New York Times September 2, 1900, Wednesday
BUFFALO'S NEW FIRE TUG
Finest Craft of it's Kind Afloat
Launched at Elizabethport New Jersey
Elizabeth N. J., Sept. 1- A handsome new fire tug which has been built for the Fire Department of the City of Buffalo, was launched at Lewis Nixon's shipyard, at Elizabethport, shortly before 1 o'clock this afternoon. She will cost $91,000 and is the Finest craft of it's kind afloat.
It will probably take two weeks or more to make the vessel ready for the trip to Buffalo. When prepared for the voyage, the tug will be taken through the St. Lawrence River and the Welland Canal. It is expected that the trip will take about three weeks. As the Tug slid down the ways she was christened by Miss Lucia Virginia Malone, daughter of Fire Commissioner of Buffalo. The boat was named the W. S. Grattan, after Commissioner Grattan of Buffalo. The Buffalo Visitors came from New York on the fire tug Vigilant. The commissioners were all accompanied by their families.
The new fire boat is 118 feet long and is built of steel. She has an inch and a half icebelt around her hull. She can throw 18 streams fore and aft, from 350 to 550 feet. the construction of the vessel was begun in March last. among those present at the launching were: Mayor Diehl of Buffalo, John F. Malone, W.S. Grattan, and William Person, Fire Commissioners of Buffalo, and Chief B.S. McConnell and Master Mechanic David Owen of the same city.
Editors Note: This is the same Fire Boat, rebuilt over the years, that is now docked on the Buffalo River at the Michigan St. Lift Bridge. Renamed the Edward M. Cotter in the 1950's. It is the oldest operating Fire Boat in the World, and a National Historic Landmark.
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