June 9, 1906 – The tugboat “Coal City” struck Mingo Island with its tow of coal barges due to strong winds and current. The whole fleet was broken up in a few moments. The chains connecting the fleet snapped and barges began drifting apart. Two barges sank in the channel and two others were beached on Mingo Island. The towboat “Exporter” was nearby and landed its tow and went to assist the distressed boat. The crews of both vessels frantically worked to recover the drifting barges.   The sunken barges became a menace to navigation, but high waters allowed boats to get by for a few days without danger.

Mingo Island was still visible and identified on Ohio River charts as located near the West Virginia shore near the lower end of Follansbee as late as 1919.

• Steubenville Herald Star, “Disaster to Tow Boat at Head of Mingo Island,” June 9, 1906, front page.