Hole in Steamer Dubuque, 142 Feet Long - 1901

DUBUQUE, STAPLES, MONROE, LINEHAN, WEYERHAUSER, RAVENNA, RUTLERGE, CLYDE, BAKER, CARSON, MT BELL, MCDONALD, MONROE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 12/31/2016 at 20:24:24

Dubuque Daily Herald, June 4, 1901

A HEAVY DAMAGE
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THE HOLE IN THE HULL OF
STEAMER DUBUQUE IS
142 FEET LONG
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DAMAGE GREATER THAN EXPECTED
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Construction of the Bulkhead Begun
And Removal of Sunken Steamer
Will Be Undertaken
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Today the full extent of the damage to the hull of the big liner Dubuque was ascertained, when Diver Thomas Baker announced that the last of the cargo that had hindered investigations had been removed from the hull, says the Burlington Gazette. The damage was even greater than thought and the port side of the hull is a broken and twisted mass of timbers. Extending from the steps leading to the boiler deck back to the kitchen, a distance of 142 feet, the hull is entirely crushed in, the gap being six feet wide. It is no small wonder that the Dubuque went down within a half-minute after striking the snag. The damage was done entirely on the port or left side of the boat. The big ten inch oak planks in the hull were snapped or broken like straws, and the iron strips on the bottom of the hull are rolled up into hoop shapes.

Construction on the bulk head was started yesterday, and by the end of the week the pumps will be started, and it is expected that the big steamer will be afloat by next Monday. It will then be taken to Dubuque and placed in dry dock.

Captain John Monroe, who is on the steamer Isaac Staples, says if there is not heavy rain in the north soon that not a raft boat will be running within two weeks. The Isaac Staples has laid up, and has also all McDonald Bros. boats, including the steamer Linehan, Kit Carson and Mountain Bell. The steamers Jeanette, Ravenna and Clyde and also the Weyerhauser and Rutlerge, have laid up or as soon as the trips they are now on are made.