Three Steamboat Accidents in a Week

Editor's note: The following text is from articles printed in the Poughkeepsie Eagle News on June 14 and 16, 1879. Thank you to Contributing Scholar Carl Mayer for finding, cataloging and transcribing these articles. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

Steamboat "Vanderbilt". Tracey I. Brooks Collection, Hudson River Maritime Museum.

Poughkeepsie (NY) Eagle News, June 14, 1879; Steamer Connecticut Breaks Connecting Rod
MORE ACCIDENTS TO STEAMBOATS.—The Albany Express says that the steamer "Connecticut", of the Schuyler line, left there on Wednesday night [June 11, 1879] with a large tow. As she neared Catskill, her connecting rod was broken, which resulted in serious damage to the steamer. The massive iron work all fell in a manner similar to that which befell the steamer "Vanderbilt" the other night. The vessel was totally disabled, and had to be towed to Newburgh to undergo repairs. The damage is said to be about $15,000. As the "Vanderbilt" belonged to the same line, it will be seen that the owners have been unusually unfortunate this week.
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The boat's tow was taken on to New York by the steamers "Syracuse" and "America", and the injured boat towed to Newburgh by the steamer "Carrie". It is not known yet whether the repairs will be made in that city or not. It will cost about $10,000 to repair her. No person was injured by the accident, but a number had very narrow escapes. She had at the time a fleet of 45 canal boats in tow.

Poughkeepsie (NY) Eagle News, June 16, 1879; Three Steamboat Accidents in a Week
Unfortunate Spring For Steam-Boats. — There has been an unfortunate Spring thus far for steamboats. The "Vanderbilt"'s walking beam broke and crashed through to the bottom of the boat, demolishing $25,000 worth of machinery, the "Connecticut"'s piston rod and shaft broke, destroying $15,000 worth of machinery, and next the "Daniel Drew"'s rudder was torn out of her  and her joiner word [sic, wood?] so badly damaged that it is reported at New York that her repairs will cost $12,000. All this happened in one week's time, the total damage footing up $52,000. This is unusual and steamboat men have accepted it as a warning for additional caution in the running of their boats. Luckily in none of the accidents were any lives lost.

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