Alaska (Scow), collision, 16 May 1871

The Milwaukee Wisconsin of Saturday says:
At about 2:30 A.M. today as the iron prop. PHILADELPHIA, outward bound, was leaving the harbor, she was met by the scow ALASKA, loaded with wood, coming in under full canvas before a fresh northeast wind. A violent collision resulted, the vessel striking each other nearly bow on. The ALASKA had her bow crushed in below the water line, in fact was made a complete wreck forward. The PHILADELPHIA also fared badly. One of the iron plates of her hull on the larboard bow, near the stem, was cut through almost its entire width, as smoothly as if done with a cold chisel, and another so badly cracked as to be ruined. After the first shock the vessel came together a second time, causing a bad dent in the plates of the propeller's hull, a few feet aft of the break. The PHILADELPHIA returned to the river, and is receiving temporary repairs. Upon her arrival at Buffalo the damaged plates will be removed and new ones substituted. The force of the collision may be judged when we state that the thickness of the iron cut through is 3/8 of an inch. The scow is discharging cargo, and will got into drydock for repairs. A fair estimate of the damage cannot be made, but will probably amount to between $1,500 and $2,000.
      Buffalo Morning Express
      May 16, 1871 3-4