John A. Wood (Towboat, 1870-1925)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Towboat
• BUILT: Freedom, Pennsylvania, McCaskey and Kerr yard (hull), completed at Pittsburgh, 1870
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Burned at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 1925
• OWNERS: John A. Wood and Sons, coal operators of Pittsburgh; Combine (1900); W. Harry Brown (July 17, 1918); Pittsburgh Steel Company (February, 1919); Captain E. F. Weick, Standard Oil Company (September, 1919)
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Jonathan H. Wood (master); Lew Moon (pilot); pilots in May 1880: Dan E. Teal, G. W. McBride, R. B. Pepperday, Al Faulkner; February, 1899: Captain Louis M. Speer (master); Al Faulkner and John Pierce (pilots), Herbert Underwood and William Carter (engineers); Thomas Murray and James O'Neill (mates), B. H. Covert (steward); Al Faulkner (pilot and master for 25 years); 1900: Captain Lee McCain (master), John A. Burns (chief engineer); Captain George Reed (master, circa 1919/1920); Captain Canton P. Seitz (master, 1920); Hugh Edwards (chief engineer)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River; Ohio River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - T1391; Evan Williams superintended construction; machinery by A. Hartupee, Pittsburgh; first compound engine towboat inland. She had several misadventures in her 55 years. In December, 1870 she broke her hogchains in heavy ice at California, Ohio. In April, 1879, coming back from the Jetties with eight empty barges, several members of the Wood family aboard, she cracked her wheel shaft; passengers were returned to New Orleans by tug. While Lew Moon was attempting to steer her back in fog, she struck the sunken Desota and sank in 18 feet of water; the raising operations were extensive for that time and included the use of 15,000 feet of 2-inch lumber, 1000 yards of canvas, and many 4x6 scantlings. Diver Al Burris took a large part of the salvage in the tug Salvor No. 2, while the tugs Painter No. 2, N. M. Jones, Charlie Wood, and Maud Wilmot all pumped; she sank again three times before they successfully resurrected her. Captain John A. Wood spent $20,000 rebuilding her. She was responsible for the biggest coal tow up until 1880, 21 coalboats and eight barges of coal to New Orleans May 1880; in later years she took even larger tows, mainly south of Louisville 1900-1915. Standard Oil rebuilt her at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania and sent her south
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Engine room