Martin Swain (Tug), sunk by collision, 27 Sep 1881

The propeller JAY GOULD collided with the tug SWAIN at the mouth of the Detroit River this morning. The latter sank almost immediately.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Tuesday, September 27, 1881
     
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      Detroit, Mich., Sept. 27. -- A collision occurred at 3 o'clock this morning, off Amherstburg, between the propeller JAY GOULD, bound down, and the tug MARTIN SWAIN, bound up, with a tow schooner. The tug was struck on the starboard side and badly smashed, sinking at once in thirteen feet of water. The cause seems to have been bullheadedness all around. The SWAIN is said to have blown two whistles, which the GOULD answered with one. This whistling was repeated until the collision occurred. The SWAIN lies on her port side, in as good condition as could be expected. The damage to the JAY GOULD was slight. She proceeded on her course.
      Cleveland Herald
      Wednesday, September 28, 1881

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      THE SWAIN - GOULD DISASTER.
The Detroit Tribune of to-day has the following: The Detroit River and the upper end of Lake Erie are furnishing an immense number of collisions this season.
      The NIMS - DOWS smash was still the chief topic in marine circles when the MACY - VICTOR collision occurred and furnished a new subject for conversation among the marine lawyers who are so plentiful along the wharves. Early yesterday morning news reached here that another had been added to the "unavoidable disasters on the river.
The propeller JAY GOULD, bound down, collided with and sunk the new tug MARTIN SWAIN, bound up with two vessels in tow, a few minutes after 2 o'clock yesterday morning. Captain Ed Tormey, of the MARTIN SWAIN, arrived in this city shortly after the accident, but refused to tell anything about the matter. It was learned, however, from reliable authority that the accident happened about as follows:
      The SWAIN, on arriving at a proper distance from the GOULD, blew two whistles, which the GOULD answered with one. The SWAIN blew two again, and again the GOULD answered with one. By this time the boats were dangerously close, but neither captain was willing to give in, both claiming to have the right of way. The SWAIN for the third time blew two whistles and received the same answer as at first. The echoes of the whistles had scarcely died out when the JAY GOULD came crashing into the starboard side of the tug, sinking her almost instantly.
The schooner MARIA MARTIN, which, with the MARENGO, was in tow of the SWAIN at the time, came on and lost her headgear in collision with the GOULD. She came to anchor, and will probably come here for repairs. The MARENGO passed on up in tow of the McCLELLAN. The SWAIN lies on her port side in 13 feet of water, at the head of Bois Blanc Island, and will, it is thought, be easily raised. She is comparatively a new tug. Her hull was launched six years ago, and she was allowed to remain in an unfinished condition until last winter, when she was completed. She is the property of Captain S. B. Grummond, of this city, and is valued at $30,000. The accident to her is particularly unfortunate at the present time, as she is intended chiefly for the wrecking business, which is generally very lively at this time of year.
      It is generally conceded that a great amount of what is usually called bullheadedness was displayed by both captains in adhering with such tenacity to the course on which they started. The SWAIN, having a tow should have received some consideration from a propeller with no consort, while on the other hand the downward bound boat is usually supposed to have the right of way, as it is much more difficult to stop or handle her, while a boat bound up can be easily managed.
      Correspondence from Amherstburg states that the tug was keeping along the Canada shore, and seeing the propeller coming down, head towards the SWAIN, the latter blew one whistle, and the propeller answered with one whistle, but did not change her course. When it was seen that the propeller was continuing her course, the wheel of the tug was put hard over. Just then the GOULD struck the SWAIN amidships on the starboard side, making a hole through her planking and frames four feet wide, and extending from the rail almost to the keel. Those on board the SWAIN who were on deck immediately climbed up the stern of the GOULD, but were hardly on board when the MARIA MARTIN came up and struck the GOULD amidships. The crew of the SWAIN were then transferred to the schooner. As soon as the SWAIN could release herself she was given full head of steam and ran across the river and beached herself on the head of Bois Blanc Island.
      Cleveland Herald
      Friday, September 30, 1881

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      THE WRECKED SCHOONER. -- Detroit, Sept. 29. -- The schooner MARIA MARTIN, damaged by collision with the propeller JAY GOULD, arrived here today for repairs, but was forced to go to Port Huron, as she could not get a dry dock here. Her head gear is gone and her stem split. The work of raising the sunken schooner VICTOR has been started.
      Cleveland Herald
      Friday, September 30, 1881

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      THE PROPELLER WILSON.
Detroit, Sept. 30. -- The steambarge D. M. WILSON, which was aground in the Sault River, arrived here today leaking, and was placed in the dry-dock.
An expedition has gone to raise the tug SWAIN, sunk by collision at head of Bois Blanc Island.
      Cleveland Herald
      Saturday, October 1, 1881

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      Detroit, Mich., Oct. 2. -- As the tug JOHN OWEN was passing Bois Blanc island with a large raft this morning, the tail end swung round the head of the island and broke in two, part of the logs going down the American channel, and the part which remained with the tug going down the Canada channel. The logs got under the tug MINNIE MORTON, which was working at the sunken tug SWAIN, and carried her out into Lake Erie, where her bottom became damaged, and she sunk in six fathoms of water, and those on board barely escaped with their lives. A diving rig, belonging to James Quinn, who was a work on the SWAIN, was lost in the tug. The raft which the OWEN was towing is said to contain 4,000,000 feet.
      Cleveland Herald
      Monday, October 3, 1881

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Detroit, Oct. 6. -- The tug SWAIN, sunk by the propeller JAY GOULD, was pumped out last night and brought here today. She will go in Springwell's drydock tomorrow.
      Cleveland Herald
      Friday, October 7, 1881