Mariner (Towboat, 1891-1934-)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Towboat
• BUILT: 1873 as the Alex Swift at Covington, Kentucky
• FORMERLY: Alex Swift
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Still in operation in 1934
• OWNERS: 1891: Brown's Line; 1901: Pittsburgh Coal Combine; 1916: Captain William McNally; April, 1920: FBL; Unknown dates: Baker Towboat Company; Bisso; April, 1928: Captain Joseph Pose
• OFFICERS & CREW: Unknown dates: Captain Duff Sweeney; 1912: Captain Tom Ledger
• RIVERS: Monongahela River; Ohio River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - T1721; After the Alex Swift sank in 1891 in the Monongahela River, she was bought by Brown's Line and extensively rebuilt and renamed Mariner. Mariner sank in the Louisville Canal in March, 1892 and was raised and towed to Madison, Indiana for repairs. At some point, she was placed in the Pittsburgh Coal Combine and from 1902 until 1906 or later, she was tied up at Elizabeth, Pennsylvania. At 3:15 am, April 7, 1912 at Cairo, Illinois she burned. Returned to Pittsburgh March, 1916 she was sold to Captain William McNally who made a wharfboat out of the hull. He sold her to St. Louis in 1920. The FBL used her as a floating warehouse or depot at Cairo, Illinois for several years and then took her to Mobile, Alabama. Eventually they auctioned it off to the Baker Towboat Company who then sold it to Bisso in New Orleans. On April 15, 1928 she was sent once again to Mobile for delivery to Captain Joseph Pose. The last data on her was about 1934 and she was said to still be afloat in the Mobile area
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: View of Ohio Street and River Front on the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois