Washington Irving (sidewheeler)
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Washington Irving was a 4000 short tons (3,628.7 MT) sidewheel day boat and the largest flagship of the Hudson River Day Line that operated on the Hudson River
from 1913 to 1926.
The Washington Irving collided with an oil barge in the fog on 1 June 1926 on the North River
. With the aid of tugboats, it reached shore at Pier 12, Jersey City
, where it sank soon thereafter. Out of 200 passengers and 105 crew, three died as a result of the accident.
Its removal was complicated due to its sinking upon the site of the Holland Tunnel
, which was under construction. It remained submerged there until 13 February 1927, when it was raised and determined to be a total loss. A bond was issued for its replacement.
collaborated with J. W. Millard
of New York City to design the ship. With a carrying capacity of 6,000 passengers, it was the largest passenger-carrying riverboat built at the time of its construction. Its beam engine was 6200 hp with cylinders measuring 45 inches (114.3 cm) and 70 inches (177.8 cm) in diameter with a 7 feet (2.1 m) stroke. The ship was named after the author Washington Irving
. Washington Irving was launched on 7 December 1912, and delivered 3 May 1913.
The ship had three smoke stacks amidships for its boilers, but the forward stack was non-functioning; only added for aesthetic purposes. The ship began service with the Hudson River Day Line as their flagship steamer from 1913 to 1926.
.
On that voyage, fifty oil paintings by artists illustrating the Irving
period were on view. The decorations included reproductions from the Alhambra
; the Old Cock Tavern of London;
Irving's study at "Sunnyside"
and many other historical places. Tickets for the maiden voyage sold for $1.00.
Washington Irving replaced the Robert Fulton on the New York to Albany run. The ship remained in service up until its sinking in 1926 and was the only ship in service ever to be lost by the Day Line. The first pilot of the Washington Irving from 1913 through 1923 was Captain Van Woert.
Soon after departing the Desbrosses Street Pier on its way to Albany in the morning fog of 1 June 1926, Washington Irving was struck, a little after 9:00am, by one of two oil barges being pushed by the tug boat Thomas E. Moran. The collision damaged Washington Irvings starboard side below the water line just aft of amidships, allowing water to rush into the engine rooms. The collision resulted in a hole measuring 21 feet (6.4 m) long and 3 foot (0.9144 m) wide. The Captain, David H. Deming, ordered all passengers to put on life preservers and whistled the "Ship's afire" signal of two long and three short blasts repeatedly. A chaos of shouts prevailed as the passenger's tried to don life vests and locate their children in the fog. An inability to see any land increased the alarm of the passenger's despite the Captain's shouts that all would be safe and he ordered the jazz band to resume playing their music and maintain their post until rescue.
Assisted by tug boats, Washington Irving reached shore at the then under construction Pier 12, Jersey City
and sank five minutes later. Three passengers died as a result of the accident. Wylma Wood Hoag, (wife of Lynne Arthur Hoag and mother to Arthur Allen Hoag
), their three year old daughter Mary, and B. Woods, a steward, who was trapped in a cabin far below deck.
The accident was determined to be unavoidable due to "the unusual and unexpected strength of the tidal current, possibly below the surface" after an inquiry by the United States Steamship Inspection Board closed on 9 June 1926.
Washington Irving was valued at $1,000,000 but insured for much less. The barge suffered only $8,000 of damages. At the time of the sinking, Alexander McKinney was the head porter. He had joined the Day Line in 1905 and continued in their service till at least 1964.
Washington Irving had sunk on top of the New York-New Jersey vehicular tube
complicating its removal. The wreck became a menace to navigation and was struck at 3am on 16 June by a railroad car float.
Washington Irving was raised on 13 February 1927 and towed to a dry dock
to determine whether its condition warranted repair. In March, Washington Irving was determined to be a total loss and a bond was issued to refinance the company's debt and to provide financing for its replacement, the Peter Stuyvesant. The Peter Stuyvesant was originally estimated to cost $700,000, but when the boat was completed in June, the final cost was closer to $1,000,000.
New York°N date=December 2010°W
Paddle steamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or riverboat, powered by a steam engine, using paddle wheels to propel it through the water. In antiquity, Paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were wheelers driven by animals or humans...
Washington Irving was a 4000 short tons (3,628.7 MT) sidewheel day boat and the largest flagship of the Hudson River Day Line that operated on the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
from 1913 to 1926.
The Washington Irving collided with an oil barge in the fog on 1 June 1926 on the North River
North River (New York-New Jersey)
North River is an alternate name for the southernmost portion of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York City and northeastern New Jersey. The colonial name for the entire Hudson given to it by the Dutch in the early seventeenth century, the term fell out of general use for most of the river's...
. With the aid of tugboats, it reached shore at Pier 12, Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
, where it sank soon thereafter. Out of 200 passengers and 105 crew, three died as a result of the accident.
