Yacht Gertrude capsized at Wheeling Wharf with 16 people. Notable Wheeling Architect E.W. Wells drowned (1890). The reason behind the accident was the entanglement of a woman's dress with the pulley of the tiller rope. This caused the rope to become stuck, which in turn made it impossible for the tillerman to maneuver the rudder. Consequently, the yacht collided with a barge a quartering blow, causing it to capsize completely. (https://rb.gy/omdk7)
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Mike MinderMike Minder was born and raised in Wheeling, West Virginia. He is the author of Wheeling's Gambling History to 1976. Archives
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