Belle McGowan (Towboat, 1873-1902)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Towboat
• BUILT: 1873 at Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania and completed at Pittsburgh
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Capsized and sank at Pittsburgh on March 30, 1902
• OWNERS: Major Thomas McGowan; O'Neil and Company; Combine (1900)
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Austin G. Lynch (master, circa 1873); Captain John "Doggy" Dippold (pilot, 1879); Captain James Gilmore (master, 1902); Michael Neil (mate, 1902); Ellis Underwood (engineer, 1902); John Drake (engineer, 1902)
• RIVERS: Ohio River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - T0225; Her engines' 17 3/8's-6 foot stroke from the first Fred Wilson. Owned originally by Major Thomas McGowan and named for his daughter. Rivermen called her the "Irish Belle". Captain John "Doggy" Dippold went cub pilot on this boat in 1879; his first job afloat. Operated a long time by O'Neil and Company, a Pittsburgh coal firm. Exploded her boilers at the Harmar, Ohio wharf, 1890, with loss of life. She capsized at the Advance Coal Company fleet, Sawmill Run in Pittsburgh in 1902. She was at the Advance Landing maneuvering to pick up a five barge tow when she was hit by a strong wind gust. Captain Gilmore was on watch and ran out on the roof as the boat heeled over. She went over on her side and then righted, sinking in 20 feet. Only three of the crew were thrown into the water, the others climbing the side as she rolled and then winding up on the roof; mate Neil didn't get his feet wet but lost a gold watch in his room. An engineer on the Pittsburgh and Western railroad witnessed the accident and sounded the alarm with the locomotive's whistle. The Olivette came to the rescue, in command of Abe Forsythe, and picked up the crew but in the process was also hit by a gust of wind and only prevented from overturning by the sunken boat's superstructure. Nearby, leaving the Ferry Street landing, was the John C. Fisher with Frank C. Gilmore in command and a witness to the overturning although not realizing that his brother was involved. Only the machinery was salvaged and in that operation the Acorn overturned and was lost