Niagara Scow
43°04′23″N 79°04′15″W / 43.07306°N 79.07083°W
The Niagara Scow (also called the Old Scow or Iron Scow) is the unofficial name of the
1918 event
On August 6, 1918, Gustave F. Lofberg and Frank Harris were aboard the Great Lakes Dredge and Docks Company
There are conflicting reports whether Lofberg and Harris were able to release the
Since a rescue boat was out of the question, the
In 2018, the Parks Commission celebrated the 100th anniversary of the rescue, particularly Hill's role, and installed a new plaque and panels depicting the event.[4]
2019 shift
The wreck has been deteriorating over the years. During a storm (a remnant of Tropical Storm Olga) on the evening of October 31, 2019, strong southwest winds raised Lake Erie's East Basin water levels to record highs. This resulted in record high flows into the Niagara River at Fort Erie, exceeding 420,000 cubic feet per second (12,000 m3/s).[citation needed] The net flow over Niagara Falls, after the power companies' draw, exceeded 230,000 cubic feet per second (6,400 m3/s).[citation needed] These record high flows shifted the historic iron scow off the rock outcrop, allowing it to drift closer to the edge of the falls.[5] The scow floated an estimated 50 yards (46 m) downriver, and the wreck seemed to have "flipped on its side and spun around", according to a source at the Niagara Parks Commission.[6] A Niagara Parks photo of the wreck confirmed that it was now lying on its side.[7]
2022 breakup
On April 4, 2022, the scow was observed to have broken into several pieces lodged in the rapids. A Niagara Parks official reported that it may be "reaching the end of its life."[8]
Subchaser Sunbeam
A similar wreck, involving a wooden vessel, occurred in June 1923. The craft, previously a World War I antisubmarine patrol boat called the Sunbeam, had been returned to its owner, a New Yorker, after the war ended. The owner sold the boat to a new owner, and the boat was taken west on the Erie Canal, to be docked at a port in Lake Erie. The crew made a navigation mistake and found themselves well into the Niagara River, although still "a few" miles (kilometers) upstream from the falls. They retired for the night to a nearby hotel. During the night, the unmanned boat came loose from its moorings.[2][9]
The current carried the craft to the vicinity of the scow, and it likewise became caught in the shoals. The owners sold the wreck to Red Hill for one dollar, but Hill decided that the salvage cost was too high, particularly because the Parks Commission wanted a cash bond that would cover any damage caused during the process. As a result, the boat remained marooned and by the late 1930s had broken apart. A 2014 report stated that some people claim that some of its metallic parts (such as the boilers and propeller shaft) are still visible at times when a significant quantity of water is being diverted for hydropower production.[2][9]
References
- ^ "Boat trapped on rocks above Niagara Falls dislodged after 101 years". KOAM. November 2, 2019. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Niagara Falls – The Scow and the Subchaser". www.niagarafrontier.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ "1918 rescue at the brink of the falls heralded". The Buffalo News. August 8, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
- ^ "Niagara Parks Hosts Centenary of the Iron Scow Rescue". City of Niagara Falls. July 19, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Rankin, Christine (November 1, 2019). "Storm moves barge trapped above Horseshoe Falls for 101 years closer to the edge". CBC News. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
- ^ "Boat trapped for 101 years near edge of Niagara Falls moves after Halloween night storm". USA Today. November 2, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
- ^ Forsyth, Paul (November 1, 2019). "Iron scow in Niagara River shifts significantly from wind storm". Metroland Media Group Ltd. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
- ^ Forsyth, Paul (April 4, 2022). "Historic iron scow in Niagara River breaks into several pieces after more than a century". Metroland Media Group Ltd. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1557508171.
External links
- Digital Images Niagara Falls (Ont.) Public Library