Crucible (Towboat, 1912-1948)

Photographer

Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army

Date

• July 9, 1941

Publisher

Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh: U.S. Engineer Office

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Towboat
• BUILT: Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1904 as the Charley Jutte; Renamed Crucible on September 9, 1912
• FORMERLY: Charley Jutte
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Dismantled at Crucible, Pennsylvania in 1948
• OWNERS: 1912: Crucible Steel Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• OFFICERS & CREW: 1912: Captain Charles E. Ritts; 1925?: Captain Guy A. Smith (master), O.A. Robinson (chief engineer)
• RIVERS: Ohio River, Monongahela River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - T0528; Under the ownership of Crucible Steel Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Crucible towed coal from their Monongahela River mines to Midland, Pennsylvania. She was a powerful pool style towboat. The roof bell on the Crucible was from the Oakland and was a Smith family relic. On July 26, 1930, while Captain Smith was on vacation, the Crucible struck the middle wall at Lock 6, Monongahela River, coming in light and knocked her stacks down, threw the boilers out of plumb, broke hogchains and scared the cook. In August, 1932 she was the last boat locked through old Lock 4, Monongahela River at Charleroi, Pennsylvania. The new lock 4 then became operative. Her papers were surrendered in November, 1945 and she was dismantled at Crucible, Pennsylvania in 1948
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: The steamer Crucible leaving Lock no. 4 on the Monongahela River at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 9, 1941. The steamers Vulcan and Henry A. Roemer are waiting for lock in the lower pool