The Fred Swain was built at Stillwater, Minnesota in 1900. She was a sidewheeler with no texas. Her dimensions were:- 142 x 28.3 x 4.5 feet; tonnage, gross and net, 124 tons. She operated mostly on the Illinois River around Peoria. On August 20, 1909, she burned to the water's edge at Peoria, Illinois; fifty-eight persons were aboard but no lives lost.
Vol. XXII, No. 24. Boat Lines Request Support: Affirms Senator Burton's Statement That People Do Not Utilize Present Depth of Water-Steamboats Begging For Business. U. S. Dredge Engineer Drowned. New Machinery Being Built. The St. Charles (MO.) Boat Races. Gracey Childers Burns to Water's Edge. Hoosier Boy Wins Again.
Vol. XXII. No. 26. Belle of the Bends Sunk. Harbor No. 28 Doing Well. Commercial Movements On Rivers And Canals: Report of the Department of Commerce and Labor for the Month of July, 1907, 1908, and 1909.
Vol. XXII, No. 22. Steamer Fred Swain Burns: Boat Said to be Total Loss-Capt. Verne Swain and Engineer Joe Carskaden Real Heroes, Saving Many Lives. Congressman Borland in Washington. Pilot Sid Smith Dead.