Steam Tug Olson, The

DESCRIPTION: "Come listen to me one and all, A story I will tell, Of the wreck of a gallant tug one night." The Olson, of Buffalo, steamed out of the harbor seeking something to tow. The boat begins to sink, and the engines fail. Only two men are rescued
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1932 (collected from "Francie" Roddy by Walton)
KEYWORDS: ship wreck disaster death
FOUND IN: US(MW)
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Walton/Grimm-Windjammers-SongsOfTheGreatLakesSailors, pp. 217-219, "The Steam Tug Olson" (1 text)
Roud #19869
NOTES [71 words]: Walton/Grimm-Windjammers-SongsOfTheGreatLakesSailors observes that, in the early age of steam, tugs had steam power but long-haul vessels generally did not, so tugs did a brisk business hauling sailing ships into harbor. As more of the larger vessels were powered, the tugs found less work -- and sometimes went far from their home ports to seek it. Since tugs are rarely very seaworthy, disasters like this one resulted. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.0
File: WGM217

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