4 Sep 1920

BARGE HOBOKEN IS SUNK AT DOCK HERE;

WAS COAL UNLOADER.

The barge Hoboken, owned by the Ogdensburg Coal and Towing Co., which has been in use here at the J.R. Bresnan & Son dock during the summer months as a derrick for the unloading of coal vessels, sprung a leak during the night and despite efforts made during the early hours of the morning to keep her afloat, sank in about 25 feet of water at the wharf this morning at 9:30 o'clock.

The Hoboken has been in service many years in the coal-carrying trade along the St. Lawrence and recently was equipped with a large derrick, which proved of great value in unloading coal from barges. This morning when the employees of J.R. Bresnan & Son reported at the coal sheds for duty they found the vessel in a sinking condition. The steam fire engine of the Brockville Fire Department was secured in the hope of keeping the craft afloat; but not being equipped for such work the engine was of very little service and the boat quickly sank. Just before plunging out of sight the boat toppled outward from the dock and the derrick equipment, housed in a small shed-like building, broke away from the deck and sank to bottom, only the upper end of the crane remaining in view.

The owners of the craft were communicated with early this morning before it sank and it is believed that a wrecking crew will be on hand to bring the vessel to the surface.

It is fortunate that J.R. Bresnan & Son have secured practically all the coal necessary to run them through the winter, else the sinking of the boat at their wharf would prove detrimental in the unloading of other vessels.