Athens, New York, USA
1845 - Wreck of the Swallow

Wreck of the Swallow

One of the most thrilling events connected with the history of this village, was the wreck of the steamer Swallow. She started from Albany for New York at 6 o’clock P.M., April 7th 1845. The steamers Rochester and Express started soon after, and there was evidently a strife as to which should make the quickest trip. Dooper Island was at that time a rock 60 to 70 feet across, and 10 feet above water at high tide. At 8 o’clock the steamer Swallow, while going at the rate of fourteen knots an hour, struck this rock with a violence that sensibly shoot the earth for quite a distance, and the shock was heard at the distance of a mile. The bow of the boat ran to the height of 20 feet above the rock, and broke in two. There were 259 passengers on board, of which number 25 were drowned. The night was exceedingly dark, with a slight snow squall. An investigation made by a committee of the State Senate, seemed to establish the fact that the disaster was wholly caused by the recklessness of the pilot, and the investigation resulted in the passage of an act for the better preservation of life on the Hudson River. A tide-mill once stood on this rock, and at the time of the wreck, there were the remains of an old dock, about 45 feet east of the rock. This little island after this event lost its ancient name, and received the title of Swallow Rock. It has long since been blasted away and a wharf belonging to the Knickerbocker Ice Company stands in it place.

History of Greene County New York with Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men J.B. Beers,1884

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