would like to support more history blog content, please make a donation to the Hudson River Maritime Museum or become a member today!​

Donate Now

Join Today