Its removal was complicated due to its sinking upon the site of the Holland Tunnel
Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel is a highway tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan in New York City with Jersey City, New Jersey at Interstate 78 on the mainland. Unusual for an American public works project, it is not named for a government official, politician, or local hero or...
, which was under construction. It remained submerged there until 13 February 1927, when it was raised and determined to be a total loss. A bond was issued for its replacement.
Characteristics
The quadruple-decker Washington Irving was built in 1912 by the New York Shipbuilding Company for contract number 126 and measured 414 feet (126.2 m) in length and 86 feet (26.2 m) at its widest point with a weight of 4000 short tons (3,628.7 MT). Together, Frank E. KirbyKirby (surname)
Kirby is a surname, and may refer to:* Alan Kirby * Andy Kirby* Bill Kirby* Bruce Kirby * Bruno Kirby, American film and television actor* Chauncy Kirby, Canadian ice hockey player* David Kirby * David Kirby...
collaborated with J. W. Millard
Millard (surname)
Millard is a surname, and may refer to:* Henry Millard , Texan revolutionary.* Joseph Millard , U.S. Senator from Nebraska.* Stephen C. Millard , U.S. politician from New York.* Spencer G. Millard , U.S...
of New York City to design the ship. With a carrying capacity of 6,000 passengers, it was the largest passenger-carrying riverboat built at the time of its construction. Its beam engine was 6200 hp with cylinders measuring 45 inches (114.3 cm) and 70 inches (177.8 cm) in diameter with a 7 feet (2.1 m) stroke. The ship was named after the author Washington Irving
Washington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
. Washington Irving was launched on 7 December 1912, and delivered 3 May 1913.
The ship had three smoke stacks amidships for its boilers, but the forward stack was non-functioning; only added for aesthetic purposes. The ship began service with the Hudson River Day Line as their flagship steamer from 1913 to 1926.
Service life
The Washington Irving operated daily leisure passenger service up and down the Hudson River. Its maiden voyage was on Saturday, 17 May 1913 from the Desbrosses Street Pier in New York City with a destination of AlbanyAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.
On that voyage, fifty oil paintings by artists illustrating the Irving
period were on view. The decorations included reproductions from the Alhambra
Alhambra
The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain...
; the Old Cock Tavern of London;
Irving's study at "Sunnyside"
Sunnyside (Tarrytown, New York)
Sunnyside is a historic house on 10 acres of grounds alongside the Hudson River in Tarrytown, New York. It was formerly the home of noted early American author Washington Irving, best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", and is a National Historic...
and many other historical places. Tickets for the maiden voyage sold for $1.00.
Washington Irving replaced the Robert Fulton on the New York to Albany run. The ship remained in service up until its sinking in 1926 and was the only ship in service ever to be lost by the Day Line. The first pilot of the Washington Irving from 1913 through 1923 was Captain Van Woert.
Sinking
Assisted by tug boats, Washington Irving reached shore at the then under construction Pier 12, Jersey City
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
and sank five minutes later. Three passengers died as a result of the accident. Wylma Wood Hoag, (wife of Lynne Arthur Hoag and mother to Arthur Allen Hoag
Arthur Allen Hoag
Arthur Allen Hoag was an American astronomer most famous for his discovery of Hoag's object in 1950. He was the son of Harvard Medical School, Cornell, and University of Michigan faculty member Lynne Arthur Hoag and wife Wylma Wood Hoag. He had two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, and a son named Tom...
), their three year old daughter Mary, and B. Woods, a steward, who was trapped in a cabin far below deck.
The accident was determined to be unavoidable due to "the unusual and unexpected strength of the tidal current, possibly below the surface" after an inquiry by the United States Steamship Inspection Board closed on 9 June 1926.
Washington Irving was valued at $1,000,000 but insured for much less. The barge suffered only $8,000 of damages. At the time of the sinking, Alexander McKinney was the head porter. He had joined the Day Line in 1905 and continued in their service till at least 1964.
Aftermath
Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel is a highway tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan in New York City with Jersey City, New Jersey at Interstate 78 on the mainland. Unusual for an American public works project, it is not named for a government official, politician, or local hero or...
complicating its removal. The wreck became a menace to navigation and was struck at 3am on 16 June by a railroad car float.
Washington Irving was raised on 13 February 1927 and towed to a dry dock
Dry dock
A drydock is a narrow basin or vessel that can be flooded to allow a load to be floated in, then drained to allow that load to come to rest on a dry platform...
to determine whether its condition warranted repair. In March, Washington Irving was determined to be a total loss and a bond was issued to refinance the company's debt and to provide financing for its replacement, the Peter Stuyvesant. The Peter Stuyvesant was originally estimated to cost $700,000, but when the boat was completed in June, the final cost was closer to $1,000,000.
External links
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